Scott Walker was born just outside the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado on November 2, 1967. A few years later, his parents moved to Plainfield, Iowa, where Scott’s father was pastor at one of the churches in town. His brother, David, was born in 1971.

The community’s population was less than 500 people, so his family knew everyone in town. In 1976, Scott collected change from his neighbors to buy a state flag for the city hall.

Scott’s family moved to Delavan, Wisconsin in 1977, when his father was called to a church in town. While attending Delavan-Darien High School, Scott was selected to go to the American Legion’s Badger Boys State at Ripon College. At the end of the week, he was elected to serve as one of two United States Senators at Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. Scott was active in sports, band, church, and Scouts (he is an Eagle Scout) while in Delavan.

Later, Scott moved to Milwaukee to attend Marquette University. While at school, he starting working for the Milwaukee Metro office of the IBM Corporation. Scott left school early to work full-time at the Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the American Red Cross in the area of financial development.

After years of involvement with campaigns and government, Scott decided to run for an open seat in the State Assembly in 1993. He won a five-way primary and then a special election in June of that year. He represented the District 14, which comprised the City of Wauwatosa.    

While in the State Legislature, Scott served as the chair of several committees including Corrections and the Courts and Elections and the Constitutional Law. He authored several key pieces of legislation including Truth-in-Sentencing, ending the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases, and protection of medical privacy.

In 2002, Scott answered the call to lead the reform movement after the pension scandal in Milwaukee County was uncovered. He was the first person to rise and commit to challenging former County Executive Tom Ament when Ament attempted to legally challenge the recall petition signatures against him.

Within a month, more than 150,000 people signed recall petitions demanding their government back. Scott felt that a leader needed to emerge to lead the movement. He was inspired by the hope of the people involved in the recall effort that they could change the government – for the better.

Scott and his wife, Tonette, live in Wauwatosa with their two sons, Matt and Alex. They are active in the community and their church. Their sons play sports, are involved with church groups, and are active with Scouts. Scott and Tonette like to participate with these activities, too. Scott’s parents live on the northwest side of Milwaukee and are heavily involved in the community. His brother, sister-in-law, and two nieces just moved back from Arizona. Scott still has a grandmother living in Wauwatosa and his father-in-law lives on the south side of Milwaukee.