Interim leader picked for permanent WEDC job - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Eau Claire (WQOW) - Governor Walker skips over three finalists for a top economic development job, and chooses someone familiar. He's named the interim head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to permanently lead WEDC.

A head-hunting firm produced over 100-candidates, and three finalists. But the governor says Reed Hall, a former top executive at Marshfield Clinic, who didn't even apply for the job, makes more sense.

"Hearing from that search committee, talking to Reed, talking personally to each one of the existing members of the board of directors, there was an overwhelming sense that people were excited about the prospect of Reed considering this position," says Gov. Scott Walker.

"I think the search firm is the one I would like to know, what we got for the taxpayers dollars we put forward, what kind of personnel did they actually offer to us," says Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha).

The WEDC came under fire last year for failing to track $12 million in state loans to businesses.

Governor Walker will make a stop in Eau Claire Wednesday evening to talk more about his decision to appoint hall as head of the WEDC. We will have a reporter there.