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Wisconsin has been torn apart by Scott Walker's ideological civil war and his divide-and-conquer assault on our values. We need a different approach to move our state forward.

That's the way we have always gotten things done in Wisconsin under governors from both political parties . . . up until this past year. And it's how I have served as mayor of our great city.

Walker's reforms are not working, and his my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing is the wrong way to get things done in our state. It may have made Walker a rock star to the national right-wing billionaires, but it moves us backward on key issues such as jobs, education and women's health. His polarizing agenda has bitterly divided co-workers, family members and friends across the state.

Quite simply, we cannot fix Wisconsin and move forward together as long as Scott Walker remains governor. His divisive, secretive approach just doesn't work or move us forward.

Here's the proof: Wisconsin has seen anemic, pedestrian economic growth under this governor. We lag behind the regional pace of job creation and recovery. While Walker campaigned on creating jobs, he instead spent the past year-and-a-half on an entirely different agenda that raises his national political profile.

Under Walker's watch, not only has Wisconsin ranked near the bottom of the Big 10 on jobs, we have suffered the deepest cuts to education in state history. Hardworking men and women faced an unprecedented attack on their workplace rights. A war on women has been waged that has weakened protections for equal pay and jeopardized women's health. He raised taxes on seniors and low-income working people, while he gave his special-interest allies $2.3 billion in massive tax giveaways.

Through it all, questions continue to swirl about the criminal corruption investigation into Walker's time as Milwaukee County executive. Six of his associates have been charged with 15 felonies and three misdemeanors. Walker has opened a criminal defense fund, bankrolled by powerful and wealthy right-wing activists. While he claims he is not a target of the probe, we know that state law allows these funds only for those under investigation or facing charges. And he has refused to release to the public emails about the investigation.

Clearly, we need a new path forward.

I'm running for governor to put Wisconsin first, not my own political career. I'm running to fight for jobs, not ideology. And I'm running to restore trust and integrity to state government. I'll never need a criminal defense fund paid for by billionaire donors, and I certainly won't dodge questions on my record or hide information from the public.

That's why in this campaign I've been taking my message directly into neighborhoods, pulling up a lawn chair and listening to people. I've been shaking hands with people holding Scott Walker signs. I have no desire to be a rock star to the far right - or the far left - but I promise to be rock solid for the people of Wisconsin.

My priority is Wisconsin. I'm running to restore trust, accountability and honesty to our state government. I'm running to put Wisconsin first, to focus on jobs, to strengthen education and to protect SeniorCare and BadgerCare.

We cannot afford to keep a governor who is most interested in his own job and his special interest allies. We cannot afford to keep a governor who prioritizes his reputation with the radical right wing across the country by dividing Wisconsin.

I hope to earn your vote on June 5 so that we can work to restore Wisconsin values and priorities. Together, we can move our great state forward.

Tom Barrett is mayor of Milwaukee and the Democratic candidate in the recall election.