Toll Fellows

2009 Toll Fellow Matt Dunlap annouces run for US Senate

Former Maine Secretary of State and member of the 2009 Toll Fellows class, Matt Dunlap has launched a campaign for the US Senate.  Dunlap is competing in the Democratic primary and ultimately hopes to unseat incumbent US Senator Olympia Snowe. 

Prior to announcing his run for the Senate, Dunlap spent six years as the Secretary of State and eight years in the state House of Representatives.

Maine election preview

2009 Toll Fellow Matthew Dunlap shared his thoughts as he looks ahead to next week's elections.  Dunlap is currently Maine's Secretary of State.

In Maine, like elsewhere, this has evolved into a fascinating election year. A hotly contested race for the open governor's seat initially had 23 candidates file papers for the campaign, which, since the primary, has been winnowed down to five--a Democrat, Republican, and three independents, one of whom is left-leaning with the other two considered more conservative. Pundits have had a difficult time figuring out where voters are going, and with about a week to go, better than 20% of likely voters are still undecided. Of less high profile are the congressional races, where some major newspapers have endorsed the two Republican challengers to the Democratic incumbents, who still maintain comfortable leads in the polls. A statewide referendum on casino gambling has gotten very little play; a repeat question, it has traditionally sparked vigorous campaigns in the past, indicating the intensity of the governor's race.

The operative mysteries in Maine are twofold--exactly how much real traction does the Tea Party movement have with the general electorate? While across the country as well as Maine, Tea Partiers have made their voices heard in the primary nomination process, it remains to be seen if that reflects wider voter dissatisfaction. Also, the polls themselves have been highly volatile, and a recent Pew study shows that the decline of land line telephones--the staple tool of the pollster--may be leaving a large part of the population under-represented in polling data. But all candidates say the same thing--the only polls that matter are the ones that close at the end of Election Day.

 

Make CSG your 2010 election headquarters! 

09 Toll Matt Dunlap on "FOX and Friends"

Current National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) President and 2009 Toll Fellow Matt Dunlap was featured last week on "FOX and Friends" to discuss the MOVE Act and it's impact on the upcoming elections. Check it out!

 

CSG mourns loss of 2009 Toll Fellow David Schanker

 

 

Dear Toll Fellows -

It is with great sadness that I share the news that David Schanker, Class of 2009, died Monday, July 5 from complications following a  heart transplant he received a few months ago.  David was a multi-talented man who brought a great deal of energy and insight to lat year's Toll Fellows Program.  An accomplished legalist, David left private practice in Indianapolis to work in the public sector - most recently with the Wisconsin Supreme Court as their law clerk.  While with the Supreme Court David worked tirelessly to improve public access to the legal system, championing online court records and user-friendly legal forms.

Outside the courtroom, two of David's true passions were writing and drama.  During his short life he wrote countless fictional pieces that were featured in several magazines, The Chicago Tribune and on NPR's "The Sound of Writing".  His most recent work, a play entitled "Kiritsis" was a finalist for the 2009 Wisconsin Wrights Competition and was recently staged by The Forward Theatre Company.  It is to this theatre that David's family has asked donations be sent in lieu of flowers.  A memorial service is planned for Sunday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society in Madison.

Our thoughts and prayers are with David's family, including his wife, Suzanne, and four children during this difficult time.  I count myself lucky to have gotten to know David during Tolls and am deeply saddened by his passing.  The citizens of Wisconsin and The Council of State Governments benefited greatly from David's service.  He will be missed and remembered.

Truly-
David Adkins

Condolences may be sent to:
Suzanne Schanker & family
722 Emerson Street
Madison, WI  53715

Memorial donations may be sent to:
The Forward Theatre Company
PO Box 14574
Madison, WI  53708
 www.forwardtheatre.com

2009 Toll Herman Williams named to Delta Leadership Board

Herman Williams, external affairs director for Gov. Mike Beebe, was recently named the Arkansas representative for the Delta Leadership Network board of directors. The Delta Leadership Network is an alumni group for the Delta Leadership Institute, a year-long leadership program designed to foster regional understanding and engagement. The training includes innovative leadership, change strategy, collaboration and project management.  Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

2009 Toll Joe Doyle recognized for accomplishments

Joe Doyle, Georgia's administrator of Customer Service, was recently recognized in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution for his successful efforts to improve his state's customer service record.  The article noted that Doyle's effort have drawn praise and attention from Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark and the White House.

Where many states' efforts to improve customer service are focused on improvements made at the agency level, Doyle implemented a program that was instituted across the state's bureaucracy.

"There has never been an initiative with specific strategies and tactics and long-term commitment like Governor Perdue has had to remake the entirety of state government," said Doyle.

You can read the entire article or contact Joe for additional information.

Class of 2009 joins distinguished list of Toll Fellows

CSG would like to welcome 37 new inductees into the distinguished list of Toll Fellows Alumni.  This year's class boasted an impressive resume of leaders including three secretaries of state, a Supreme Court justice, a treasurer, several cabinet members, a speaker and legislative leaders from across the country. 

The 2009 Toll Fellows Program included training on leadership personality types, political communication, appreciative inquiry and collaborative governance.  In addition, the class made the annual trek to the Asbury College Challenge Course for a rigorous afternoon of team-building exercises.  The focus on team work and collaboration was continued that night when class members were asked to prepare their own dinner in the hotel kitchen.  Each region was assigned one of four tasks- set-up, beverage service, salads/desserts and entrees. The exercise was a hands-on lesson in high pressure leadership and coordination.  In the end, the meal was delicious!

Congratulations to the Class of 09!