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Awards offered for government efficiency ideas

February 10, 2004 By Dennis Chaptman

Public workers with innovative ideas on how to improve the quality and efficiency of government at all levels in Wisconsin can compete for $500 awards being administered by the UW–Madison Department of Political Science.

Gov. Jim Doyle applauded the effort to spark new ideas to make government more responsive and efficient.

“At a time when government budgets are stretched thin, it is important that we all stay focused on spending every taxpayer dollar efficiently while delivering the highest quality services,” says Doyle.

Mark Beissinger, chair of the Department of Political Science, adds that he hopes the awards will spur creative thinking about how government can work better.

“We believe that the future of our state is directly connected with the degree to which we encourage creative thinking about the problems we face,” Beissinger says.

The Lloyd D. Gladfelter Awards, established through a gift from the Milwaukee Foundation Corporation to the UW Foundation, are designed to honor public employees whose suggestions for the improvement of government at the federal, state, county or local level have the most merit.

The awards come at a time in which governments have struggled to find creative ways to trim budgets and maintain services in the face of declining tax revenues.

Workers can apply for the award electronically at www.polisci.wisc.edu/alumni/award.asp.

The deadline for application has been extended to March 12, and elected officials are not eligible for the award. The award application calls for a description of the idea, including its rationale, ways in which it is expected to improve government and its possible costs and potential savings.

A three-person selection panel consisting of Michael Bright, president of the Madison-based Bright Consulting Inc., former Madison Mayor Joel Skornicka and Dennis Dresang, a UW–Madison political science professor, will review the applications. More than one winner could be named.

Beissinger says winners will be honored at a March 27 dinner marking the Department of Political Science’s 100th anniversary.

“This is an exciting opportunity to evoke creative thinking among our public employees and to pay tribute to their innovative ideas,” Beissinger says. “The Gladfelter Awards potentially could have a palpable impact on the betterment of public services in the state of Wisconsin.”