Throughout his storied career, which has ranged from serving in the state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives to working in state agencies, education, and private industry, Peter Barca (MA ’82) has maintained a strong focus on making a difference in the lives of Wisconsinites, small business prosperity, and equity.
Barca, who was appointed as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) by Governor Tony Evers in January 2019, is motivated by trying to make government work better for citizens and empowering them to have a say in the process. At the DOR, his goal is to provide excellent customer service and create a welcoming place to work. The department has received a 99% approval rating in response to their customer service survey, and Barca notes that a recent caller was so happy with their interaction with a DOR agent that they said it renewed their faith in government.
A lifelong resident of Kenosha and Somers, a village in Kenosha County, Barca was drawn to stay in Wisconsin because of the state’s progressive reputation and the fact that it is a leader in many areas. He is a strong believer in the Wisconsin Idea and the importance of bringing the research of the university to the people of Wisconsin, and he encourages public policy graduates to consider staying in Wisconsin because of the many opportunities available.
Barca served in the state legislature from 1985 through 1993 and again in 2009 through 2019, including seven years as the Assembly Minority Leader. He worked with the Assembly Speaker to develop a memorandum of understanding and to create productive bipartisan taskforces. In 1993, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served through 1994. Barca played a role in passing a wide range of legislation, including 2014 legislation that requires health plans in Wisconsin to provide the same coverage for chemotherapy drugs taken as pills as they do for chemotherapy administered intravenously. In 2018, Barca helped shepherd legislation that provided telecommunications assistance to deaf and hard of hearing people. He also delivered results in his district, securing funding for a community center, and helping to provide housing for seniors.
Following his time in Congress, Barca served for nearly five years as the Midwest Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration during the Clinton Administration. After being elected to represent Wisconsin’s 64th district in 2008, Barca became chair of the Partnership for a Stronger Economy. As part of this role, he traveled around the state meeting with small business owners and economic development professionals to craft an economic plan for Wisconsin. Inviting business owners into the process made a big difference, says Barca. “They liked being heard.” Some of the business owners he talked to went on to testify at the State Capitol about how Wisconsin could improve circumstances for small businesses. Barca helped to pass around 100 different initiatives related to small businesses during his time in the state legislature.
Early in his career, Barca served in the education, employment, and training fields, and as director of the Friendship Camp, where he worked with children with special needs. He also worked for many years in the private sector, including as President of Aurora Associates International, a global project management company focusing on international development.
While completing his MA from the La Follette School’s predecessor, the Center for the Study of Public Policy and Administration, Barca was a self-proclaimed math geek. Professors Denis Dresang and Jack Huddleson transformed his way of thinking into one that took a more mathematical approach. Beyond the quantitative analysis skills he learned, Barca says he gained many lifelong relationships at La Follette. While he did not have a specific career in mind while in school, he took several leadership courses knowing that “proactive, positive leadership makes a huge difference.”
Several La Follette School students have interned in Barca’s office, and he says he has been impressed with the skills they brought to the job. He advises people starting out in a public policy career to focus on building relationships early on, and to avoid burning bridges. “That person you burned bridges with might be a key person in moving a bill forward one day,” he says. Barca also emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning through conferences, talks, and other opportunities, and being open to career changes and possibilities. “I ended up doing things in my career I would have never expected.”
Alumni in the Spotlight
To celebrate La Follette’s 40th anniversary, we are highlighting alumni throughout 2024 who influence policymaking at the highest levels in government, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations across the country and abroad.