Increased security in Milwaukee as governors arrive for NGA meeting

State leaders gather in Milwaukee for National Governors Association meeting

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Some of the nation's top state leaders are in Milwaukee for the National Governors Association annual meeting August 2nd through the 4th. This marks the second time NGA has held its Annual Meeting in the state since 1914.

On Thursday night, August 1st, the governors participated in a special batting clinic with a few members of the Milwaukee Brewers.

On Friday, the meeting officially begins.

Having all of these high-ranking officials in Milwaukee means increased security. A command center has been set up across the street from the Wisconsin Center, with police on horseback circling the area.

At the Hilton, chauffeured vehicles, some from out-of-state, indicate there are special guests.

Former President Bill Clinton is expected to speak over the weekend to governors from across the country, including Connecticut, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Iowa and California.

The Director of the Board for the Wisconsin Center, Franklyn Gimbel remembers the NGA meeting was last here in 1998, -- the opening event for the convention center.

"I think can be very proud that for a city its size it has extraordinary pubic assets and those public assets really are not really within the framework of knowledge of people throughout the country. They think of Milwaukee as a brat and beer town or bowling town and we are obviously more than that," Gimbel said.

In 1998, there were around 40 governors who showed for the NGA annual meeting in Milwaukee.

This time, there are reportedly 25, some speculating that the lower number is a reaction to Wisconsin's conservative and sometimes controversial Gov. Scott Walker.

Still, Milwaukee boosters look forward to showing the city's attractions, such as Discovery World and the Harley Museum, where the governors plan to visit.

"I'm really not expecting that we're going to enlist the 25 governors who showed up here to go back and roust up tourism for but I know with the national media here and the governors moving from place to place, I think some of those assets that aren't well-known around the country will get exposure in the national media and those people watching television will say hey I didn't know they had this Lakefront. I didn't know that they had this Harley museum. I didn't know they had this wonderful museum for kids to interact with modern technology. We ought to look at that place as a place to go," Gimbel said.

Topics to be discussed during the NGA meeting include education and healthcare, with formal speeches throughout the weekend.