The 'legacy' thing

Barnie Day was a Democratic delegate from Patrick County from his election in 1997 through the 2001 session. A former county administrator and business owner, he is now a banker.

Says UVa’s Larry Sabato: "Sure, I’ll buy that ... most normal people, unlike you and I, don’t reserve large portions of their brain for remembering governors. So we’re all looking for a theme for Mark Warner."

And he continues: "Frankly, I believe that legacy/theme may already be the 'businessman as governor' management of one of the state’s worst financial crises in history. It isn’t sexy, but it may be precisely what the people of Virginia want at this time."

A few weeks ago John "Til" Hazel, Jr., NOVA (Northern Virginia) -- heavyweight businessman, developer, mover, shaker, player -- tagged Warner, disparagingly, in a Washington Post piece by Robert Melton, as being reduced to a "ceremonial" governor.

Here’s the thing: politically, it doesn’t matter. No, it may be more than that. The characterization, uttered, surely, out of a sense of frustration on Hazel’s part, may reflect exactly what most Virginian’s see, and even want, in a governor. "Ceremonial" may best describe where the governorship is in the public mindset.

If that be the case, how else to account for Warner’s consistently high public approval ratings? If so, then our good governor is a little more astute, a little more nimble, than some of us have given him credit for being.

Says Sabato: "Since Mills Godwin’s first term (1966-1970), we’ve been used to most governorships having an overarching theme that eventually becomes 'the legacy': Godwin -- sales tax and community college, Holton-two-party competition and race relations, Robb -- primary and secondary education, Baliles -- transportation and trade, Wilder -- racial breakthrough and rainy day fund, Allen -- no parole, Gilmore -- no car tax."

So where does Warner shake out in this line-up? Basically, we’re down to two candidates for the "legacy" prize: tax reform, which, despite its worthiness, lathers up about 10 people statewide, and the ol’ reliable (as far as Democrats are concerned), educational funding. (Warner’s learning-for-a-lifetime gig opens statewide next week.)

If Hazel’s "ceremonial' tag is to stick, and I believe that it might, then I also think a case can be made that Warner is the first "ceremonial" governor since Tom Stanley, who served from 1954-58.

The "legacy" thing didn’t bother Stanley much either. Hand-picked, some say reluctantly, by Harry Byrd, Stanley, by most estimates, did well just to hang on day-to-day.

"Stanley was not considered by Byrd and others to be terribly bright," Sabato says.

Is it a coincidence that Stanley was also Virginia’s last "business" governor?

Maybe. It may be that a pure business background drives a set of practicalities typically unrecognized by those who see things only through political lenses.

Democratic partisans, this one included, have, from time to time, tried to convince Warner that what is needed is more combativeness. We want to see the political waters turn a little red once in a while. Of course, he has demurred. Perhaps with good reason.

"For now, Warner has chosen a practical path that keeps his popularity high and therefore gives him a pass to the 'next round' -- whatever that next round of politics may be," Sabato says.

"I believe he has sized up the basic conditions -- lousy economy and a legislature firmly in the control of the opposition party -- and said, ''This is all I can reasonably accomplish. Perhaps I can do more in the future.' "

No, not exactly blood in the water, but, says Sabato, it may be "all that is politically feasible."

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