Every time a new governor is elected in Virginia the opposition party has always had one consoling fact -- four years and then the newest governor-elect will be history. For Virginia is unique in America. It is the only state in the union to prohibit governors from serving consecutive terms. That may all change for the worse, though, if Gov. Mark R. Warner has his way.
Following a state commission's recommendation that Virginia governors be allowed to seek consecutive terms, Warner endorsed the idea on a news radio show ("Warner's group supports two terms," The Daily Press, Nov. 27). Under current law, Virginia governors cannot serve consecutive terms and must sit out for four years before running again.
Legislation proposed by Del. Harry R. Purkey, R-Virginia Beach, to allow for consecutive terms in office was tabled in the House of Delegate's Privileges and Elections Committee last year, according to the Daily Press. Although legislation of this kind has failed in the past, the added support of Warner and his government streamlining committees could give the bill the extra push required to make it pass.
Because of this, it must be considered a serious threat to the structure of Virginia government. Warner was quoted as supporting the change because, "By having a two-term governor, bureaucracy won't be able to out-wait the governor."
Noble intentions, but bureaucracy has never once been thwarted because a leader was granted endless terms. If entrenched bureaucrats -- like those in the Virginia Department of Transportation or other such non-elected offices -- want badly enough to do something, they will simply find ways around their elected officials or wait until the next election. Then, even if the incumbent is permitted to run again, opposing bureaucrats will fight him tooth and nail with a candidate who will support their agenda. Furthermore, if an elected official is in the same office long enough, there is nothing to keep him from becoming part of the bureaucracy. Virginia's current gubernatorial formation helps protect the people from governors who become deeply entrenched in the system and lose their effectiveness.
Some might argue that the people can simply elect a new governor and kick out those who become servants of the office and not the people. Although this is ideal in a democratic society, it is highly unlikely. People in power like to keep their power. Think back just four years ago to Maryland's 1998 gubernatorial election. Incumbent Parris Glendening unabashedly used every power in his hands to win re-election. According to both The Washington Post and the political watchdog group Americans United, Glendening promised to assist the approval of church-sponsored projects in exchange for financial and re-election support from the United Baptist Ministry Convention of Maryland. That can't be what we want in Virginia -- a governor who will exploit his office simply to earn more years in the Governor's Mansion.
Hopefully, not all politicians are susceptible to the unethical privileges they have the opportunity take advantage of because of their office. In any case, a governor who knows re-election time is around the corner will shift his focus from his job of running the state simply to running a good campaign. Thus, a governor may be ineffective anywhere from the last year to the whole second half of his or her term.
Virginians can look to the national level for an example of what a campaign can do to an elected official. Presidential elections, with primaries beginning earlier and earlier, have started to greatly cut into a president's time in office. There are still two years left in Bush's term, and already politicians are declaring their intentions to run in 2004. Bush's next two years, regardless of any good intentions, will be divided between his presidential duties and the upcoming election.
With Virginia's current set-up, a governor nearing the end of his term has no election worries. He runs the state as he sees fit, without the worries of speeches and poll numbers. Although exiting governors may now and then do a few speeches and campaigns for his party, it is nowhere near the commitment or activity level that would be required of a governor if he himself were running for office. His last years, months, and even his last weeks mean something. They aren't just flashy legislation and baby-kissing for the sake of votes.
Election woes aside, a governor allowed consecutive terms reeks of potential corruption. More time in office leads to more power to abuse. It should be noted that Virginia has a long history of uncorrupted governors. Other states can not boast the same trend.
Other advocates of continuing governorships argue that a continuity of leadership will help Virginia with its fiscal problems. There is nothing to support that idea. Plenty of states across the nation are currently facing budget crises despite the fact that their governors are allowed to run for back-to-back terms. If it's continuity that is wanted, it can easily be gained without having the same person in office for years on end. Simply elect leaders who share a continuity of ideas. A new governor with the same ideals and goals at heart for Virginia will be just as effective as a returning governor keeping control of his office.
Virginia may be the odd man out when it comes to American governors. But maybe it's not us who needs to change. Other states could learn a lesson from our corruption-free, smoothly run gubernatorial process. Maybe Virginia, the Mother of Presidents, can one day become the Mother of Governors.
(Maggie Bowden's column appears Wednesdays in
The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at mbowden@
cavalierdaily.com.)
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