Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302150306
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
POLICY WONK
WHEN JERRY Baliles left the governor's office in January 1990, some predicted that within three years nobody would remember him. The bespectacled, cerebral Baliles - a history buff, a policy wonk - was, after all, not a dashing figure like Chuck Robb, who had preceded him as governor, or like Doug Wilder, who followed him.But isn't it interesting?
Political "star" Robb, now a U.S. senator, has lost his luster. Once the most popular politician in Virginia and widely considered a potential presidential candidate, he has been damaged by a grand jury investigation and by allegations (however vigorously he's denied them) of a wild lifestyle while he was governor.
Wilder, who rode into office on a wave of good will as the nation's first elected black governor, has seen his popularity plummet and has seemed to relish feuds with fellow Democrats. His national political aspirations are set back, if not smashed.
Baliles, meanwhile, has kept out of the limelight - but hasn't gone away. Though Florida prosecutor Janet Reno is an excellent choice for U.S. attorney general, Baliles was also prominently considered for the job. He might have gotten the nod had Bill Clinton not set his sights on appointing a woman. Baliles was also considered for commerce secretary and U.S. trade representative.
The former governor has practiced international law since leaving office (while staying out of harm's way as bullets flew around, and between, Robb and Wilder). He was well-qualified for any of the above-mentioned posts. Indeed, it should come as no surprise if the president finds another high-level spot for him. In the new Washingtonian vernacular, Baliles is an FOB (Friend of Bill).
The two men served as governors at the same time. They worked together on several projects for the National Governors Association when Baliles was that group's chairman, and as members of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.
Sandwiched between Robb and Wilder, Baliles made his mark with vision of a "New Dominion," and left his mark with solid accomplishments. He was not just a policy wonk, but a pragmatic and progressive leader who ran the state government competently.
If Clinton should happen to have another job opening for an ex-governor with that kind of track record, he could do worse than to turn to the Virginian. And if not - there's still the U.S. Senate for Baliles to consider.