Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 13, 1994 TAG: 9401130237
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long
The decision upends what already promised to be a chaotic Senate race. Political voyeurs nationwide had been awaiting the spectacle of Wilder's battling his inter-party rival Sen. Charles Robb for the right to oppose Republican and Iran-Contra figure Oliver North.
Much as he shocked Virginians by withdrawing from the presidential race at the end of his State of the Commonwealth address in 1992, Wilder appended the Senate announcement to a 33-minute speech defending his rocky four-year administration.
"Some people have asked me whether I would have preferred to have been governor at another time in history," Wilder said, referring to financial crises that he said forced him to scrap many of the goals he had when taking office. "But I am proud to have served the people of Virginia at this point in time. I have used every opportunity I have had to do what I could do, and wasted none of those opportunities to move Virginia forward."
Wilder then catalogued a list of achievements - creating a "rainy day" fund in the state budget to guard against future shortfalls, helping end apartheid by imposing economic sanctions against South Africa, winning a fight to restrict handgun purchases to one a month - that sounded for all the world like a litany of reasons to be elected to another office.
At the end of his text, he paused and said, "Now I would ask you here to permit me a digression."
It sounded familiar to those who were present for the presidential surprise in 1992; this time, though, indications were that Wilder was about to enter the race for Robb's Senate seat.
Earlier this week, Wilder was asked by reporters to quash a rumor that he was leaning against running; the governor stomped his foot on the floor and said, "I quash it."
Wilder began his announcement by running down a list of patrons who inspired and guided his unlikely rise from busboy in segregated Richmond to first black member of the state Senate since Reconstruction to first black lieutenant governor and, finally, to governor.
"They helped this raw, unbridled upstart to harness his potential and to develop a passion for leadership," Wilder said. "That spirit is unconquered and that is what lives.
"Which brings me to the point of asking whether there can be a sequel to that." And as the packed House of Delegates chamber took a collective deep breath, Wilder took a slow, intentionally dramatic drink of water.
"I don't believe so," he finally said. "I will not seek the nomination of my party for the United States Senate in 1994, nor will I be a candidate for that office."
Wilder said he had consulted only with his family before making the decision. And he was characteristically cocky about what his chances would have been: " `Could not win' is false. `Dare not run' is falser," he said.
The governor was vague about his plans. "I have not retired from seeking the answers for the problems that continue to confront us, but from seeking public office at this time," he said, adding later that "I feel the need to take another direction and to seek challenges in other areas. . . . No further comment is necessary."
The 10-minute announcement instantly overshadowed the preceding address. It was more a "State of the Wilder Administration" than anything else, as the governor attempted to reconcile the historic weight of his tenure with the reality.
After his inauguration, "some people said I had no vision," he said. "I had a vision, but mine was one of reality and not one of making promises that could not be kept. . . . Some of my fondest wishes for my first year in office had to be put aside in order to face the fiscal crisis that was before us."
Wilder credited himself for standing up to adversity by balancing the budget without a tax increase, bringing racial and gender diversity to state government and facing down all comers when he thought he was right.
"Some have called it picking fights, but I have always fought for the things in which I believed - from Korea to Virginia - and I make no apology for that," he said.
He urged legislators from both parties to cooperate with Gov.-elect George Allen, a Republican, and called on the General Assembly to pursue several issues this session, including:
Creating a way for state courts of appeal to hear new evidence for death-row inmates. The law is so strict now that it's usually up to the governor to decide life or death when a condemned man has a strong claim of innocence.
Toughening laws against drunken drivers.
Establishing a system of family courts.
Passing sweeping ethics reform, including tighter requirements for lobbyists to declare what they spend influencing legislators, and stricter conflict-of-interest laws for politicians.
But the list of priorities was almost an aside. Wilder put his speech, and his whole administration, into context at the close of his unexpected epilogue:
"Last but not least, I have been guided by destiny," he said. "And that destiny has been the hand of God. . . . I pray that our commonwealth will continue to prosper and grow, guided by his greatness, held in his hand forever. Thank you, and goodbye."
Keywords:
POLITICS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB