Chapter 2, State Executive Branch
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CHAPTER TWO STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The Council of State Governments 23 THE GOVERNORS, 1986-87 By Thad L. Beyle Considerable interest in gubernatorial elec Rhode lsland), and Madeleine Kunin (D.Ver. tions was expressed during 1986-87, a period mont). between presidential campaign& Fint, there Thirteen incumbent governors were constitu was considerable political activity in the form tionally ineligible to seek another term: Bob of campaigning as 39 governol"8hips were con Graham (D.Florida), George Ariyoshi (D·Ha· tested. Second, as the problema 8B8OCiated with waii), John Carlin (D.Kansas), Martha Layne the federal deficit and the ideoiogicalstance of Collins (D.Kentucky), Joseph Brennan (D the Reagan administration continued, gover Maine), Harry Hughes (D.Maryland), Thney non and other state leaders made difficult deci Anaya (D.New Mexico), George Nigh CD·Okla sions on the extent of their statal' commitment homa), Victor Atiyeh (R.Oregon), Dick Thorn· to a range ofpolicy concerns. Third was the con burgh (R.Pennsylvania), Richard Riley (D. tinuing role of the governorship in producing South Carolina), William Janklow (R.South serious presidential candidates aft.er a period Dakota), and Lamar Alexander (R.Thnne68e6). in which it was believed that governors could Seven incumbents opted to retire; George no longer be considered as potential candidates Wallace (D.Alabama), Bruce Babbitt CD-Arizo for president.) Fourth was the negative publi. na), Richard Lamm (D-Colorado), John Evans city fostered by the questionable actions of (D.Idaho). William Allain (D-Mississippi), several governors. which in one case lead to an Robert Kerry CD·Nebraska), and Ed Hershler impeachment and in two others contributed to CD ·Wyoming). the incumbent's inability to win another term. These 20 outgoing governors, 16 Democrats and four Republican&, had served a combined Gubernatorial Elections total of 165 years. M08t had been in office for two four-year terms, with only Allain, Anaya, Thirty-nine governorships were up for elec Collins and Kerry serving four years. Four had tion in 1986-87. In nineteen ofthese contests served more than eight years: Wallace (16 non· the incumbent stood for an additional term, consecutive years), AriY08hi (13 yean), Hersh· with 15 winning reelection. Of the four de ler and Lamm (12 years each). feated incumbents, Bill Sheffield of Alaska 100 There haa been a general trend in the 1980& in the Democratic party primary in 1986 and for fewer gubernatorial incumbents to seek re Democrat Edwin Edwards l08t in Louisiana's election. In the 1980-83 cycleofelections. 38 of primary in 1987. Two other Democratic in the 46 eligible incumbents ran for reelection cumbents, Mark White ofThxas and Anthony (83 percent), while in 1984-87, 26 of the 36 eligi Earl ofWisoonBin, lost in the 1986 general elec ble incumbenLs ran (72 percent). In 1986-87, 19 tions in their states. of the 26 eligible incumbents ran (73 percent). Of the 39 governorships up for election, 15 of Those incumbent.& seeking reelection in the the 19 incumbents were re-elected: Bill Clinton 1980s generally have fared weU, with 46 of 64 (D.ArkllD8ll8), George Deukmejian (R.Califor (72 percent) winning. These figures mirror the nia), William O'Neill (D·Connecticut), Joe SUcce&8 rate for incumbents seeking reelection Frank Harris (D.Georgia), James Thompson toother political offices, indicating an electoral (R.IIlinois), Terry Branstad (R.Iowa), Michael bias for the incumbent. I DukakiB (D.Massachusetts), James Blanchard Excluding the successful incumbents, a large (D-Michigan), Rudy Perpich CDFL-Minne80ta), proportion of the governors elected in 1986·87 John Sununu (R.New Hampshire), Richard Bryan <D-Nevada), Mario Cuomo(D.New York), Thad L. 8eyle i. Profeuor of Political Science at the Richard Celeste (D-Ohio), Edward DiPrete (It. University or North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 24 The Book of the States 1988-89 GOVERNORS .... ble "- COSTS OF GUBERNATORIAl. CAMPA IGNS, 198&-37 lblal campol", ""pendllu ..... (0 Win .... ', ,."'""", ..... S •• Year W All candld_. WI ..""r • pe...,.,nt,- Alaboo ..... "S. 9,990.177 .. • -8.10 Alao" HO. "D" • 8.311.219 •1.380.146 "'.... " 114.26 ANo"" M22,216 1,168,193 " " ,.. ATo."", .. """S. D' 2.252.907 1.597.163 n" "~ S." C.lifornia "" " 22.464,923 13.714.233 " " 3.16 ......00 "SS 6,2G1,938 1.797,109 5.91 Conneet.N:u\ '"D' 3.878,640 2.S60.437 .." " ,... ,"... .. 23.990.965 4.279,212 " ' .OS ,-Georyil '"0' .., ... 702,314 " "n ... Hawaii ".. 8.711.8&1 1.830.720 ".. " " " "'OS ,.... 1,8:M,373 ... "", .. 4.18 III;",,;. """ "0' 8.916.:U7 6,634.929 " 2.82 ,- ,,.... 2,990,623 1.792.324 " " ,." ~- .." 8.390.771 Ui76.269 '" " ' .00 Kenl""ky " ,oJ ,., W "".. " " " Louioi .... ,,.. 0" IS,14t.on 2.640.637 8.43 M. i"" "" .. 6,36U78 1.302.763 '"~ " -,~ "s. 4.949.163 3.689.M3 " ''''4.49 M_hUMIUl "0' (,(IM,SMI ,........ .." " 2.41 M khipn " ".. 0' 9,362.420 2.98a,839 .." ,. .. Min_ ,,.. 0 ' 4.744.363 2.032.623 " 3.41 M... I .. ippi 8,702,199 2,\162,100 ,." .." 12.08 N .....'" "" .." 3,992.790 1.486.116 ' .OS N_dl 0' 1.833,735 1,478,5$3 ,... N_ n lmpahi", """ 1.369,82S 823.616 " " "".. " "00 .." U • N .... M... ico + 2.512.787 1,630,(100 ~ .. ..., . ~ New Y<>rk ,"... .. 0' 6,998,MO MM,~ 57 ~" Ohio ,... 0 ' 1,917,191 4.79'1,218 " '.OS OkLaho"", 3.856.218 1,Z34,1U<! " .," U2 ,,.. 5,049,211 .~ "" " 2.880,230 " " -.P"nnoyl ...ni. ,... 16,168,820 7,2!11.156 .~ Rhode !oland ,... " 20445.198 1,034,498 " " 1.79 South C.roli ... " 8,866,817 3,018,144 .." " .... .. 8.43 South OakQla ,""... 2.482,094 1.1 72,662 " ,,~ .. , 14,~.8J3 UIS.698 12.10 ... " " .." ,.~ RO" 33.615,7&5 10,910,104 ~ " 478,294 "S4046 ~-, ,... .. 0' 961.893 " W_WiocolUI'n .. R' " 2,900,140 1,186.406 '" " ",,.... 2,428.892 312,877 " ".. !4.75'" 19lI6 elec\.lon totall " 254,135,951 103,724,077 " (OOlUOlS) 1981 el«<;on \0l.I011 21J!.44.2'l1 6,692,742 " (2 ""'tft) lllN-81 tota!o $215,980,222 109,:U8,819 " (38 "",<HI Sou"",,., $1.0.", cam""l", finaDOI filing offino.; The eo..no.l .. SUI", G<wern_nto; Soou Mouw Jtho Department" JAliltic. ! Scie...,., Uni...nl· ty J North CaroU ... at eM",,1 H ill;.nd Public AIr.i .. ~ Council, Louisi ..... Ullno'''''''- pri....,.;.. and renen.! .1«<10 .... '""(2) Dete r mined by di~idi"ll" total <ampol", u""nd"....... by IOUIIIiOnen.1 ele<lion _ for .he oIIi ... • Incumbent .. n and won . •• Incumbent ran and k* In party primary. ... IncumbeM ran and 100. in rene"'] .le<lion. , Open MaL -+- Inoomp!He <lola .....ly the two ",nenololoc:tion candid..... l ...luded . (a) 0..", _ available. The Council of State Governments 25 GOVERNORS had previously held a state level office. Six had which the winner spent more than other can formerly held a statewide office with two mov· didates, 13 were incumbents fighting suc 2 ing up from the treasurer's office (Roy Romer cessfully to retain their offices. In fact, of the in Colorado and Kay OtT in Nebraska) and four 18 incumbent governors seeking re-election, 14 former governors returning home (John Waihsee were the largest apenders in the race, indicat of Hawaii, acting governor in 1973·74; Cecil ing that incumbenCJ breeds more funds for a Andrus of Idaho, 1971·77; Henry Bellmon of political campaign. Oklahoma, 1962·66; and Bill Clements of Tex· A recent report indicates that running for as, 1979·83). Other stepping·off positions for lieutenant governor also is becoming expen these new governors were the state legislature sive. A critical factor is whether the governor (Mike Hayden of Kansas, George Mickelson of and lieutenant governor run as a team. In the South Dakota, Ned McWherter of Tenneasee, 1982-84 election cycle where separate reports 'Ibmrny Thompson of Wisconsin); the U.S Con· were available for those lieutenant governor gress (Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, John Me· candidates runningjointly with a governor, the Kernan of Maine, Carroll Campbell of South expenditures ranged from a high of$60,OOO, for Carolina); mayor ofmE\i<>rcity (Donald Shaefer the successful candidate in Wisconsin, to a low from Baltimore and Bob Martinez from Tam· of$4,170 fora losing candidate in Connecticut. pal; a federal office (Guy Hunt of Alabama in When the elections for the two top offices were the U.s. Department of Agriculture, former held separately, the range was from $20,795 for Assistant Secretary of Interior Garrey Car· an unsuccessful candidate in Vermont to $2.5 ruthers of New Mexico, former Secretary of million for the winner in California. Losing Transportation Neil Goldschmidt of Oregon, candidates also spent considerable sums: $2.2 former U.s. Attorney Robert Casey ofPennsyl· million in California and nearly $2 million in vania). Evan Mecham of Arizona had served in 'Thxas. The range for most of the non-team elec the state legislature, but three of the new gover· tion states was between $40,000 and $350,000, nors had no previous experience in elected and in mostcaaes it was the winning candidat.e office. spending the most.4 The 1986 race in Texas, in which former Gov. Clements unseated incumbent Gov. Mark Gubernatorial Investigations White, was the most expensive gubernatorial race ever recorded at $33.5 million. The least Since 1985, three governors have been the expensive race of the biennium was the 1986 target of investigations in their states. In 1985, successful re-election bid by Georgia Gov. Har Gov. Bill Sheffield (D.Alaska) successfully de ris at $807,000. fended his handling of a $9.1 million lease by Four years earlier, in the 1982.83 elections for the state before a special session of the state governor in these 39 states, the total expen· legislature called to consider impeaching him.