I lived in NM during Johnson's tenure as governor, and he did a good job. When he left office, the state had $$ in the bank. Bill Richardson came along and pissed it all away (and then some) on his choo-choo project, among other things. Johnson was hated by the Dems in the capital because he vetoed all their stupid spending bills, but he was generally popular.
I know a guy who lived in the Minnesota town where Jesse Ventura was Mayor. Says he likewise did an excellent job and kept spending in line.
Sometimes the cranial fuse blows afterwards.