Update on MT, WV, and UT Gubernatorial Races of 2004

Human Events Online ^ | 08-24-03 | Gizzi, John

[Theodore R.]

STATEHOUSE UPDATE

To the surprise of few, two governors who have been mired in controversy announced last week that they would not seek re-election in ’04. Democrat Robert Wise of West Virginia and Republican Judy Martz of Montana both cited their need to deal with personal troubles as the chief reason for standing down. Wise had recently admitted an extramarital affair. Martz conceded she had cared for and washed the clothes of her top policy adviser after he crashed a car, killing the state house majority leader. She harbored him overnight without calling the police. Montana’s first woman governor, however, insisted that her desire to spend more time with her husband (who stayed in Butte after she moved to the governor’s residence in Helena) was the chief reason for her exit. With polls showing Martz’s approval ratings at record lows, three Republican heavyweights had already announced their intention to run for governor regardless of what she did. The almost-certain Democratic nominee is businessman Brian Schweitzer, who lost a squeaker of a Senate race to Republican Conrad Burns in 2000.

Similarly, Wise was facing a renomination challenge from Secretary of State Joe Manchin. While Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R.) had disappointed many West Virginia Republicans by announcing that she would not run for the governorship held by her father from 1968-76 and 1988-92, at least three GOPers were vying for their party’s gubernatorial nomination.

Days before the announced exits of Wise and Martz, President Bush tapped Utah’s three-term Republican Gov. Mike Leavitt to be head of the Environmental Protection Administration. Leavitt, never a popular figure with right-of-center Republicans was almost sure to face a renomination challenge had he opted for a fourth term—most likely from former Rep. (1980-2002) and House Interior Committee Chairman Jim Hansen. Now it is unclear what will happen should the governor be confirmed and fellow Republican and Lt. Gov. Oline Walker becomes the first woman governor of the Beehive State. Meanwhile, Utah Democrats have apparently recruited their strongest gubernatorial standard-bearer in recent years—Scott Matheson, Jr. , namesake-son of Utah’s popular governor from 1976-84 and brother of Salt Lake City-area Rep. Jim Matheson. John Gizzi is Political Editor of HUMAN EVENTS.

[jocon307]

"Martz conceded she had cared for and washed the clothes of her top policy adviser after he crashed a car, killing the state house majority leader. She harbored him overnight without calling the police."

This sounds kinda bad. Why didn't we hear about this, but we can hear about the unfortunate Laci Peterson? I mean, her guy killed another guy, an elected State rep, she covers it up, and I only find out about it now, in a round-up piece?

Enquiring minds want to know!

[Theodore R.]

There was some mention of this, but of course it was not widely reported. It was an accident, not murder, as in the case of Laci Peterson. I don't know why Martz proved to be such a poor governor. She was originally billed as a "conservative." I don't know why her husband insisted staying in Butte, which is a long drive from Helena.