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Home > Programs > Gov. Project > Holton '99 > Transcripts

Gov. Baliles's Introductory Remarks

Good evening, everyone. Last year, when I took this podium on behalf of former Governor Mills Godwin, it seemed a poignant and important occasion. That proved to be the case.

I cannot tell you how many people have since remarked how fortunate it was that the first Governor's Conference occurred when it did … and how much each of us took away from it. I think we have all long appreciated Professor Sabato's insights … or, if not appreciated, we certainly pretended to respect them!

But, in this case, Dr. Sabato has created something even more worthwhile than usual. With these conferences, he has us remembering and evaluating the choices of past Virginia governors, the events surrounding their administrations and what this all teaches us about the future.

Tonight, my duty is a happy one. I am here to introduce a friend and a great Virginian.

One note: I think it's important for all former Virginia governors to refer to each other as "great" … and I do it this evening, Linwood, with reciprocity in mind.

But I think I would get a consensus here in favor of that superlative, anyway.

Of course, I will admit that I didn't always feel that way myself.

To the contrary, when this man was elected governor in 1969, I felt -- like most loyal Democrats -- that the world had come to an end.

But, you know, this fear of the unknown proved to be completely unjustified.

I had an unusual perspective on this administration. Remember, we had a Democrat for Attorney General back then - Andrew Miller. And it wasn't that the Governor and the Attorney General didn't get along. They just wouldn't talk to each other!

I ended up, as a young Assistant Attorney General, as the go-between … a sort of shuttle diplomat. I picked up a lot of conflict resolution skills in the process.

The then new Governor Holton certainly stirred up the waters. He wanted a cabinet government - and many people couldn't figure out what was wrong with the agency heads, who after all had been running things just fine since the Civil War.

And the governor said, that's just the point.

And he knew what he was doing. His new DMV Commissioner did a world of good … Vern Hill made the agency a model of efficiency and customer service.

The new Council on the Environment provided some needed oversight on environmental policies and planning. In an act of true foresight, I remember Governor Holton insisted on strengthening the Water Control Board and freezing building permits in rapidly growing Northern Virginia until local sewage treatment plants were upgraded and expanded.

That was a "first things" first approach that we could stand more of right now.

I quickly learned to respect this man's judgment and commitment to Virginia.

Later, as Governor, I had the pleasure to appoint him to chair the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority to oversee the acquisition, consolidation and rebuilding of National and Dulles Airports. He got things moving - very quickly.

I also supported his appointment to be Director of Virginia's Center of Innovative Technology … and he helped remove it as a political target and made sure we didn't send exactly the wrong message to the emerging high-tech computer industry in Northern Virginia.

I also remain profoundly grateful for his service on the 1986 Commission on Transportation for the 21st Century. We had some work to do and Republican support was essential. We got it, thanks to Governor Holton's leadership.

I mention all this only to make the point that while Linwood Holton campaigned as a partisan, he governed as a Virginian. He put the Commonwealth's interests before his party's interests and never confused the two.

And, you know, it cost him on the party side.

But, I think, history will make up for it. This man played an historic role in the improvement of race relations in this state. Instead of standing in the school house door, he walked his kid through it. That will be remembered forever.

Governor Holton was a man of reason, who used his powers to persuade rather than intimidate, to reason with his opponents rather than run roughshod over them.

He knew who he was, where he was going and what needed to be accomplished. Possessed of a sharp sense of humor and guided by his moral compass, he insisted on doing the right thing by everyone.

So, while at times Governor Holton may have been prophet without honor in his own party, here tonight gather individuals from both parties, friends of the Commonwealth and friends of his, to thank him-and his First Lady, Jinx … for their enduring and often remarkable leadership in Virginia.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and pleasure to introduce a wonderful friend and a great Virginian, the Honorable Linwood Holton, former Governor of Virginia.

Continue to Governor Holton's Remarks