There's something charming about an ex-governor hanging out at the public library in his small town, picking up DVDs and books on history. That would be Jim Edgar, who recently gave the Mahomet Public Library a check for $25,000 from his old campaign fund.
It kind of reminds us -- in a more modest way -- of how Harry Truman returned to Independence, Mo., after leaving the White House and walked down the street to a diner every morning to have bacon and eggs with friends.
Just plain folks.
What we like more is how Edgar is spending that campaign slush fund. Because he's grandfathered in under rules that were in place when he raised the money -- before reforms imposed in 1998 -- he can spend every dime ($2.8 million when he left office) pretty much on anything he wants. He's free to gamble it away in Vegas, buy an Italian sports car, give it to his grandchildren, sail the seven seas on a yacht -- whatever. This, in fact, has been the Illinois Way.
But as Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney reports in Monday's paper, Edgar has given much of it to good causes.
He gave $1 million to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. He gave another $150,000 to Eastern Illinois University, his alma mater.
He's still got $680,000, so let's hope he keeps up the class act.
How strange it is to pat a pol on the back. This must be what it's like living in Minnesota.
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Does any one remember anything he did for the state, while in office.
NE
nellis asks: Does anyone remember anything he (Edgar) did for the state, while in office? Response: How about managing financial affairs in a responsible manner so that he left the state with a surplus when he left office?
Great point, Mike.
Jim Edgar left office in 1999 with a $1 billion budget SURPLUS. He increased K-12 education funding, increased support for community colleges, transformed the state's welfare and social service agencies, pushed through revolutionary Chicago school reform, protected and expanded state conservation areas, expanded mental health and developmentally disabled community based services -- all through sound policy and fiscal management (without massive tax increases or government growth). Unemployment was at a record low, the state's bond rating was a record high, and bills were paid on time. The list goes on.
Maybe Nellis forgot what it was like to live in a state that wasn't a national laughingstock. I suspect a majority of Illinois' citizens do remember, and long for the kind of integrity and honest leadership that Jim Edgar provided during his time in public service.
Jim Edgar was the Walter Cronkite of recent Illinois governors -- a soothing voice,a rugged face, trusted, avuncular -- though admittedly blurry as to accomplishments. He seemed to do no harm, unlike the rascals before and after him. If only he would avoid being roped into advocating strident Republican causes, that will be his bland legacy.