Candidates hope skimpy resumes won't hurt their chances

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- If Corinne Wood becomes Illinois' next governor, she will enter office with a grand total of six years of major government experience -- much of it spent on the campaign trail.

Another candidate, Rod Blagojevich, would bring just eight years of government experience to the job, half of it spent in Washington.

Patrick Quinn can offer voters four years in state office and four in an obscure branch of Cook County government. Paul Vallas has never held elected office, although he ran Chicago's immense school system for years.

But limited time in office -- by itself -- should not be a hindrance, either in getting elected or serving well, say some experts on Illinois government and politics.

"A long resume as an elected official doesn't mean jack" was the blunt assessment from Tari Renner, head of Illinois Wesleyan University's political science program.

James R. Thompson was elected governor after serving several years as U.S. attorney in Chicago and never holding elected office. He ended up serving 14 years and, whatever you may think of his policies, proved himself a master of Illinois government and politics.

Thompson said most people look beyond experience when deciding how to vote, especially for governor.

"I think voters try to take the measure of the person. They try to identify what I refer to as 'people bonds' -- things that link the candidate to the voters: ideas, concerns, family, even hobbies," Thompson said.

Decide and move on

And the key to being a good governor, he said, is not knowing all about state government the moment you walk in the door. It's setting the right course, making good decisions and handling complex matters quickly, he said.

"I had to learn fast, make a decision and move on. You have to do that three or four times a day in the governor's office," Thompson said.

Of course, experience helps prepare a new governor for that, he said, and a history of accomplishments can help a candidate make those "people bonds" with voters.

Wood, now the lieutenant governor, was a private attorney and counsel to the state commissioner of banks and trusts before being elected to the Illinois House. She took office in January 1997 and by November was on the campaign trail as Republican George Ryan's running mate.

"I don't think it's the length of time you've been in elective office. It's what you've done while you've been in office," she said.