WILSON GIVES BACK MONEY TO SUPPORTERS

Missouri Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson has done what, for a politician, seems an unnatural act. He has refunded his donors' campaign donations.

Wilson served 13 years in the Missouri Senate before winning election to the first of two terms as lieutenant governor in 1992. Throughout that time he never concealed a longtime ambition: To serve, some day, as governor. Until this year, most of his career had seemed to point toward that goal. He had formed a committee that was raising healthy, six-figure sums for his gubernatorial race in 2000. Then, earlier this year, he stunned most observers by announcing his withdrawal from the race for governor. Saying he wanted to spend more time with his wife and two children, Wilson withdrew from the race for the top spot but didn't rule out another possible run for his current job in 2000.

At the time of his withdrawal, Wilson said he would offer refunds to the contributors who had backed him for governor. This he has now done. Wilson's committee has prepared about 1,300 checks to the contributors who backed his candidacy and mailed them out. A total of about $225,000 will be returned.

Wilson is a jovial and well-liked figure in the halls of the state Capitol. By following through and returning the money as he pledged, he has likely won new admirers who might support him for any future race he may choose to make.