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Allen's Stumbles
Governor-elect George F. Allen’s transition period has, so far, been a pretty rocky road.
Within days of his overwhelming victory, Allen and Attorney General James Gilmore declined invitations to attend a state Republican committee fundraising event, saying that they didn’t want to appear to be selling access to the new administration.
That proved the prelude to a nasty and extremely public dispute with state party chairman Patrick McSweeney, who pointedly refused Allen’s directive to resign. Their ill will apparently dates to the early days of this year’s campaign when the state committee, mindful of Allen’s position as a 30point underdog, ignored his request for donations to his thenstruggling campaign.
Last weekend, it was revealed that Allen has requested, in “Dear Public Servant” letters, the resignations of some 450 top and mid-level state officials.
Though the resignation of top political appointees is a natural part of the transition process, these requests go far beyond that customary level.
Allen’s critics charge that these actions demonstrate the first steps in what they see as a bold initiative to turn state government sharply to the right.
Though we’re not ready to levy that assessment, the governor-elect’s first moves don’t inspire us with confidence — either in his political acumen or his administrative savvy.
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