With the 1994 elections a new generation of gubernatorial leadership has been swept into office. Among those swept out of incumbent power was Mario Cuomo. Cuomo, shining orator of the 1984 Democratic Party Convention, was up for his fourth term as Governor of the State of New York. His defeat was decisive - and it was humiliating. A national political figure, known for his idealism, political acumen and legal wisdom, Cuomo was defeated by a novice state senator, George Pataki, whose public profile only weeks before the election was still characterized by the comment "George Who?" (Brookhiser 22; Buckley 71). That New York voters were willing to discard a respected leader in favor of an unknown brings into focus the particularly fragile, singularly responsible, character of gubernatorial leadership.
What are a governor's duties and what importance should be attached to the position? The definition of both relies somewhat on the variables of state tradition and individual personality of the office holder. Much like the presidency of the United States, a state governorship is essentially an elected administrative position - administrative management. Money is the governor's ultimate management tool; from it emanates the power of persuasion to the governor's will. To a lesser or greater degree depending upon constitutional interpretation (state and federal), a governor, like the president, wields his or her power in the way he allocates the state's budget resources. There are opportunities for negative leadership: the veto can stall or defeat legislation unwanted by the governor. By and large, though, gubernatorial leadership has traditionally involved a positive momentum of bully pulpit advocacy, behind-the-scenes politicking and legally-allowed favor distribution - all as part of the "administrative" process.
Formally, the power of a governor depends upon the power of the state government. Historically, the power of...