Thinking of our Governor

There are times when it just doesn't seem right to write about politics, issues or whatever current event of controversy is on my mind. This is one of those times.\nOn Monday, Indiana's governor (our governor), Frank O'Bannon, suffered from what doctors called a "massive stroke" in Chicago, where he is in critical condition. You have no doubt heard about the story, which led local news coverage and graced the front page of Hoosier newspapers statewide. \nEvents such as this, when our leaders are stricken, force us to give pause and reflect on those who are in our thoughts. O'Bannon has been our governor since 1997. Before that, he was the lieutenant governor and a state senator. The consummate Hoosier, O'Bannon was raised in Corydon, Ind., and he received his undergraduate and law degrees from IU, with a stint in the Air Force separating the two.\nWhile we hope Gov. O'Bannon's service to Indiana will not be cut short by his condition, I'd like to discuss some of the attributes that make him a great leader for our state.\nTo get an idea of O'Bannon's stature, one need only look to how state leaders reacted to his condition. The Indianapolis Star quoted state Senate leader Robert Garton as saying, simply, "This is just awful."\nSimilarly, House of Representatives Minority Leader Brian Bosma said, "He's always done what's best for the state. I hope he's back." Both of these men are Republicans, and as O'Bannon is a Democrat, they were frequently political adversaries. However, O'Bannon has bipartisan respect around the statehouse.\nAs a moderate Democrat in a Republican state, O'Bannon had to learn to compromise in order to succeed. He serves not as a divisive, partisan figure, but as a principled, yet flexible leader.\nAccording to the Secretary of State's Web site, his first election as governor in 1996 was an upset, 51 to 47 percent victory. In 2000, Hoosiers gave him 56 percent of the vote, despite giving another Democrat, Al Gore, only 41 percent.\nIn 2003, as a legislative intern, I was fortunate enough to witness firsthand O'Bannon's bipartisan leadership. Though Indiana is being afflicted by the national recession, he implored the legislature to focus on the future with his "Energize Indiana" plan.\nThis plan worked to move Indiana forward by providing for economic development and modernizing our economy. Despite being at the end of his tenure as governor, O'Bannon resisted political pressure and focused on providing a strong future for Hoosiers. \nAnyone involved in politics knows that when representatives are elected to two, four and six-year terms, it's difficult to get them to focus on building a long-term economic foundation. But O'Bannon did just that. His plan came under criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, but he continued to fight for his plan while accommodating compromise, and "Energize Indiana" is now the law of the land.\nAnd "Energize Indiana" is just one example of O'Bannon's leadership ability. Over his 30-plus years of public service, he has had a role in much of the progress Indiana has made.\nUnder O'Bannon's tenure, Hoosier children have seen him lead the state to a greater commitment to education. Those who met the governor, whether in a formal or informal setting, were always greeted with a thoughtful and encouraging smile.\nWhile leading Indiana through fiscal crisis, O'Bannon remained positive and optimistic. During our darkest times, he continued forward with a strong vision for our future.