Message to Ventura: Words matter
Published 12:00 am Monday, April 5, 1999
Curtis Williams
Dear Governor-Elect Ventura:&t;!—-&t;.
Monday, April 5, 1999
Dear Governor-Elect Ventura:
Again, congratulations on your November victory. You caught quite a few of us by surprise-just as you said you would. Many of us didn’t believe you, but enough of us voted for you to put you in charge of the state’s administration in Saint Paul for the next four years.
You’ve got a big job ahead of you. You will need to use all of the training and experience you have gained in your previous careers, as well as what appears to be your considerable marketing savvy to be an effective leader of this state.
Your traveling around the state is a good idea, giving you an opportunity to hear form citizens who all look to the state to provide innumerable services. Listen to these people. While not all of them voted for you, you are now responsible for representing all these people’s interests as governor.
But at least as good as it is that you are getting to see the state’s citizens, they are getting a chance to see you. Let’s face it, you’re a unique character on the state’s political scene, and the more comfortable people are with you and your way of thinking, the better you’ll be able to communicate with them when you need support.
The view from here is that you are finding good people from whom to seek advice. Learn what it is that you do not know, and continue to seek counsel about those subjects. The concept that &uot;anyone&uot; can serve as governor is a nice notion, but it’s a big job and there are lots of people counting on you. You say you’ll do the best you can, and we believe you. Make sure you get the help you need so your best is good enough.
Fight hard for those things in which you believe. You do not come across as someone unwilling to take hard stands, but many political mavericks have been broken by a system that, not too subtly encourages conformity. Be willing to be unpopular if you know you’re right. Popularity in politics is overrated anyway. There are too many polls, and too many people paying attention to them.
On a more specific vocational note, realize that what you say matters.
While in Albert Lea this week, you said, &uot;Just remember that when I say certain things to the press, sometimes I’m givin’ it to ’em. So they’re going to write a lot of stuff; don’t get worried about what they write. Listen to what I tell you, you know, not what they write. You know, because they’re out to sell newspapers. I gotta lead them on a little bit, because that makes good copy, and they make more money and the economy does better.&uot;
A sense of humor is great. You’ve got one, and it will serve you during the coming years. But remember that when you speak to the newspapers, you are also speaking to those that read the newspapers. If you see someone taking notes while you’re speaking, it might be safe to assume that you are speaking to a wider group of people than you can see at that moment.
Say what you mean, we’ll work hard to be fair in our coverage. And if we’re both doing our jobs well, the newspapers will sell just fine.
Good luck, Mr. Ventura. We’re glad you stopped by this week, and hope you come back often.