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Huckabee takes leadership role Sunday, Jul 17, 2005 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau DES MOINES - Gov. Mike Huckabee appeared a little fidgety late Saturday afternoon as the opening plenary session of the National Governors Association went later than expected. "Way behind," the governor said later when asked by a reporter how the first day of the NGA annual meeting was going. It was almost 5:30 p.m. and the session was supposed to have ended at 4:30 p.m. "It's a good program but I'm persnickety about scheduling. I always get a little frustrated when things don't go on schedule," he said. Later in a hotel elevator Huckabee could be heard joking with his staff that when he is chairman of the NGA the schedule will run on time. Huckabee, now vice chairman of the NGA, will become chairman for the 2005-2006 year on Monday. The office will put the governor on a national platform and his key initiative during the upcoming year will be a nationwide Health America campaign. His goal will be to develop a national plan to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases and to provide incentives for Americans to practice healthier habits. The role of NGA chairman is challenging and rewarding and Huckabee appears to be ready, said John Thomasai, director of the NGA's Center for Better Practices. Thomasai has worked with Huckabee during the past year as the Arkansas governor has been promoting the education initiatives of current NGA chairman Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia. Thomasai said he expects to see more of the governor over the next year. "As vice chairman his job has been to serve as a consensus builder with the chairman of NGA," Thomasai said. "He's been a tremendous partner with Governor Warner." As NGA chairman, Thomasai said, Huckabee will be very busy promoting his Health America initiative, but he also will spend a great deal of his time advocating various issues for all the governors and their states. "His being chairman will consume a lot of his time, but about 60 percent of what he does will be things other than his initiative, things not related," Thomasai said. Thomasai and others at the NGA on Saturday also discussed the national exposure Huckabee will receive during the year and how it will help should he have any aspirations to seek higher office, such as president. Huckabee has downplayed any talk about his future plans, saying he is looking forward to serving as NGA chairman and completing his 18 months left as governor. "The NGA does provide you with a national platform," Thomasai said. "There's no question that it gives you a national stage." "Governor Huckabee is an incredibly articulate man and I think people will want to hear what he has to say this year." Long-time Washington Post political columnist David Broder, who is attending the NGA, said Huckabee appears to have all the qualifications to be a candidate for president. "He has a good story to tell," Broder said, noting that the governor has received national attention for completing a marathon and his weight-loss book, "Quit digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork." Broder also said that many consider Huckabee a national leader on education issues. "The presidential race is a wide open race," Broder said. "Governors get nominated and elected and (Huckabee) has as good shot as any of them." Several governors attending the NGA this weekend have indicated they are considering running for president in 2008. They include Republicans George Pataki of New York and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and Democrats Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Mark Warner of Virginia and Tom Vilsack of Iowa. Vilsack was a finalist for the Democratic vice presidential nomination last year. Huckabee, who is vice chairman of this year's NGA, Warner, who is chairman, and Vilsack, hosted a morning news conference to discuss the goals of the conference. Reporters raised the subject of the presidency, but all three declined to answer, saying their main goal was making sure the NGA meeting went well. |
