RICHMOND — Gov. Mark Warner will spend his last 20 months in office improving troubled schools, ensuring that state government spends money wisely and addressing childhood obesity.
In an interview with The Washington Times, the Virginia Democrat said his administration has been dealing with the state’s budget shortfall since he took office in January 2002. Mr. Warner said once the state legislature approves a new two-year budget, he wants to continue working on the changes he proposed in education and other areas.
“We set out some pretty broad goals at the beginning,” Mr. Warner told The Times last week. “I want a progress report from everyone once the budget battles are past us.”
Under Virginia law, governors cannot serve consecutive terms.
Improving education is the administration’s primary focus.
Mr. Warner said he wants to “push” on the program that would improve troubled schools. He wants to give principals bigger salaries, more training and more authority so they can fix problems at their schools.
Mr. Warner also wants to give high school students an opportunity to earn an industry-level certification. As a result, students who can’t or don’t go to college will still have a certificate.
“That would raise somebody’s earning power by five, six, seven thousand dollars,” he said.
In addition, Mr. Warner wants schools to help those students not graduating this year pass the Standards of Learning requirements by using online courses and weekend academies.
Mr. Warner said the state is performing efficiency reviews of schools, as kindergarten through 12th-grade education will get an increase in funding in the next two years.
“I want to make sure those dollars are well-spent,” he said.
Obesity among children and among those living on Medicaid is one of Mr. Warner’s newest priorities; one he hopes to tackle before his term ends.
Mr. Warner said the topic was one of several discussed at a recent National Governors Association convention.
“What really concerns me, and I’ve been pleased to see gaining a lot of national attention, is the rate of obesity in kids,” said Mr. Warner, who will be chairman of the national association in August.
Mr. Warner does not have a plan to combat obesity in children yet. But he said he wants to develop a program that offers incentives for better eating habits and exercise plans to prevent obesity.
Streamlining the government is another issue he wants to address before he steps down as governor.
Mr. Warner hopes to work with the legislature’s Cost-Cutting Caucus to apply business principles to every area of government.
To save money, Mr. Warner said, the state is looking into its real estate and vehicle fleet, and officials are working to make sure their purchases are cost-effective.
In addition, the Warner administration will work on transportation, public safety, technology, natural resources and economic development.
For example, Mr. Warner said he would like to see more “hot lane” concepts developed and make sure the Department of Transportation is spending public dollars wisely.
“It’s not like our transportation problems have gone away,” he said.
Meanwhile, the race for governor will be ramping up early next year.
Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine will run on the Democratic ticket. Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore is expected to be the Republican nominee.
Mr. Warner said he will likely do some campaigning during the race, and he will attend the Democratic National Convention in Boston this summer.
Mr. Warner’s name has been mentioned as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.
When asked about this, Mr. Warner said, “I haven’t talked to Senator Kerry since he was here for the primary” in February.
Mr. Warner did not say if he has spoken to anyone else in Mr. Kerry’s camp.
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