Jim Edgar: The Governor Who Proved Good Governance Could Work in Illinois
How One Leader's Focus on Competence Over Politics Made Illinois Thrive
In a state where governors are more likely to be remembered for their mugshots than their policies, Jim Edgar stood apart. The former Illinois governor, who passed away this week at 79, represented something increasingly rare in American politics: competent, principled leadership that put results over rhetoric.
The Fiscal Turnaround Artist
Edgar inherited a financial disaster when he took office in 1991. Illinois was drowning in a sea of unpaid bills with no life preserver in sight. While other politicians might have kicked the can down the road, Edgar rolled up his sleeves and did the hard work of governing.
His approach was methodical, if unglamorous. He eliminated thousands of state positions, slashed programs, and imposed strict spending discipline. Perhaps most courageously, he made permanent what had been sold as a "temporary" income tax increase, directing the revenue toward stabilizing school funding—a move that required political capital few governors would risk.
The results spoke for themselves. By 1999, Illinois boasted a budget surplus, improved credit ratings, and something it hadn't enjoyed in years: fiscal credibility. Edgar had transformed the state from financial basket case to model of responsibility.
Education as Economic Development
Where other governors saw education as just another budget line item, Edgar recognized it as Illinois' most vital investment. He treated failing schools not as political problems but as economic emergencies requiring immediate action.
His education agenda was comprehensive: stabilizing Chicago's chaotic school system, establishing minimum funding guarantees statewide, and launching one of the most ambitious school construction programs in state history. For suburban voters worried about skyrocketing property taxes, he provided relief through tax caps while maintaining his commitment to educational equity.
The Art of Governing Across the Aisle
Edgar's superpower wasn't charisma or ideology—it was competence. As a moderate Republican in an increasingly polarized era, he built bridges rather than burning them. His pragmatic approach earned him something almost unheard of in modern Illinois: genuine bipartisan respect.
He understood that good governance often means making unpopular decisions for long-term benefit, a philosophy that served Illinois well during his eight years in office.
The Shadows on His Legacy
No political career is without controversy, and Edgar's had its share. His most consequential misstep may have been the "Edgar Ramp"—a pension funding plan designed to gradually increase state contributions over time. While well-intentioned, critics argue it enabled future leaders to underfund pensions, contributing to today's crisis when successors failed to meet the plan's requirements.
The Management Systems of Illinois scandal also tarnished his administration. The state contractor, which happened to be a major Edgar campaign contributor, was accused of overbilling, leading to several convictions. Though Edgar was never charged and vigorously defended himself, the episode raised uncomfortable questions about his administration's oversight.
On social issues, Edgar's pragmatic instincts sometimes left him politically homeless. Despite personal pro-choice beliefs, he signed parental notification requirements for abortion, drawing criticism from both sides of the debate.
The Standard-Bearer for What Could Be
Measured against Illinois' parade of imprisoned governors, Edgar's tenure shines like a beacon. He left office with high approval ratings, a healthy state budget, and his reputation intact—a hat trick virtually unknown in Springfield.
The contrast with Illinois' subsequent struggles makes Edgar's achievements even more remarkable. As the state has lurched from crisis to crisis, weighted down by deficits, pension obligations, and ethical scandals, Edgar's era looks like a golden age of competent governance.
His legacy reminds us that while good government may not generate headlines, it generates something far more valuable: actual progress. In an age of political theater and manufactured outrage, Jim Edgar proved that boring competence might be exactly what democracy needs.
Illinois may not see his like again, but his example endures as proof that principled leadership can still make a difference—even in the Land of Lincoln's most challenging corners.
Sources
Edgar's Death and Obituaries:
Education Policy and Reforms:
Pension Crisis and "Edgar Ramp":
Management Systems of Illinois Scandal:
General Biography and Legacy: