LOOKING GUBERNATORIAL

Gov. Gary Johnson keeps pounding away toward his objectives. It's highly
effective in the triathlons in which he likes to compete; somewhat less
effective on a polarizing issue like drug policy reform.

Regardless of whether one agrees with the governor's politically quixotic
stand on drug policy, many might say, "He comes across as genuine and
sincere. It seems he really wants to help and be effective."

That is actually a Los Alamos man's observation about Johnson behaving true
to character in a different context: His marathon 55-hour shift during the
Cerro Grande Fire.

"I said I was going to stay in Los Alamos until I felt Los Alamos was
secure," Johnson said. And he did, reassuring residents at town hall
meetings, acting as an effective state spokesman to the national media,
cruising around town spotting flare-ups, even stomping out small fires that
could have become house fires -- because "we could. We had the ability to do
it. We're there."

The governor said he is driven by a philosophical commitment: "Just do the
right thing." Doing what he thinks is the right thing in calling for
re-evaluation of national drug policy cost Johnson almost 20 points on his
approval rating. Doing the right thing in Los Alamos may get much of that
back, but Johnson, finishing his last term in what he says will be his only
elective office, has never done the political math before acting.

The fire blackened 48,000 acres, and singed some careers, but Gary Johnson
walked out of the smoke looking positively gubernatorial.