Bob Wise

For other people named Robert Wise, see Robert Wise (disambiguation).

Bob Wise
33rd Governor of West Virginia
In office 2001–2005
Preceded by	Cecil H. Underwood
Succeeded by	Joe Manchin
Personal details
Born	(1948-01-06) January 6, 1948 Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sandy Wise

Robert Ellsworth "Bob" Wise, Jr. (born January 6, 1948) is an American politician. A Democrat, Wise served as the Governor of West Virginia from January 2001 to January 2005.

Early life

Wise was born in Washington, D.C.. He received a B.A. from Duke University in 1970 and a law degree from Tulane University's College of Law in 1975. Wise's political career began in 1980, when he defeated an incumbent senator for election to the state Senate of West Virginia as a Democrat from the state capital, Charleston.

Congressional career

1983, Congressional Pictorial Directory, Wise as a first term Congressman

In 1982, Wise was elected to the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia's 3rd congressional district. He unseated incumbent Republican Mick Staton in a close race, but was reelected eight times without serious opposition. His district was renumbered the 2nd after West Virginia's declining population cost it a congressional seat after the 1990 census. Wise served as an at-large whip, regional whip, and parliamentarian for the Democratic Party. He also served as ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In 2000, Wise ran for governor against incumbent Republican Cecil H. Underwood, winning 51 percent to 47 percent.

Governor of West Virginia

Wise's tenure as Governor of West Virginia, during an overall economic downturn following the bursting of the dot-com bubble and the economic fallout from the September 11, 2001 attacks saw the greatest loss in employment in state history (including the Great Depression) and a tightened fiscal environment. During this period, Wise responded to the economic challenges of the state by attempting to attract businesses through an extensive tax and infrastructure assistance program.

Wise is credited with creating the PROMISE scholarship, which allows many West Virginia students to attend any public, state university free of charge. The program was inspired by the HOPE scholarship program in Georgia. PROMISE is funded through revenue collected from the legalization of video slot machines.

During his term he chaired the National Governors Association Committee on Natural Resources and the Southern States Energy Board.

In May 2003, the Charleston Daily Mail revealed an extramarital affair in which Wise had been engaged with a married woman. His family had known for several weeks before the woman's husband revealed the affair to the press. The affair was not illegal and did not, as some feared, involve any state money (though the two traveled together on state-sponsored business trips to Europe). During the resulting scandal, Wise dropped his plans to run in 2004, citing a desire to be closer to his family. Wise's eventual successor, Secretary of State Joe Manchin, a more conservative Democrat, had already announced that he would oppose him in the primary election, using the slogan "Help is on the way".

Wise and his wife, Sandy, are still married and continue to live together.

Following his term, he returned to Washington, DC. He now serves as the President of the Alliance for Excellent Education, a non-profit organization devoted to secondary education policy.

Wise and his wife, Sandy, have two children: Robert (born in 1987), who attends the University of Pennsylvania, and Alexandra (born in 1989), who is in high school.

External links

• United States Congress. "Bob Wise (id: W000654)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Inaugural Address of Robert E. Wise, Jr.
• About Bob Wise