Transitioning from governor to one of 435 in the House isn't an easy task, but one that two former governors, Charlie Crist of Florida and Chet Culver of Iowa, are contemplating making,
Roll Call reports.
Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware describes the former governors caucus in the House as small, but "sort of a support group for one another
— men and women who used to be somebody and used to be special," Roll Call notes.
While the transition will be challenging for both former governors, former Rep. Michael N. Castle, also a former governor, says that "the training as governor is as good as you’re going to get" and the only difference is that "you're a smaller fish in a bigger pond."
However, Castle also noted that "Governors have resources and are significant players in the local community . . . In Washington, you’re less so. You’re just one of a number of people."
According to Roll Call, if the two men make the transition, Crist would be one of the 27 members from Florida, while Culver would be one of four from Iowa.
And, dissimilar to Castle and Crist, Culver never served in the state legislature before becoming governor, making his transition more challenging.
Along with feeling like a "smaller fish in a bigger pond," Castle also notes that there are lifestyle changes for former governors in the Senate, including the lack of a security detail and moving the family to Washington.
Castle told Roll Call there are many frustrations that come with the transition, including rule-making, hearing schedules, constant fundraising, lack of relationships and Congress abdicating its own constitutional powers, but eventually, you "get used to the way things work in Washington."
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