Kaine headed for U. of Richmond after term ends

RICHMOND

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will resume a teaching career when his term expires in January, taking a part-time, nontenured position at the University of Richmond as an instructor in its law and leadership schools, officials announced Thursday.

A Harvard-educated lawyer, the governor previously taught at the university from 1987-93, leaving when he entered Richmond city politics.

Kaine will teach one class per semester - alternating between the two subjects each term - on Monday mornings and devote much of the remaining work week to his "primary job" as Democratic National Committee chairman.

Earlier this week, Kaine said he will continue serving as a top Democratic partisan despite the crushing losses his party faced in Tuesday's elections.

Kaine said he will work to keep his personal politics out of the classroom and encourage students "to articulate their own views."

"It's hard to imagine anyone better than Gov. Kaine to help train the next generation of lawyers," said university President Edward Ayers.

The news was also welcomed by Carl Tobias, a Richmond law professor who will be one of Kaine's faculty colleagues.

"He taught here before, so it's not new. I think every other lawyer who knew him thought he was a great lawyer when he was in private practice," Tobias said, noting that the governor's public policy expertise will also benefit students.

While Kaine's hiring drew plaudits from school officials, it also raises questions about how elected officials land high-profile second jobs.

Recent reporting in The Virginian-Pilot has brought attention to the cases of several current legislators on the payrolls of public colleges which receive taxpayer funding that is approved by the General Assembly, and the potential conflict of interest that can represent.

The governor said he politely rebuffed inquiries he received from public universities about joining their staff because they are government entities.

"I told them as long as I am appointing your boards and writing your budgets, I really can't talk about that," Kaine said, noting that he was comfortable taking the Richmond job because it is a private school that doesn't rely on state funding.

University officials declined to say how much Kaine will be paid, citing Richmond's status as a private institution.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com