Governor

One of the most ideal governors I can think of is the current governor of Virgnia, Mark Warner. Mark Warner is a Harvard Law School grad, and got his foot in the door of politics by working as a fund raiser for the Democratic party. During his time as governor of Virginia Warner has been able to raise taxes and cancel favored programs all the while gaining respect and loyalty of the citizens of Virginia. He slashed spending for everything but education, cutting $6 billion in costs, eliminating 3,000 state jobs and even shutting down driver's-license offices one day a week and created $1.4 billion tax increase for the state; giving Virginia the financial footing they need for the next decade.
The current governor of Tennessee is Phil Bredesen, a graduate of Harvard University. Bredesen unlike Warner did not attend law school, rather recieved a degree in physics. Bredesen and Warner are similar in their actions. Bredesen is the only governor to win all 95 counties in a governor election, which shows that he, like Warner, is liked by the people. Bredesen has been able to keep education as a priority, create a health care program, and manage a statewide drug war on methamphetamines; while never raising taxes.