Wilkins could run again someday

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That's how Greenville's David Wilkins explained why he gave up the politically powerful state House speakership to become Washington's next ambassador to Canada.

Wilkins, 58, also hinted of a future return to statewide politics.

In an interview from Washington at week's end as he finished briefings at a State Department retreat, Wilkins tackled the question of "why now, why this job" when he previously turned down a lifetime federal judgeship and an ambassadorship to Chile.

Those offers came not long after President George W. Bush took office in January 2001. Wilkins was an early supporter, one of the first to make the pilgrimage to the then-Texas governor's office in Austin to urge him to seek the GOP presidential nomination.

As Bush's state campaign co-chairman, he helped beat back a primary challenge from Arizona Sen. John McCain, before Bush's easy general election victory. Last year, he headed Bush's re-election bid in South Carolina.

"The reason it was the right time was that our (two) kids are gone," one practicing in the family law firm, the other in college in New Hampshire, much closer to Ottawa than to Greenville," Wilkins said.

"Four years ago, (wife) Susan's mother, who is now deceased, was in bad health. We hesitated to leave or take her with us."

That also coincided with decennial reapportionment of the 170 state House and Senate districts and the six congressional districts, something Wilkins said he "felt a real strong obligation to see through." The Legislature won't face that again until 2011, following the next census.

'Still on top' But the evolution of Wilkins' 21-year legislative career — the last 11 sessions as speaker — was a major determinant, he said.

"It was always important to me to go out on my terms, when I felt like I was still on top. I know that's subjective, but I feel like I'm at the top of my game and certainly wasn't in a situation where I was being asked to leave. That was real important to me," he said.

Even if the session, highlighted by higher funding for education, had been less successful, Wilkins said he "would have still made the same decision.

"It's an extra plus to go out on such a high note; we've had the most successful session since I've been speaker."

To Wilkins, "With all those factors, this was a good time."

But he said that in the back of his mind he was also cognizant that he probably would never again be as close to a president as he is to Bush.

"That would be a fair statement," Wilkins said, adding that he never saw it as a now or never situation.

Rare opportunity "I'm honored to call the president of the United States a friend of mine and have a long-standing history with him, as an early supporter and helping him with two campaigns. Those things just don't happen more than once in your lifetime."

Where political analysts saw Wilkins remaining as speaker for as long as he wanted, with a potential gubernatorial run in 2010, the time-limited nature of a job that would require him to submit his resignation to the next president on Jan. 20, 2009, wasn't a factor.

Wilkins described himself as being "very comfortable as speaker, but it's still an emotional thing for me to leave the House. That last day, on June 2, was difficult for me to get through."

"Had the right offer not come along, I would certainly have been happy being speaker."

Wilkins said he expects to return to his Greenville law practice early in 2009. He held open the door to returning to political life.

Although his is among the names mentioned for governor in 2010, whether or not Republican Mark Sanford is re-elected next year, Wilkins said running for governor is not in the back of his mind.

The future holds? But...

"I've been around long enough to know you never say I'm never going to do that, but I have no plans to run for governor. I'm going to go up there and try to be the best ambassador I can.

"I love politics, I don't know what will happen next, but I'm not today going to say I will never, ever under any circumstances get back into the political arena."

He was clear on one point that didn't rule out a statewide effort.

"The chance of me running for the South Carolina House is pretty remote. I'm going to go be ambassador, then see what happens after that."

Meanwhile, Wilkins has a full plate.

He finished "ambassador's school" last week, being instructed on everything from protocol to administration to how he and his wife handle their new roles in a highly structured, goldfish-bowl existence.

"It's definitely a partnership," he said. "We're going to figure it out together."

Fast pace The whirlwind continues with Tuesday's noon swearing in ceremony in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department's Foggy Bottom headquarters.

On June 29, Wilkins will formally present his credentials to Canada's counsel-general in Ottawa and the following day will meet with Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Wilkins will host his first big-time event when he presides over a Fourth of July party at the ambassadorial residence for more than 1,700 American and Canadian officials and Canadian business leaders.

Three days after, he will travel to Calgary to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow at the Canadian Rocky Mountains city's famed Calgary Stampede.

Then it's back to his Augusta Road area home to pack before returning to Canada for the long haul.

"I went from the session being over June 2 and came right up here" to Washington, so moving preparations were put on hold, he said.

As ambassador, Wilkins will have a staff of 250 at the Embassy and a total of 800 scattered through Canada.

Canadian interest That the offer was for Canada was part of the decision, he said.

He's long been interested in the sprawling, diverse country that is America's top trading partner with a long history as allies and a shared language, except for French-speaking Quebec.

"Canada has always been a country that I was interested in" because of its role as America's top trading partner and the world's longest unfortified border.

"Certainly, there are issues between the two countries, trade and border security" among them, but he wanted that as part of the mix.

"It interested me that there would be a lot of issues to deal with, that you're going to be busy and you can, hopefully, make an impact. I wanted to have a challenge, and I certainly consider it that" given divisions between the nations on Iraq, trade and anti-terrorism measures.

"I'm going exactly where I wanted to go," Wilkins said.