WASHINGTON — It takes an important event to bring together all of Virginia's living governors.
A funeral. Maybe a visit from the queen or the inauguration of a new governor.
But eight Virginia governors — amid a lot of collegial backslapping and jokes — gathered last night at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City to honor Sen. John W. Warner, R.Va.
About 300 people attended the gala held by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. The event included a video showcasing Warner's career and several speakers reminiscing about his achievements.
Warner, 81, is retiring at the end of the year after three decades in the Senate, the second-longest tenure in Virginia history.
Barbara J. Fried, the chairwoman of the Sorensen Institute, said the appearance of all the governors at the event was a testament to Warner.
"This has never happened before in the history of the commonwealth, and it's a tribute to them and shows the reverence they have for Senator Warner," she said.
Some might have thought it was too much.
"Eight governors," joked former Gov. Linwood Holton. "I'd say that's an overload."
Known as an independent Republican with moderate to conservative views, Warner is respected in Washington by members of both parties.
Former Govs. Jim Gilmore, a Republican, and Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, are both running for the seat and were at the event. The two Warners are not related.
With two former governors vying for his seat, Warner joked that he won't be making any forays into the seats they've held.
"I'm here tonight to tell them I'm not going to seek the governorship," he said.
Charles S. Robb, a former senator and governor, said Warner had his own opportunities to become governor. But he said Warner seemed to feel there was always someone who had worked his way to the front of the line.
"And he was just too much of a gentleman to want to cut in front of anybody in line," Robb said.
Warner, who is also a former Navy secretary, said he was honored to have served so long in the Senate.
"I'm a very lucky and grateful man to have received this strong support in five consecutive elections," he said.
Robb said Warner is a "true Virginia gentleman" whose character was exemplified at the event by the number of people there on both sides of the political aisle and the number of Warner's former staffers who were celebrating him.
"This is called respect," Robb said. "Ours for him, and his for us."
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