McGavick's mea culpa

Republican senatorial hopeful Mike McGavick issued a broad mea culpa in which he tried deftly, and likely preemptively, to manage key mistakes of his personal and professional life.

Ten points for having the mettle and political savvy to offer the revelations himself, then apologize for past mistakes. Voters like candidates who are human enough and grown-up enough to offer regrets. Mistakes itemized on his Web site include a previously undisclosed DUI from 1993 and a decision to air a knowingly false ad in the 1988 Senate race during which he was aide to Sen. Slade Gorton, who was running against then-Rep. Mike Lowry.

But the new information, which would have surfaced eventually, should remind voters there is a lot they don't know about McGavick. On the surface, he is an appealing candidate — smart, high-minded, experienced in business and politics.

Still, McGavick has never voted on anything. His record is thin. Character matters haunted him. The public has a legitimate need to know about these.

McGavick's DUI cuts positive and negative for him. It occurred 13 years ago near Washington, D.C. He blew a .17 percent on the blood-alcohol meter, well above Maryland's and our state's current .08 legal limit. Admitting it now makes him seem human, in that I-goofed-but-won't-do-it-again way. In other ways, it makes him look like he is trying to get this out now so he can control public reaction.

Perhaps more telling in news stories accompanying the revelations is a subtle wrong that might not sit well with female voters. In 1988, when his oldest son was about to be born, McGavick really wanted to attend a Gorton rally on Whidbey Island, his ex-wife explained in a 2003 interview with The Times.

In the end, he stayed with his wife — the right thing to do. Yet he was so wrapped up in his job he yammered on the phone while she delivered their son. There are some moments in life when the job has to be turned off. The couple separated two years later.

A more recent incident occurred when, as CEO of Safeco, he told his team after a round of layoffs he thought the worst of an economic crisis was behind and he hoped there would be no more layoffs. Months later, more layoffs.

McGavick is wise to get these issues out early enough so they don't appear later as "gotchas." He is right, too, that the meat of the campaign should focus on policy issues.

But honesty, integrity and character matter. Voters will judge him accordingly.