after his term as mayor of campos (1989–1992), during which he took some measures to support small producers and to develop alternatives to sugar cane monoculture, as well as supported mst settler projects, he was chosen by governor leonel brizola as state secretary of agriculture (1993–1994), presenting himself as the pdt's candidate for governor in the 1994 elections, being defeated by marcelo alencar (psdb). after being reelected for mayor in 1996, he was eventually elected governor of rio de janeiro state in 1998, for the 1999-2002 term of office, posing himself as the "crown prince" for brizola, who had already entered a process of political decay and loss of charisma and personal influence.