2009.06.10
And so, the race begins
With the Democratic Party nomination going to state Sen. Creigh Deeds in Tuesday's primary election, the real gubernatorial campaign is under way. Thursday, we'll write that Deeds and Republican candidate Bob McDonnell need to make their case to Virginia voters on how they'll address transportation, economic recovery and education - with transportation as Job 1.
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It won't matter what Deeds says or does. He is a democrat and will get the RTEB endorsement.
I would take issue with what you say in this blog. I don't think you can pay any attention to what these guys say they are going to do about anything while they are on the election trail. Kaine said he would sign the marriage amendment if passed (he didn't) and that he would not mess with any death sentences (he did). The best indicator is their past record.
Comment by BobH — June 10, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
Transportation is way down the list. We have cars, ya know. They need to focus on jobs, crime and quality of life. An expensive solar powered train system is pretty useless if you get shot by a thug. Get me home from Walmart alive.
Comment by Henry — June 10, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
Yeah..how can transportation be #1? How much funding can be appropriated to transportation with a weak economy. IF ANYTHING COULD BE LEARNED from current times it is that a strong economy generates revenues for government programs. You want adequate funding for government programs? Grow the economy- Don't stifle it!
Comment by BUD — June 10, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
Well I think transportation as a top priority is a good idea. You guys are bashing it but the only alternative posted is get home from walmart alive.
Comment by HCS — June 10, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Between this and the gun blog, I think I might be one of the few people around who doesn't expect to get shot at every time I go outside.
Comment by Kristen — June 10, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
HCS great..transportation is number 1..we're all for better roads and less congestion..how does a state fund it with a weak economy?
Comment by BUD — June 10, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
Bob H. where and when did Gov. Kaine ever say he'd sign the marriage amendment -- not that it required a signature. Nor do I recall him saying that he wouldn't "mess" with death sentences. He said that he would do as the law required. And that he has. Virginia certainly hasn't lost its standing as a state of execution under Kaine's watch, much to our chagrin.
Comment by Luanne T. — June 10, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
Kristen, I feel pretty safe in most places. I grew up in Hampton Roads and one of the places my mom lived had nearly nightly shootings and drive-bys. After spending several nights glued to the floor to eat dinner and avoid stray bullets, there are not too many places in this area I would not feel comfortable walking around.
Comment by Other John — June 10, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Before this drifts way off topic, this thread is about the gubernatorial race. If some of you wish to continue to debate how safe you feel around people with guns, a thread for that conversation exists. Please don't hijack this one.
Now if you want to discuss McDonnell's and Deeds' approaches to firearms and how it bears on the race, that's something else entirely. Feel free. (Hint: They don't differ much, so guns won't be an issue in November.)
Comment by C. Trejbal — June 10, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
I noticed that C. The Deeds site seemed very light on details on anything, really. I'm hoping that they offer up some more details shortly, I was unimpressed with the information available for the primary.
Comment by Other John — June 10, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
But, I still voted for Deeds anyway because I have never been a fan of McCauliffe and I didn't think a NoVA lawyer like Moran would really do well to understand the needs of the rest of the state.
Comment by Other John — June 10, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
I agree that transportation is important, especially if we include mass transit, passenger rail service, etc., and not just roads. However, it is hard for me to think that anything is more important than education. It affects property values, economic development, crime statistics, and more.
The RTEB has done a good job of focusing attention on the need for revenue reform to fund transportation needs. Far less attention has been given to the failure of the General Assembly to fund public education at the level THEY say the state should provide. It's always the localities that are expected to come up with more money for the schools, and maybe they should, but why continue letting the state off the hook? Both candidates for governor will talk about the importance of educating our youth; let's hold them to it!
Comment by Bill Bestpitch — June 10, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
The thing is, to be a successful candidate for Governor in Virginia, you cannot be a radical anything. If McDonnell is a raging Conservative Republican, he will not be elected. If Deeds is a radical Liberal Democrat, he will not be elected. Neither of them strikes me as radical and their positions on many issues will be very nuanced compared to the federal elections. It should be an interesting rematch and while I of course want Deeds to win, I cannot imagine McDonnell would be a bad Governor for Virginia, especially if he has higher aspirations. The unemployment benefits cudgel will do some damage with many, but his credentials are solid and he seems a good sort. The good news is that so far, Virginia cannot really go wrong and I can't always say that.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — June 10, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Transportation is more of an urban issue. We just don't want to end up like North Carolina. NC spends money like a drunken sailor and still has nothing to show for it except for high taxes. We need a governor committed to making Virginia attractive to business and tourists alike.
Comment by Henry — June 10, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
I'd say striving to be like North Carolina isn't a bad thing. They are outpacing us in growth.. Part of that has to do with multiple urban centers that are expanding (and have room to expand) While our big one (NoVA) cannot.
Nothing but high taxes and population growth you mean..... compared to Roanoke and Virginia anyway:
Roanoke County Vs. Greensboro and Charlotte
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=uspopulation&met=population&idim=county:51161&q=roanoke+va+population#met=population&idim=county:51161:37081:37119
Virginia Vs. North Carolina
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=uspopulation&met=population&idim=county:51161&q=roanoke+va+population#met=population&idim=state:37000:51000
Comment by scott — June 10, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
Scott,
Thanks for that information and the graphs. Very informative!
Virginia could potentially have the same types of urban centers as NC with Northern Virginia being one, the Norfolk area being next and then Roanoke being a third.
With the unemployment in the areas around Roanoke and Danville/Martinsville, there has to be a large pool of relatively skilled workers that would/could/should be attractive.
I've never yet understood why Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee can attract auto manufacturers and Virginia can't.
Comment by Will — June 10, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
Will, the difference in urban centers in NC and VA are limited by geography. Norfolk and even Richmond to an lesser extent have the Chesapeake Bay limiting growth in all directions. NoVA can only grow further West and South (and slightly northwest) Though the urban center (DC) is already 1-2 hours commute from the biggest developments.
Charlotte is on NC's South Boundary, but there's not much stopping Greensboro...
I know a lot of people like the way Roanoke is not fast growing like other parts of the state, but it's pretty sad when culturally we're being left in the dust by Charlottesville and Blacksburg. I hope our new governor and local leadership can figure out how to ensure we remain on the map in the grand scheme of things.
Comment by scott — June 10, 2009 @ 6:12 pm