Bristol Herald Courier endorses Bob McDonnell for Virginia governor

Virginia has two chief problems – higher than acceptable unemployment and transportation needs across the commonwealth. We believe

Republican Robert F. McDonnell has outlined the most robust plans to address both as governor of Virginia.
McDonnell’s transportation plan includes 12 measures – from privatizing ABC stores to adding tolls to issuing bonds – with the money going

directly to transportation. Democrat R. Creigh Deeds proposes a bipartisan commission to study the problems, if he is elected. It’s an

inclusive step, but one that seems slow in a state with enormous and mounting transportation needs. Everything McDonnell is pitching might

not work, but he has done more to offer specific solutions during this race.
We also like McDonnell’s jobs plan and his understanding that rural parts of Virginia need special attention to draw new business. As a

native of Northern Virginia who later lived in and represented Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates, McDonnell understands the business

needs of Virginia’s larger cities. He has been endorsed by every major business organization in the state, including the Chamber of

Commerce, the Federation for Independent Business and the Virginia Realtors.
But what about Southside and Southwest Virginia, regions that are more geographically isolated and have historically lagged behind the more

populous and prosperous areas? During an editorial board meeting Thursday, McDonnell said he would appoint a full-time deputy secretary of

commerce and trade to address business needs, that he or his lieutenant governor would visit those regions and others like them every 30

days, and that those regions would be given preferential treatment for state contracting.
All of those efforts are needed to give those regions an economic boost.
Asked about his support for tax incentives for businesses that provide 50 new jobs in Virginia, or 25 jobs in economically depressed areas,

McDonnell noted that this is a considerable improvement from the current standard of 100 jobs in Virginia, and 50 jobs in economically

depressed parts of the state.
We also appreciate McDonnell’s understanding and support for coal gasification efforts, carbon sequestration projects and other efforts that

allow Virginia’s coal industry to prosper in cleaner ways and to add more technical jobs locally. He and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling are staunch

advocates for a proposed Virginia Energy Institute that would be located in Southside or Southwest Virginia to showcase existing energy

resources and become demonstration sites for alternative energy and biofuels. These are crucial needs to both regions of the state, and to

the future energy needs of everyone.
We also want to make clear that we recognize Democratic candidate Deeds’ grasp of important state issues and his years of advocacy for rural

regions. But Deeds, a state senator from Bath County who faced McDonnell four years ago in the race for attorney general, simply did not

enter this race as well prepared as McDonnell. Too often Deeds’ responses were nebulous. And this nice guy candidate allowed his campaign to

focus on wedge issues from the past, instead of offering a clear vision of his leadership. Democrats, after a three-way contest to choose

Deeds, hoped for better than this.
As with millions of Virginians, the economy and jobs are our paramount concern. We believe McDonnell has the strength and statewide support

to help Virginia the most as its next governor. We urge you to give him your support Nov. 3.