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Virginia Republican Party gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell (kneeling on chair) chats with supporters |
Republican candidate Bob McDonnell said jobs are a top priority for the next governor, and one way to help create them is to ease red tape for businesses.
McDonnell, stopping in Stafford last night during a five-day campaign-announcement tour, said if elected, he would streamline permit applications for small businesses so they could get going within 48 hours of applying.
He also said he would speed up permitting and approval processes for nuclear and clean-coal plants, and support offshore drilling for oil and gas.
McDonnell said he wants to push for big ideas, and that he has the experience to manage the state's problems, in more ways than one.
"I've raised five kids," he said. "That should really help you manage a crisis."
McDonnell, a former state delegate who resigned as attorney general earlier this year to run for governor, is the only Republican in the campaign. He'll face one of three Democrats who are currently fighting each other for that party's nomination.
McDonnell ran through a list of his positions--against abortion, in favor of gun rights, supportive of merit pay for teachers, for more government transparency, and for specific transportation improvements in different areas of the state--but seemed to cut his stump speech a bit short after he was an hour late because of a harrowing plane ride to the area.
He told the crowd of about 75 people at the Stafford GOP headquarters that he needs their help to win in November.
"It's through effort and hard work and sacrifice that you get things," McDonnell said. "It's going to take a tremendous amount of hard work."
Virginia was once considered a reliably Republican state, but recent elections of Democrats--President Barack Obama, Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. and former Gov. Mark Warner, Sen. Jim Webb, and a slim state Senate majority--have Republicans concerned about reversing the trend.
McDonnell and other elected Republicans there talked about the importance of out-working the Democrats, and they stressed the importance of this year's elections. The governor elected in November, as well as the House of Delegates chosen in the same election, will be the ones in office when district lines are redrawn after the census next year.
"This year is a very critical election for us," Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, told the crowd before McDonnell's arrival. "We all know where the trends have been going. It's scary what's been happening up in Washington. If you have Democrats in total control in Richmond, I guarantee the same things will happen."
Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
