By CLINT SCHEMMER
Virginia's gubernatorial candidates commented yesterday on the Wilderness Wal-Mart development proposed in Orange County.
The trio competing in Tuesday's Democratic primary took stands for preservation, while the GOP nominee expressed confidence that Orange officials will find a middle ground in the land-use controversy.
Democrat Creigh Deeds' campaign released a letter he wrote Michael T. Duke, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., imploring him to move the retailer's Supercenter away from the Civil War battlefield.
Noting that Orange County derives tax revenue from tourism to its historic sites, which include the Wilderness battlefield, the state senator said "the history and economic interests of Orange County demand that the site be preserved."
" The opponents of the proposed project have identified [alternative] sites within two or three miles of the current site," he wrote Duke.
"With this compromise, we can continue to preserve the land and history of the Wilderness battlefield while still providing your company a location for a store."
During a swing through downtown Fredericksburg yesterday afternoon, Deeds said he wrote Duke about six weeks ago.
Some individuals from Orange County "alerted me to the issue, and I thought it was worth pursuing," he said.
"What we have here is something that no one else has. History tourists spend more per capita than any other tourists.
"We're coming up on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which is going to be huge," Deeds said. "I predict it will be bigger than the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement."
"I considered it an obligation," he said of writing Duke.
Terry McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, also wrote Wal-Mart's CEO.
He asked Duke to "consider moving the Wal-Mart a little ways down the road so that we can preserve this historic site. The Wal-Mart you are building could potentially jeopardize the most popular tourist attraction in Orange County."
McAuliffe noted Gov. Tim Kaine's effort to protect 400,000 acres of historically and environmentally significant land during his term in office.
"[Kaine] has made tremendous progress in this area--including preservation of many battlefields, and if I'm elected governor, I hope to continue this progress," he wrote Duke.
Jesse Ferguson, press secretary for former Del. Brian Moran, said the Northern Virginia Democrat "has been, and continues to be, a strong supporter of land preservation. He's fought to expand preservation tax credits and clean up the environment. But we would have to look at the specific details before weighing in [on Wal-Mart]."
Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell "believes the [Orange] planning board should seek a location that both preserves the Wilderness battlefield, a cherished Virginia historical site, while also allowing for the commercial development that will create new jobs and lead to economic growth in the county," press secretary Crystal Cameron said.
The Orange Planning Commission, which held a public hearing May 21 on the proposal, is scheduled to meet Thursday to consider the site developer's request for a special-use permit for the 138,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store and other retail sites.
Staff writer Megan Williams contributed to this report.
Clint Schemmer: 540/368-5029
Email: cschemmer@freelancestar.com