A lot of 'green' work separates Deeds from McDonnell

October 29, 2009 12:36 am

General Assembly members' environmental grades are published annually by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, a nonpartisan political-action arm of Virginia's conservation community. Based on these findings, a "Green Divide" separates Virginia's two candidates for governor, state Sen. Creigh Deeds, with a cumulative score of 86 percent, and former Del. Bob McDonnell, who scores much lower.

The VALCV mission is to "preserve and enhance the quality of life for all Virginians by making conservation a top priority with elected officials, political candidates, and voters." Voting records on key issues, including transportation, growth, conservation, and funding, are tracked, graded, and published in annual scorecards.

Reviewing VALCV Scorecards since their 2000 inception, few members during their General Assembly tenure have scored lower than McDonnell. His annual scores range from zero in 2000 to 33 percent in 2002 to 13 percent in 2005, yielding a cumulative 18 percent.

Comparing environmental records, past publications, campaign literature, stump speeches, and off-the-cuff forum responses indicates a huge discrepancy between the two candidates.

Will Virginia continue to follow an upward fiscal and budgetary path set by former Gov. Mark Warner and sustained by Gov. Tim Kaine, despite facing an obstructionist House in a tough economic downturn? Or will Virginia return to the eight years of the failed economic and social legacies of former governors George Allen and James Gilmore?

The choice has never been clearer when you include the "Green Divide."

I greatly respect Sen. Deeds and feel privileged to vote for a man who has diligently worked his way up the electoral ladder, remaining true to his roots, principles, and constituents while retaining many basic old-fashion core values.

Doris Lindsey Whitfield

King George

(The writer is chairman of the Rappahannock Group Sierra Club.)