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If you haven’t already heard….
The Washington Post has endorsed Jody Wagner for lieutenant governor. In Virginia, a problem-solver is a better bet than a pol.
Monday, October 19, 2009

JODY WAGNER, Virginia’s former secretary of finance, is the sort of Democrat that helped cement the Old Dominion’s status as among the cleanest, best managed and most business-friendly states in the country. She is easily the better choice as Virginia’s next lieutenant governor and would represent a sharp improvement over the incumbent Republican seeking reelection, Bill Bolling.

In Virginia, the real importance of the job of lieutenant governor — the reason the job is sought after — is not in presiding over the state Senate, attending functions or serving on a handful of boards and commissions. Rather, the person who wins the job has a plausible claim to standing in the on-deck circle for the governorship four years hence. Just ask Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), or, as he was known four years ago, Lt. Gov. Kaine.

Smart, tough-minded and capable, Ms. Wagner would be among the best-prepared public officials to assume the job. A former corporate lawyer, she started a successful family business (making kettle corn) before going to work for then-Gov. Mark R. Warner (D). Then, as Mr. Kaine’s finance secretary — she resigned this year to launch her campaign — she developed an authoritative command of state government, spending and income, critical knowledge for the challenges posed by the recession.

Unlike the usual run of officeholders in Richmond, she is more pragmatist and problem-solver than partisan political warrior. As the only one of the six statewide candidates to have had hands-on experience with the state’s budget, she would be uniquely well placed to serve as a resource for whichever candidate is elected governor.
Mr. Bolling, by contrast, has been a politician for almost 20 years. He had every intention of running for governor this year, but was outmaneuvered by fellow Republican Robert F. McDonnell, the former attorney general. He is a quick-witted and affable fellow but more attuned to political expediency than the actual business of governance.

A conservative lawmaker before he was elected lieutenant governor four years ago, Mr. Bolling voted for some of the more ambitious spending packages in the state’s history, particularly ones proposed by Republican governors during the dotcom boom. Now he attacks Virginia’s outlays as having been profligate. He opposed Mr. Warner’s tax increase in 2004, a large chunk of which went to boost public schools. Now he talks about the vital importance of an enormous increase in teacher salaries.

Of particular interest to Northern Virginia, his ideas on transportation funding are patently unworkable. He proposes raiding already bare-bones core state services to pay for transportation but bobs, weaves and ducks when pressed to say which ones — education? public safety? human services? health? — he would target.

The Virginia Democratic Women’s Executive Board endorsed Creigh Deeds for Governor and Steve Shannon for Attorney General.

When it comes to women’s issues: reproductive rights, health care, and education to name a few, women want Creigh Deeds in their corner. Women want someone who believes women can contribute to society and are not a detriment. Women want Creigh Deeds as our next Governor.

Earlier this summer, the Executive Board completed an endorsement process where it endorsed Jody Wagner for Lt Governor and all of the women candidates running for the House of Delegates. In that process all members of the caucus were encouraged to vigorously support these candidates in shoe leather as well as financially. The VaDWC has now endorsed the entire statewide ticket and asks everyone to work hard to make sure we all have something to celebrate on November 3.

Largest Women’s PAC in Virginia Endorses Creigh Deeds for Governor
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds has won the endorsement of the Virginia NOW PAC – the political arm of the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for Women – because his experience and views are superior to those of his opponent on key issues of concern to mainstream, socially aware women. The Virginia NOW PAC is the political arm of the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for Women.  Deeds and his opponent, Republican Robert McDonnell, answered a series of questions posed by the Virginia NOW PAC. Based on their responses, it is clear that Deeds has a clearer understanding of the complex issues that women face every day and better ideas of how to address them. Deeds is the best choice for women who are concerned about jobs, pay, health care, education, and reproductive rights and who want to reduce family and street violence and increase women’s opportunities for leadership.  For the full endorsement, go to http://virginianow.wordpress.com