Democratic hopefuls stress economic recovery

By: JEFF E. SCHAPIRO TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER | Times-Dispatch
Published: December 31, 2008

The declining economy is having a trickle-down effect on the Democratic contest for Virginia governor.

The three rivals for the party's nomination -- to be decided in an open-to-all-voters primary on June 9 -- said tonight that economic recovery is essential to protecting state jobs and services from further cuts.

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath, former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria and former Democratic national chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean appeared on WVTF-FM's "Evening Edition."

Deeds said Virginia can be on "the cutting edge of job creation" by pushing business and industry to use renewable energy.

Deeds, whose wife was recently hired by the Virginia Employment Commission as a case worker, also said he wants to "retool community colleges" to promote job training.

McAuliffe, expected to formally announce his candidacy next week, said, "If I were governor, in the first month, I'd announce a huge jobs program."

He did not elaborate, but repeated that Virginia must be aggressive in recruiting corporate prospects. Citing successful efforts by other states, including Mississippi and Tennessee, McAuliffe said, "They're cleaning our clocks."

Moran, responding to a question by a state employee who expects to be laid off under Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's budget-balancing plan, said he has first-hand knowledge of hard times.

"I remember the family station wagon was lost when my father was laid off," said Moran.

Kaine this month outlined a plan to close a nearly $3 billion hole in the two-year, $77 billion budget. It relies on more reductions in services, a hiring freeze and additional layoffs.

Moran and Deeds appeared to distance themselves from Kaine-proposed cuts that could shutter youth mental-health facilities in the Shenandoah Valley and Hampton Roads.

In the wake of mental-health reforms spurred by the Virginia Tech mass shootings in 2007, such closings "would seem to be counterproductive," said Moran, who recently quit the General Assembly to run full-time for governor.

Because Republicans could retain their slender majority in the House of Delegates, the candidates vowed to work across party lines should Democrats hold the governorship.

Only McAuliffe took a swipe at the presumed Republican nominee for governor, Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

McAuliffe said McDonnell, a conservative who is reaching out to independents, had "worked with ideologues to stymie" Kaine on additional funds for transportation and former Gov. Mark R. Warner on new taxes for schools, police and social services.