RESTON -- The four candidates for governor made a pitch for high-tech support yesterday before leaders of Northern Virginia's technology community.
Promising to devote most of their attention to creating more jobs, the three Democrats seeking the party's nomination and lone Republican agreed that Virginia's economy needs help.
Terry McAuliffe, one of the Democrats, said transportation is holding back Virginia's progress and he said he is building a grass-roots organization in his gubernatorial campaign that will try to gain Democratic control of the House of Delegates.
Saying that the Republican-controlled House thwarted efforts by Democratic Govs. Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine to improve Virginia's roads and rail network, McAuliffe said "we've got to win the House of Delegates."
Republicans effectively hold a 55-45 majority in the House of Delegates, so Democrats will have to win six seats in November.
McAuliffe is independently wealthy and also has access to big donors through his former role as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and his friendship with former President Bill Clinton. One of McAuliffe's talking points is that he will have the wherewithal to help elect more Democrats while getting himself elected governor.
McAuliffe, State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria are seeking the Democratic nomination in a June 9 primary. McDonnell is unopposed for the GOP nomination.
The joint appearance before about 150 members of the Northern Virginia Technology Council at the Microsoft headquarters in Reston was the third by the four candidates. They first appeared together at Associated Press Day at the Capital in December at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
In traffic-clogged Northern Virginia, many of the executives who questioned the candidates had transportation on their minds.
Deeds said he would introduce legislation during his first year in office -- when the governor traditionally has the most political capital -- to deal with the problem.
Moran said it would take money.
"The discussion must be what revenues do we raise, how do we appropriate the revenues, not whether or not we need it," he said.
"We're going to have to have an honest discussion about revenues and how we do it," McAuliffe said.
McDonnell, whose party has balked at raising taxes to finance transportation improvements, said more public-private partnerships must be formed to build new highways. A mechanism must be found to hold tolls down, so the new roads will be used, he added.
All four agreed that a high-speed rail line needs to be built from Washington to Richmond to relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 95.
McAuliffe said he would hope to get through his four years as governor without raising taxes but said it would be fiscally irresponsible to promise not to do so.
Deeds, the only candidate from a rural area, said jobs in textiles, mining and furniture are gone.
"You can't save what's part of the past," he said. "I know lots of people who used to work in textile mills -- sewing factories we called them."
He said the state should emphasize work force training at its community colleges.
Moran said Virginia needs to produce more engineers and scientists. The United States is falling behind other nations in those categories, he said.
McAuliffe, seeking to capitalize on his lack of political experience in Virginia, said "not all good ideas come from Richmond."
"Some good ideas do come from Richmond leaders like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine," Moran countered.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.
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