The finger-pointing over Virginia's troubled move to a privately run IT system is extending to the governor's race.
Democrat R. Creigh Deeds -- in response to a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission report critical of the state's contract with Northrop Grumman -- blamed Republican Bob McDonnell for headaches surrounding the deal.
"Today's JLARC report raises serious questions about whether Virginia was well-served by the legal advice offered by then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell in the implementation of the Northrop Grumman-[Virginia Information Technologies Agency] contract," Deeds said.
That contract was signed in November 2005. McDonnell took over as attorney general in January 2006. While serving in that office, McDonnell was responsible for vetting the 151-page contract, 51 changes to it, while providing legal advice to VITA.
"McDonnell owes Virginians answers to questions of what he knew about problems in the contract, when he became aware of them, and whether he did anything at all about it," said Deeds, a state senator from Bath County.
Both candidates believe VITA's chief should report to the governor rather than to an independent board of gubernatorial and legislative appointees.
McDonnell aide Tucker Martin fired back, branding VITA a creature of Democratic administrations.
"We know that Creigh Deeds is increasingly angry as his negative campaign falls further behind in the polls," Martin said. "As governor, Bob McDonnell will identify the necessary solutions to get this agency back on track and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely in Richmond."
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6814 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6812 or jschapiro@timesdispatch.com.
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