Delegates candidates speak at Henrico forum

In polite tones, Del. John M. O'Bannon III, R-Henrico, and his Democratic opponent, Tom Shields, disagreed on unemployment insurance and funding of the Qimonda semiconductor-chip plant in a joint appearance before a Henrico County business group yesterday.

O'Bannon defended the House of Delegates rejection this year of $125 million in unemployment-insurance money coming from President Barack Obama's stimulus package.

O'Bannon said accepting the money would have saddled businesses with unemployment costs indefinitely and delayed the recovery. Shields said the state's unemployment trust fund is now running out of money and that accepting the money would have delayed the empty treasury.

Donald Lilywhite, an official with the Virginia Employment Commission, said the state is paying out about $18 million a week in unemployment benefits. Accepting the stimulus money would have "put us down the road" an additional 6½ to 7 weeks, he said.

O'Bannon and Shields spoke at Henrico Doctors' Hospital during a candidates forum sponsored by inVision Henrico, an arm of the Greater Richmond Chamber.

Also appearing were Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, and his Republican opponent, Michael R. Gage. The two are running in the 74th District, which covers Charles City County and parts of Henrico, Richmond, Prince George County and Hopewell.

O'Bannon and Shields are running in the 73rd District, which includes parts of Henrico and Richmond. About 50 people attended the breakfast meeting.

In a series of campaign fliers and town-hall meetings, Shields has been attacking O'Bannon for a floor vote this year against accelerating a grant to Qimonda, the eastern Henrico computer-chip plant that has gone bankrupt, leaving about 2,700 people out of work.

O'Bannon said the grant wouldn't have made a difference. It would have been tied up in bankruptcy court in Germany, he told the business group.

Morrissey said he opposes offshore drilling for oil and gas and would concentrate efforts on alternative-energy sources. Gage said he favors offshore drilling, as does O'Bannon. Shields opposes it.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .