Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Brian Moran (right), a former delegate, jokes with Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, Sunday during a campaign stop at Chatmoss Country Club. Moran visited the area during a swing leading up to Tuesday’s primary. (Bulletin photo by Mike Wray) |
Monday, June 8, 2009
By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer
Two days before the Democratic primary, the contest is a “jumpball,” according to one of the three men trying to win the contest.
Former delegate Brian Moran of Alexandria spoke Sunday at Chatmoss Country Club at a reception sponsored by Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville. Fewer than 10 people attended, including party officials such as Henry County Democratic Party Chairman Phil Burnette, and Armstrong, who also is House minority leader. Also present was Joyce Glaise, a former member of Danville City Council.
Most recent polls have shown support is about evenly split between Moran, state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and political consultant Terry McAuliffe of McLean. They are running to be the party’s candidate in the Nov. 3 governor’s race against Republican Bob McDonnell.
Moran, on a campaign swing that began in Richmond and continued Sunday night in Roanoke, maintains he is the one candidate who can beat McDonnell, at least in part because he has the support of sheriffs from, among other places, Martinsville, Scott County, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Norfolk, Fairfax, Alexandria and Petersburg.
“The Republicans are not going to get to the right of me on public safety” as they have with some Democrats in the past, he said.
Public safety and education are the “twin pillars” of government, said Moran, a former county prosecutor. People expect government to keep them safe, and “we are doomed to failure” without a quality education system, he said.
“Those will be my priorities” if elected, he added.
Armstrong said he learned recently that Virginia’s per pupil spending for higher education has fallen to $7,000 from $10,000 a few years ago. Moran, who said he put himself through college, said that is not acceptable, and added that access to and affordability of higher education are important to him.
Quality education, from preschool through graduate school, should be a priority, he said, though he did not say how the state can pay for improvements.
On transportation, Moran said he wants to come up with an ambitious statewide plan and reach a consensus on it, including the $1 billion a year price tag. He added that he was a co-patron of the transportation bill advocated by Gov. Tim Kaine.
To win approval of a transportation plan, something that has eluded other governors, Moran said he “is uniquely qualified to reach out to Republicans” to forge agreements.
“I had eight years in the House,” he said, and “deep relationships with (legislators) on the other side of the aisle.”
Moran said he had bipartisan support to win passage of Alicia’s Law to create a stronger statewide network of law enforcement officers trained to find online child sex predators, business one-stop legislation to help companies save time and money when opening, drunken driving legislation and others.
To create jobs in Henry County and Martinsville, “there is no silver bullet,” Moran said. He said a combination of things, such as infrastructure, New College Institute and transportation, along with aggressive recruitment of companies, will spark economic growth.
He added that he is the only candidate in Tuesday’s race who has met with business leaders overseas and brought companies and jobs back to Virginia.
Moran pointed out that he came to Henry County and Martinsville in 2000 when Tultex Corp. closed to meet with displaced workers. He then worked for expanded unemployment benefits and extended health care coverage for those workers back in Richmond, he said.
Moran said the difference between himself and his opponents in Tuesday’s primary is that he has been in a leadership position in the House for eight years, before he resigned to run for governor. “I know the needs ... and how to get things done,” he said.
He also said he has a different vision for Virginia. His vision involves helping small businesses, raising the minimum wage and adopting a refundable earned income tax credit. He added that he has a plan to provide health coverage for all children in the state and a plan to provide services to keep seniors in their homes.
But he is somewhat stumped on why there is not more interest in Tuesday’s primary. He said it could be due to voter fatigue after the historic presidential election, combined with the recession. People are preoccupied with finding or keeping their jobs and their homes, he said.
But, he added, “all politics are local,” and “no one has worked harder to build the party. I think I’m the strongest one to beat the GOP candidate” in November. |
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