As State Senate hopeful Jane Maddux (R) attempts to beat out incumbent Sen. Emily Couric, D-Charlottesville, her campaign is focusing on distinguishing herself from Couric, who is showing up much stronger in the polls.
Couric has shown remarkable support, even though the ultimate goals of the two candidates are strikingly similar.
Bettering education, lowering taxes, protecting the environment and reforming healthcare are some of the main promises made by both candidates.
So what sets them apart?
"The main difference is the philosophical difference on how much government should be involved in your life. Jane wants less government involvement," Maddux Campaign Manager Alicia Ward said.
But Couric said she does not speak for her opponents and prefers to concentrate on her own platform, which emphasizes her track record as state senator.
She said she plans to run this year's campaign on a majority of the same issues that were proposed in her previous Senate election.
One of the focuses will be on "affordable access to quality healthcare for as many people as possible. We need to support our strong economy," she added.
Couric said, "In the era of managed care, healthcare has many of my constituents asking me to speak up for the quality of healthcare."
Maddux also stresses healthcare reform - but in a different manner from Couric.
"Healthcare is one of the most important concerns that faces every Virginian," Maddux said. "Women's health initiatives are particularly important to me, and I have worked for the past five years in helping to provide healthcare for under-insured and uninsured women of Central Virginia. I want to continue to support affordable, accessible healthcare for all Virginians."
The most important distinction between the two candidates' views, she said, was how much of a role each believed the state should play in healthcare.
"Democrats want the government to have more control of your health. I want you to have more control," she added.
"Many plans out there today call for measures that would reduce competition, Maddux said. "My pledge is to fight to keep quality healthcare affordable and accessible for all Virginians through a free-market approach. Increased competition on a level playing field, and fewer regulations, can decrease the cost of healthcare for everyone."
Taxing issues
Couric has voted to repeal the car tax and has fought to eliminate the food tax.
Maddux said she also would like to continue cutting taxes.
"I will be vigilant in keeping taxes we've eliminated [car tax, food tax] dead and buried," she said. "We cannot allow the Democrats to replace the taxes we've eliminated to make life better for our families with new taxes under a different name.
"The next tax we should focus on is the Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax. Companies can reinvest that money and continue to grow our overall economy," she added.
Maddux's idea has met success from student leaders.
"The BPOL tax has potential to harvest a boom in the technical sector in Charlottesville," College Republicans Chairman John Blair said.
Education
The promise of better education on behalf of both parties also has subtle differences that set the candidates apart. Couric has voted for smaller class sizes, led the fight for school construction funding, provided more classroom technology and helped return state lottery profits to schools.
Defending higher education was also a large accomplishment for Couric.
She cut college tuition and fees, increased funding for the University, Germanna and Piedmont Virginia Community College, supported the Virginia Prepaid Education Program and promoted medical education programs.
"She's proven her interests in higher education and the University," said Brian Johns, Campaign/Party Coordinator for University Democrats.
Maddux also has said she places education as a high priority in her platform.
Her education plan targets grades K-12, as well as a proposed "early childhood program called Ready, Set, Go Learn, to supplement the successful Head Start program and provide learning tools and culture to help children become ready to learn before they enter school," she said.
She added she has big plans for the state's lottery money.
"I want to continue to work towards getting 100 percent of the lottery profits returned to the localities with no strings attached," Maddux said.
The environment
Environmental issues surface as primary concerns in this campaign as well. Couric proposes giving "more planning tools to local government for clean water, clean air and open space."
Maddux also stresses the importance of environmental issues, such as "enforcing our existing laws, cleaner, safer drinking water and a state agency that works.
"I will work with my fellow legislators to make the Department of Environmental Quality the most efficient and effective state government agency," she said.
Weighing the options
Couric has served on the Virginia State Senate for four years and has worked on the Senate Education and Health Committee as well as three other committees: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Courts of Justice.
Maddux also has served and been on many civic organizations. She now serves as a board member for the Women's Committee of the Martha Jefferson Hospital.
Couric has been vocal in the past in support of University issues like fighting for the Living Wage and supporting affirmative action.
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