Virginia Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, spoke to University Democrats yesterday about his plans for the Virginia governorship if elected to the position this fall.
Deeds said he would have to grapple with the declining economy, and said he is confident that he could bring Virginia back to prosperity.
As the only Democratic candidate who has previously run in a state-wide election, he introduced himself as the only candidate with the experience to lead Virginia. He also said he had the appeal to win the votes of both Democrats and Republicans.
Because he is a resident of Bath County, he said he understands what everyday Virginians need, noting that he became a part of the government so he could work to improve Virginians’ lives.
“One way we can [improve lives] right now,” he said, “is by improving Virginia’s transportation system.”
Transportation long has been a popular issue in Virginia. Current Governor Tim Kaine recently proposed a plan to give more than $1 billion to road and bridge maintenance by 2012. But Deeds said the state needs to go further, adding that the entire state could benefit from improved transportation in specific areas like Fairfax and Hampton Roads. Projects like building new highways would create more jobs, strengthening Virginia’s economy, he noted.
Moreover, the potential of Virginia’s ports is untapped, he added.
“We could have a shipping port in Hampton Roads that would rival New York’s,” he said.
First-year Graduate Arts & Sciences student Todd Eley said Deeds had a good handle on policy issues, pointing to Deeds’ experience and ideas for Virginia’s transportation system.
The discussion about transportation did not impress first-year College student Rex Young, however.
“It might have been nice to hear about a priority other than transportation,” he said. “It’s an issue we see in the governor race each year.”
Deeds is currently running in a contested election and is seeking the Democratic nomination, as are former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran, a former state delegate representing Virginia’s 46th district. Attorney General Bob McDonnell, meanwhile, is the only Republican candidate to declare his gubernatorial intentions thus far.
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