ENDORSEMENT: Robert F. McDonnell for governor

The words “Northern Virginia” and “gridlock” are not quite synonymous. But for many in our area, they might as well be.

That’s why, when it comes to the race for the governor, we are looking for transportation solutions.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert F. McDonnell has a detailed plan for tackling transportation issues that includes everything from tolls to privatizing ABC stores in order to gain revenue
specifically for transportation.

While everything in his transportation plan may not work, we are impressed at the effort he put forth in coming up with solutions, something his opponent seemed wary of doing.

We are confident that McDonnell will do his best to make something happen on transportation while he is governor.

In addition to transportation, McDonnell has plans to grow the economy and bring jobs by making Virginia an easier place for people to establish businesses.

Of course, being a Republican, he is also eager to trim waste from the state’s budget and maintain low taxes, both things we appreciate. We are afraid that taxes would be a simple answer to many
problems from his opponent, R. Creigh Deeds..

McDonnell’s 20-year-old thesis has been a point of discussion in the campaign of both McDonnell and his opponent.

In fact, Deeds has made McDonnell’s thesis the main talking point of his campaign, almost to the exclusion of anything else.

This is one reason we cannot support Deeds. We understand that the thesis reveals certain ideas that McDonnell may have once held, but it is not something to base a campaign around. We wanted to
hear more about why Deeds should be governor and less about why his opponent should not be.

The economy, jobs and transportation are what concern us. We don’t think McDonnell’s views on social issues would be relevant during his term as governor.

Partial birth abortion is banned in Virginia and the amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman has already passed. As governor, what more could
McDonnell do on such social issues?

Also, the fact that McDonnell’s life since writing the thesis has shown views different from those expressed in his thesis comforts us. It’s hard to say he’s against working women when he has them in his
family.

Finally, having served as Virginia’s attorney general, McDonnell already has a reliable record as a statewide office holder. He has shown that he can do a good job.

McDonnell is the man with the plan and a way to articulate it. We expect good things, and we look forward to seeing him in action as our governor.

We ask you to vote for Robert F. McDonnell for governor on Nov. 3.