One week after the candidates for Virginia governor debated at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park Campus, the candidates for the other two top offices squared off to let potential voters know why they should be elected.
Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a senator from Bath County, and Republican Robert McDonnell, a delegate from Virginia Beach, were queried Wednesday by panelists about their platforms to become the commonwealth’s next attorney general.
“It is important to accommodate every voter so they can hear about the issues,” Deeds said about bringing the debate to the VCU campus. “It’s in the middle of the capital city where a lot of (college-aged) people can be reached.”
McDonnell echoed his opponent’s views on why VCU was a prime place to have the debate.
“When you come to people’s backyard, it makes it is easier for them to listen to what you have to say,” he said. “It is gratifying to see students here participating in the political process.”
While both candidates were pleased to be on campus at the event sponsored by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, expressing their views to the crowd of about 100 people, they were quick to promote their track record and explain their differences.
McDonnell touted his support of medical malpractice reform, noted efforts to upgrade communications technology that would be beneficial during a crisis such as Sept. 11 or a hurricane such as Hurricane Katrina. They also advocated illegal immigration changes.
“In Virginia we should not afford the right of citizenship to people who are here illegally,” he said. “It takes away from the people who come here through a legal process.”
Deeds said he supports Virginia’s employment-at-will laws, which give employers the power to terminate a person’s employment at will. He also reminded the audience that he was the patron of the bill that brought the Amber Alert warnings, designed to help find missing children, to Virginia.
An Amber Alert was issued last week to help find VCU student Taylor Behl, who has been missing for over two weeks.
“The Amber Alert has brought a child home alive every time it has been used in Virginia,” Deeds said. “I don’t know why it took two weeks to get the alert issued. I have kids of my own. I pray that the Amber Alert will help find her.”
Even though the hour-long debate was cordial, at times each candidate chose to point out the reasons his opponent would not be the correct person to become Virginia’s 44th attorney general.
Deeds pointed out that the Republican Party, which nominated McDonnell, eavesdropped on calls between himself and other Democratic lawmakers. Deeds asked McDonnell if he knew anything about the incident.
The delegate did not respond to that question but said his 14-year record in state politics was far superior to his opponent’s.
Robert D. Holsworth, acting dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences and director of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, helped organize the event. He said he hopes the university will have future candidates come to VCU to let their thoughts be known.
“We are trying to build a set of venues where students and politicians can express their views,” Holsworth said.
Having the three candidates for governor debate last week, and the people seeking to become lieutenant governor and attorney general this week, shows that VCU is “the premier school of government in the state,” he added.
Former U.S. Congresswoman Leslie Byrne and State Sen. Bill Bolling, R-Hanover, held a debate as candidates for lieutenant governor following the Deeds-McDonnell debate.
The election for statewide offices and local positions takes place Tuesday, Nov. 8.