Creigh Deeds for governor: Moving forward

On Nov. 3, voters will head to the polls and choose the next governor for the commonwealth of Virginia. For many, this might be the first time they have ever voted for this office. After last year’s historic election and record-breaking turnout, it might be hard for new voters in our generation to realize the importance of state elections here in the commonwealth. What many of our generation fail to realize is that this office affects our day-to-day lives more than the office of the president of the United States.

This year’s gubernatorial race has already been very competitive and serves as a test for Virginians to demonstrate they want to continue on the progressive path that Democratic Gov. Mark Warner (D) started in 2001. State Sen. Creigh Deeds, our Democratic nominee, has helped to promote this era of good government in the commonwealth and will continue to do so if he is elected governor. Students at VCU should be particularly excited about supporting Sen. Deeds because of his proposed plans to rejuvenate our public higher education system so students leave college with 21st century job skills.

Deeds’ education plan is simple. He wants to make college more affordable for students like you and me. Not only does Deeds have a plan to help students like us achieve well-paying jobs but he also understands the financial needs and stressful demands of being a college student. When Deeds began his undergraduate degree, he left home with less than $100 to his name. So, when he talks about his plan to increase the Virginia Partnership Fund and need-based tuition assistance by $40 million, he means it-because he has walked in our shoes. This would help Virginia families who are most in need because of the rising cost of sending their sons and daughters to college. Deeds promises to establish a rainy day fund for education via the “Virginia Promise Fund,” in order to help average students with tuition increases, like those implemented by VCU last year.

Finally, Deeds wants to offer loan guarantees to both community college and four-year college students for up to $15,000. This would address the diverse financial aid needs of many students here at VCU. Collectively these plans create a portfolio that would benefit many of us here at VCU.

While the days of free higher education are way ahead of us, Creigh Deeds offers those that would otherwise have little or no opportunity to attain a college degree an opportunity to do so. I encourage you to read in depth about Sen. Deeds’ plans for the commonwealth on his Web site at: www.deedsforvirginia.com.

Regardless of which gubernatorial candidate you decide to support this November, I sincerely hope that if you are registered to vote you exercise your right to do so. There are so many young people our age around the world who are either fighting for their right to vote or wish they could. We often forget what it’s like to not have the ability to voice our opinion in our representative government and then often fail to take advantage of this privilege. I have yet to determine why so many of us fail to realize the importance of speaking up for one’s beliefs via the electoral process, but I hope that you will decide to use your voice on Tuesday, Nov. 3. If you have any questions about your registration status, precinct location or an absentee ballot, please call the Virginia State Board of Elections at 800-552-9745.