McDonnell right for Virginia

If the economy and transportation are the two top crises facing Virginia, then the question is: Which candidate for governor has the best chance of solving those intertwined problems?

And the answer has to be: Bob McDonnell — although there are portions of his platform that we question.
We say this with great respect for his opponent, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, whose district includes portions of our community. We know him well and admire his record of service.
But for overall strategy and capability, the nod goes to Mr. McDonnell.
Let’s take transportation first.
Mr. Deeds would tackle the issue by forming a bipartisan blue-ribbon panel to study ways and means. His rationale is that this is the only chance for breaking the current partisan deadlock is a bipartisan, consensus-building approach.

The rationale has logic. And we agree with the spirit of bipartisanship. At any other time, we would endorse this effort.
But Virginia is at crisis point. Transportation needs must be addressed now. The commonwealth can’t wait for the results of another study or more group ruminating before taking action.
New road projects are stalled, secondary roads are being neglected and unless something is done soon Virginia won’t have enough money even to keep up with maintenance.
This means more than just inconvenience for motorists. Transporta-tion is a necessary part of economic vitality. Economic vitality travels by road and rail, by air and sea.
And economic vigor must be rekindled if the state is to lure or retain the industries that provide jobs for residents, that provide tax revenue for Virginia to pay for the services that Virginians want.

Mr. McDonnell proposes expanding a wide range of revenue sources to fund transportation improvements. Some of those we find questionable. (Tolls at the North Carolina border? Tolls slow commerce, burn fuel, create pollution.)
But we believe his overall approach is the better one. It is a plan of action now.
That is one way to speed Virginia on the road to economic recovery. Mr. McDonnell also believes in streamlined, user-friendly government to save tax dollars, in eliminating excessive regulation that keeps business from succeeding and in maintaining strong right-to-work laws. Keeping, and enhancing, these Virginia values will continue to make the state attractive for business.

Of course, no one wants a Wild West state. Some regulation is necessary. But let’s make sure these regulations are doing the right job at the right intensity, and that means being willing to question the status quo.
Finally, if how one runs a campaign signals how one runs an office, then again Mr. McDonnell is the stronger candidate. Mr. Deeds won a difficult primary against two strong contenders and started the summer in good position. He has steadily lost ground. Although some of this may be fallout due to growing public dissatisfaction with President Obama, a fellow Democrat, it is also true that Mr. Deeds has failed to articulate a clear, strong vision.
With all due respect to Mr. Deeds, The Daily Progress endorses Bob McDonnell.