Experience key in area Senate races

Experience counts. That’s not just a campaign slogan, it’s a reality.

The 17th Virginia Senate District has been altered to include much of Thomas Jefferson Country. Voters here might not know a great deal about the incumbent who is asking for their vote. So here are some highlights about Sen. Edd Houck’s career and accomplishments:

He is one of the ranking members of the Senate Finance Committee. In this day of budget stress, that’s no small matter. Mr. Houck has experience in making tough budget choices. He has worked with other leaders on both sides of the aisle and knows how to get things done. Experience not only with policy issues but also with the people and processes that make those policies work is a valuable asset.

He’s a supporter of higher education and economic development initiatives; for instance, he supported a research and development tax credit to boost advanced technology and bioscience. He voted for state investment in promising technology and life science companies in Virginia. High-tech and biomedical advances are crucial to the University of Virginia’s mission, crucial to the growth of tech and science companies in surrounding communities, and crucial to creation of good jobs in clean industries for our community.

Mr. Houck also has a good record in other areas.

He’s a traditional moderate of the type Virginia once took pride in, before partisanship began trumping common sense. He has supported some tax cuts — including voting to repeal the unfair death tax — and he has supported some tax increases. He makes those decisions based on the best information available at the time, not on orders from the party.

Mr. Houck has long been a supporter of open government and transparent leadership. Through his efforts, public records and meetings are more likely to be open and available, and Virginians have a better chance tracking just exactly what their government is up to.

Another of his commendable votes tightened the definition of “eminent domain” to further protest private property rights.

In the 25th Senate District, Creigh Deeds is the voice of experience.

Much of Mr. Deeds’ district is rural, and he has the understanding of rural issues necessary to support this constituency. His voting record shows commitment to conservation, rural space preservation and agriculture. At the same time, he also has worked to preserve jobs in the district, which runs all the way to the West Virginia border, especially in underserved areas.

“We are all Virginians, and it’s important that we have a commonwealth of opportunity for every single Virginian,” he said at debate last month at UVa. “A high tide lifts all boats. We’ve got to create opportunity in every corner of the commonwealth.”

He pledges to work even harder for jobs if re-elected, especially manufacturing jobs.

Mr. Deeds also is a strong supporter of all levels of education. He supports primary, secondary and post-secondary education, and also understands the importance of investment in pre-kindergarten to help all children be ready to learn and of vocational education and technical training for older students who want it.

Meanwhile, two appealing candidates are challenging the incumbents: Bryce Reeves in the 17th and T.J. Aldous in the 25th. Both men show a genuine desire to serve, to dedicate themselves to fair and effective government. Both have some good ideas to bring to the table. Both are to be commended for their dedication, and for their dreams of improving the district.

But in these times of fiscal strain and uncertainty, experienced leadership is most needed in Richmond.