Another 5th District candidate stops in Danville

The 2010 election cycle is well underway in the 5th District as the second of seven declared challengers to Rep. Tom Perriello stopped in Danville Wednesday to introduce himself to the area.

Albemarle County resident Michael McPadden, a captain for Northwest Airlines and retired Navy pilot, is running for the Republican nomination to challenge Perriello, a Democrat. McPadden spoke to local media outside the Danville courthouse, which was closed Wednesday for Veterans’ Day.

“As a conservative Virginian,” McPadden said, “I recognize that we are living in perilous times — perilous because we have strayed from the Founders’ vision. The only way that we can preserve our republic and restore our economy is to restore individual liberty.”

McPadden stood in front of a blue “McPadden for Congress” banner under an awning in the cold rain, making multiple references to the Founding Fathers. He said the three pillars of his campaign were “individual liberty, sound money and constitutional restraint.”

McPadden criticized Perriello for his support of recent health care and cap-and-trade legislation, which he said have contributed to “lost liberties” through government-takeover of the economy.

“Sound money leads to a sound economy and without it,” he said, “well folks, you get the economy we have now.”

The other Republican challengers include Ken Boyd of Albemarle County, Ron Ferrin of Campbell County, state Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, Feda Kidd Morton of Fluvanna County, Laurence Verga of Albemarle County and Bedford County resident Bradley Rees, who is running as a member of the Virginia Conservative Party.

“I am so busy focused on this campaign,” McPadden said, “I try not to get involved with the current administration and the other candidates.”

A graduate of Virginia Tech, McPadden served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve for a total of 22 years. With no previous political experience, McPadden felt his service as a pilot has prepared him to serve in Congress.

“As a military plane and commercial pilot, I learned how to make a decision,” he said. “That’s one of the best leadership qualities you can have. I can make a good decision based on what’s best for the people of the 5th District.”

Amos is a staff writer for the Danville Register & Bee.