The one issue that’s always a winner

Most candidates running for public office know the limits of government — and they all know what the voters want.

Few issues so closely tie what the state can do with what the people want it to do than economic development. That’s why it’s the one political issue that’s a winner in every election.

Economic development is primarily a local government function, but the state helps at every step of the way by building roads, funding shell buildings and industrial parks and steering industrial prospects to certain communities. Deals are typically closed with state money.

“Social issues have really declined since their heyday about a decade ago,” said Isaac Wood, director of communications for the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “…Terrorism eclipsed social issues, and now you see the economy eclipsing everything else. … Voters recognize the need for a response, but there is a lot of divide within the electorate about how to solve these problems — whether it’s the government by itself or a combination of government and private entities.”

This election comes at an interesting time for the Dan River Region.

By the numbers, we’re not that much better off than we were when Dan River Inc. sent its manufacturing jobs to India and tobacco warehousing and processing jobs were lost. But the monthly unemployment numbers don’t reflect how many companies have announced their plans to come here, built and equipped factories and started hiring — only to be slowed by the recession.

Those announced but unfilled jobs represent a lot of economic potential for the Dan River Region. We could — and probably will — quickly grow out of the recession. For political candidates talking about economic development, our unique local situation creates a challenge — Danville isn’t where it wants to be, but it’s certainly not where it was.

“Obviously the pressure that’s come from local governments … has been to encourage candidates to be aggressive in funding incentives,” said Linwood Wright. “Because that’s a big part of the competitive world in which we live.”

Wright, who is currently working as a public and governmental affairs consultant for the city, is a former mayor and councilman and one of the founders of the Danville economic development plan. He believes Danville is competing with other southeastern states for new businesses and industries.

“Any local economy that does not continue to reinforce itself is going to shrink,” Wright said. “You can’t ignore it.”

In the past, Danville’s leaders were accused of ignoring the need for economic growth. Now, politicians have to do more than be willing to kiss babies and promise more jobs. They have to work as hard on economic development as their constituents work at their jobs.