Warner helps Anderson start run for 14th District seat

Sen. Mark Warner came to Danville Sunday to kick off Seward Anderson’s campaign for the 14th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Warner said Anderson would “put his money where his mouth is” to bring jobs to the region. It’s a challenging time for the country and the community, Warner said, adding that residents of Southside have a strong work ethic and that the community will prevail. Southside needs someone “willing to shake things up” in Richmond to make investments in education and broadband, Warner said.

“In Seward Anderson, we’ve got that individual,” Warner said.

Warner, D-Va., told about 50 supporters at Anderson’s campaign office-opening event at 123 N. Union St. that the district needs a leader in Richmond who will work for the betterment of the state and the Southside, not just bolster a particular party.

“We need a delegate in Richmond who’s always going to put the interest of this community first,” Warner said.

Warner also touched on national issues, citing the economy and reforming health care as the two greatest challenges facing the country. Medicare and Medicaid costs are the largest part of the federal deficit, Warner said. The average family with health insurance will pay $25,000 per year for health care if the system isn’t fixed, he said. There will be scare tactics from opponents of health-care reform in the coming weeks, he said.

“There’s going to be a lot of misinformation out there in the next 30 days, 45 days,” Warner said.

“None of these problems can be fixed all at once,” he said. “It’s a journey.”

Anderson, a Democrat who served on Danville City Council and was mayor for 10 years, said his campaign is about three main issues: effective leadership, education and jobs. He pointed to several city-council achievements during his tenure, including the construction and development of two industrial parks, two fire stations and two new schools.

“We did those things without punishing the taxpayer,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he wants to expand the Governor’s Opportunity Fund, which provides money for businesses locating to an area and providing jobs. He chided his Republican opponent, Del. Danny Marshall, for having a “net-negative” idea of what the fund should be. Anderson said he would invest in education and propose tuition tax credits and loan forgiveness for native college graduates who return to the area.

“This brain drain has got to stop,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he would bring a fresh perspective to the House of Delegates.

“We’re going to have new, better, more effective leadership in Richmond and I’m going to be that person with your help,” Anderson told supporters.

During an interview Sunday evening, Marshall pointed to several examples of the leadership he has provided for Southside in Richmond since being elected in 2001. The Family Foundation and the National Federation of Independent Businesses both gave Marshall a score of 100 for effectiveness in the General Assembly for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The American Council of Engineering Companies named Marshall Delegate of the Year for 2007, he said.

“They (the ratings) will tell you that I am effective,” Marshall said.

In addition, Marshall worked on behalf of the Virginia Tobacco Commission to put $2.5 million toward the White Mill Project and $1.7 million for a water line to a new industrial park in Ridgeway. Marshall also pointed to his work on several committees and commissions to help bring jobs to the area, including serving as vice chair on the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee and the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and the Commerce and Labor Committee.

Marshall said he opposed adding money to the Governor’s Opportunity Fund under Gov. Warner and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine because the money wasn’t being used much. The money in the opportunity fund, which Marshall said is about $12 million, could have been used for education or funding for law enforcement or to help the handicapped.

However, if Bob McDonnell is elected governor in November, Marshall said he would support expanding the Opportunity Fund because McDonnell would appoint a secretary to help create jobs in areas with high unemployment, such as Danville.

Marshall said he has worked to lower the eligibility thresholds under the Opportunity Fund, making it easier for more job-creating companies locating to communities like Danville to receive funding.

• Contact Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.