Marshall, Anderson talk economy, job creation

Focusing on the economy, Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, and his Democratic opponent, Seward Anderson, answered questions from local business leaders about issues facing the 14th District at a candidates’ forum Tuesday morning.

About 50 members of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Stratford Conference Center for the forum.

“The most pressing issue for our area is job creation,” Marshall said. “… We want our talented youth to stay here, attract new businesses to our area and revive our industry to keep up with 21st Century challenges.”

Anderson described this as “a critical time” for Southside, with Danville facing 14.6 percent unemployment.

“Bringing jobs and economic growth to the people of Southside will be my daily focus,” he said.

The candidates may agree that Southside needs jobs, but they differed in how to accomplish that. Anderson supported the Governor’s Opportunity Fund and criticized Marshall for not being proactive and for voting to cut the fund in the past.

Marshall praised the Tobacco Commission and said he has worked to create 6,000 jobs in the area.

“How much more do you want to put in there?” Marshall asked of the leftover money in the Governor’s Opportunity Fund. “… My job is to spend your money wisely, and I don’t think it’s wise to take that money and just let it sit there.”

To maintain Virginia’s competitive business edge, Anderson said the state must “protect and encourage the growth of small business” through properly funding tools such as Enterprise Zones, something said Marshall has failed at supporting.

“When it comes to job creation in Southside,” Anderson said, “our state leadership has failed us.”

Marshall said there is not just one answer to economic growth, but “100 answers to that question.”

He supported the Right to Work law to protect area jobs and keeping taxes low, and dismissed the Enterprise Zone issue.

“It (Enterprise Zones) sounds great,” he said, “But Gov. Kaine just cut $1.25 million from it last month. So I bet Gov. Kaine does not think it’s very great.”

To balance the budget, Marshall stressed core services such as education and public safety. He suggested consolidating overlapping agencies to increase efficiency and opposed raising taxes.

Anderson also opposed tax increases and suggested controlling spending through zero-based budgeting and performance audits.

For education, Anderson supported early childhood education, dropout prevention programs, improving teacher salaries and increasing technological resources. Marshall supported competitive salaries and “keeping dollars in the classroom instead of the front office.”

“Throughout his campaign, Delegate Marshall has focused on his work serving as a political appointee on a regional commission,” Anderson said in his closing statements.

“He is not accountable to us for this work. He is accountable to you for the failings of the commonwealth to partner with Southside.”

Marshall defended his work on the Tobacco Commission, saying, “it is accountable to you,” and mentioned his endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

“The folks there understand it’s not political rhetoric,” Marshall said of his work.

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