Hundreds attend McDonnell town hall in Danville

More than 400 area residents turned out to hear from Gov. Bob McDonnell in Danville on Monday night at his seventh town hall meeting, where he touted his support of ABC privatization, among other government reforms.

McDonnell, who will reveal his plan to privatize liquor stores Sept. 8, touted the half a billion dollars he expects the state to pocket from selling off its “government monopoly” on distilled spirits. He said the biggest benefit of the plan, which he called a good idea “both philosophically and financially,” is the boost to transportation funding.

“Times have changed,” McDonnell said at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, comically comparing life during prohibition in 1934 to today in an overhead presentation. “Things are different in 2010.”

His plan would increase the number of stores selling liquor from 332 to 800 or even 1,000, which would still be below the national average. Most of those would in fact be “a new shelf” in an existing store rather than a new building, McDonnell said, trying quell fears of there being a store “on every corner.”

Addressing fears of increased alcohol-related crimes, McDonnell cited a George Mason University study finding “no appreciable difference in crime rates” between states that control or privatize sales. He added that the state would still increase enforcement of the regulation of alcohol sales in those stores.

Although opponents of the plan say the sale of liquor stores would greatly reduce a consistent stream of state revenue, McDonnell said Virginia would see “no adverse consequences” under privatization and would receive “an equivalent amount of revenue.” He said privatizing would create more choices, more competition, more private sector jobs, maintain general fund revenue and create “hundreds of millions for transportation” resulting in “billions in impact over time.”

“The point is, government should do some things well,” McDonnell said during an interview earlier in the day. “Selling Bacardi and Jim Beam isn’t one of them.”

Linda Lawrence Dalton, who helps run a local beer and wine distributor, said she respectfully disagreed with ABC privatization because it might “lessen the quality of life for us” in Southside through increased crime and seedy-looking stores.

“I think in Virginia we have a wonderful system of alcoholic distribution at this point,” Dalton said. “There’s a balance in availability and enforcement and collection of revenue … I worry that could be jeopardized in a different plan.”

Others asked McDonnell about improving Southside’s economy and downtown blight, increasing alternative energy production, illegal immigration, Virginia’s opposition to the federal health care reform law and uranium mining.

“We’re still studying the situation,” McDonnell said about uranium mining, but defended France’s use of nuclear power. “… I think we ought to use all our resources in an environmentally responsible way.”

McDonnell brought with him a handful of his cabinet members, including Pittsylvania County native Todd Haymore, secretary of agriculture, to meet with people about their concerns following the meeting. McDonnell and his team took general comments from residents, from policy issues to praises and adoration. One man even handed over a compilation of the official Star Trek technical blueprints.

Local legislators also attended — including state Sen. Robert Hurt and Delegates Danny Marshall and Don Merricks, who spent the nearly two-hour meeting leaning against the walls of the packed room. Earlier in the day, McDonnell voiced his support for Hurt in his congressional challenge of Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5^th District.

“I’m a strong supporter of Robert Hurt,” McDonnell said. “He’s a strong legislator … I expect him to win and I’ll do whatever I can to help him.”

Focusing on jobs

Before Monday night’s town hall, McDonnell spent the latter part of the afternoon touring Danville Community College’s Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training (RCATT) and holding a roundtable discussion on work force development.

“I just wanted to come down and see the great work you’re doing,” McDonnell told the group of educators, business leaders and former RCATT students. “… There’s nothing more important that I think government can do right now” than help improve work force development.

McDonnell touted the recent positive economic news for Southside — NASCAR’s commitment to Martinsville and Microsoft’s $500 million investment in Mecklenburg County, the largest economic development investment in Southside history. DCC President Carlyle Ramsey discussed the benefits of the college’s job training programs in recruiting businesses and training workers.

“If there wasn’t (this) program, I wouldn’t have a job,” said Yong Shelton, an Essel Propack employee and graduate of DCC’s Manufacturing Technician Program.” I don’t know where I would be … it’s wonderful.”

McDonnell praised the local work to improve and educate the work force. At both the town hall and roundtable, he reiterated his mission to continue seeking solutions for economic development for an area that has “labored under a chronic double-digit unemployment rate.”

“It’s absolutely painful and unacceptable and something that’s consuming the lion’s share of my time,” he said. “… We need a big win for southern Virginia.”