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By Kali Schumitz Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Whether through investment in education and research or through tax incentives, all four candidates for Virginia governor said growing the state’s economy and attracting new businesses would be a top priority of their administrations.
Democrats Creigh Deeds, Terry' McAuliffe and Brian Moran, and Republican Bob McDonnell spoke to area business leaders at a April 3 Northern Virginia Tbchnology Council forum. Much of the event focused on higher education, job creation and supporting innovation in the state.
State leaders have lost sight of the relationship between higher education and job creation, according to Deeds, a state senator from southwest Virginia. He wants to invest more in the state’s community colleges and fouryear institutions.
“You can’t compete for the low-wage, low-skill jobs,” Deeds said. “You can compete for the smart jobs.”
McDonnell, the former Virginia attorney general, said the state has been spending more on higher education in recent years, and he would focus on getting more Virginians into the state’s top schools by working in with university presidents.
To bolster the state’s economy, McDonnell said he wants to “get rid’ of some of the regulatory- and tax burdens” on small businesses and supports energy initiatives like offshore oil drilling that could create jobs.
“I want this to be the most business-friendly state in the nation for smail businesses,” he said.
Tax incentives to get new businesses to locate in Virginia are a key part of McAuhffe’s plan to grow the economy.
"I want us to have the best business-friendly state in the country,” the former Democratic National Committee chairman said. “I
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