Lieutenant Governor Candidates Focus On Economy

Signer and Wagner Tout Ideas For Bringing Jobs to State

By Michael Laris

Thursday, June 4, 2009

A. Michael Signer and Jody M. Wagner have crossed the state talking about how each would boost Virginia's economy from the lieutenant governor's perch in Richmond.

Signer, a national security expert from Arlington, says he wants to speed up government spending on projects such as military housing. That would create jobs when Virginia needs them most, he says.

Wagner, a former secretary of finance from Virginia Beach, said she wants to increase state incentives for businesses that move to Virginia. She wants a $20 million fund just to lure 21st-century businesses, such as biotechnology firms, she said.

The two candidates hit similar, if vague, notes when talking about solving the other major problem facing much of the state, particularly Northern Virginia: a snarled and insufficient transportation network.

Both Democrats say flipping the House of Delegates to their party would be the best solution.

Failing that, both say they would be positioned to help bring together disparate political and geographic factions to come up with new road and transit spending, although it is unclear how either would loosen a political logjam that has bested successive governors in the Old Dominion.

Wagner is running as the establishment candidate and has collected endorsements from a wide range of Democrats in the General Assembly. Signer is the upstart, and has been endorsed by key labor groups.

It is unclear which set of assets will help more in what is expected to be a low-turnout election Tuesday, but each candidate is counting on the organizing muscle of supporters to push toward victory.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two comes in the way they portray themselves.

Wagner cites her years of work in Richmond and her ties to former governor Mark Warner, who brought her into state government after a failed bid for congress. "I have seven years of experience working with Governors Warner and Kaine, solving problems," Wagner said.

Signer points to years crafting policy initiatives on the national level, and his success last year helping defeat an entrenched Republican, a task he said he's hungry to try to repeat if he faces the incumbent Republican, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. Signer was a top strategist in the upset victory of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) over Virgil Goode. "Democrats win when we stay on the offensive," Signer said.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Wagner had a clear fundraising edge as of March 31, with $776,000. Signer had raised $249,000. They are both lawyers, and lawyers were the top donors for both.

Signer has sought to make the case that the office of lieutenant governor needs a jolt of energy. The office, he said, should not be viewed as a placeholder or steppingstone. "It should be a public advocate," Signer said, citing the tenure of former lieutenant governor Don Beyer as a model for an activist approach. He wants to push for changes in Virginia law to give localities more power, he said. Because of Virginia's Dillion Rule, authority in the state rests with Richmond unless counties, cities or towns have particular powers given to them.

Wagner emphasizes the power of the office, saying that Bolling has pushed tie votes into the Republican column in the state Senate. "As lieutenant governor, he rules whether something passes or fails," Wagner said, citing an education funding vote as a recent example. Wagner said she trusts that a new Democratic governor would benefit from her negotiating skills to help pass a Democratic agenda, including her priorities, such as education.

Tagged: 2009 governor's race, elections, politics, State news

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