AS THE country stands at a crossroads of red and blue this election season, so too does the state of Virginia and the University’s own fifth Congressional District. But what’s encouraging about the Democratic candidates for Senate (Mark Warner) and for Congress here in the fifth district (Tom Perriello) is that they do not force Virginians to make a choice between red and blue, conservative and liberal. Our Democratic candidates this November embody the pragmatism of real results rather than partisan rhetoric.
During such trying economic times, there is no one with a stronger economic resume than Mark Warner, the Democratic candidate for Senate. As the co-founder of Nextel, he took his business experience and acumen to the governor’s mansion in 2002, where he transformed a $6 billion budget shortfall into a surplus that was reinvested into public education and environmental renewal. His commitment to job creation, budget cuts, and fair tax reform, landed him among TIME magazine’s “America’s Best 5 Governors” in 2005 with the state of Virginia ranked as “the best managed state in the nation” by Governing Magazine and the “best state for business” by Forbes.
Known for bipartisan and pragmatic leadership, Mark Warner is prepared to tackle important issues. Warner aims to eliminate U.S. dependence on foreign oil, to encourage investment in renewable energy, and actively combat climate change. Warner also understands that the healthcare crisis itself must be addressed by bringing down the price of prescription drugs and emphasizing prevention. With regard to Iraq, Warner not only wants to bring the troops home as soon as possible, but is committed to providing the support they need upon return. Virginia needs an experienced, results-oriented senator in Washington, who will look beyond partisanship and who will lead. Mark Warner has done it before, and he will undoubtedly do it again.
And Tom Perriello? As the Democratic candidate for the fifth district, Perriello is proving to be a tough opponent for the Republican incumbent Virgil Goode. The congressional race here in the fifth is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated races in the country. Running on the platform of a “commitment to the common good,” Perriello has the rare ability to combine his faith and political ideals in a way that unites Virginians and actually focuses on social welfare rather that division and alienation. But Perriello doesn’t just talk about his values, he truly personifies them. He helped found faith-based organizations that bring together different faiths in working for a higher minimum wage, children’s healthcare, and environmental responsibility, in addition to ending the war in Iraq. And Perriello knows a thing or two about war. Perriello worked with pro-democracy groups in Sierra Leone to bring an end to 12 years of violence, in addition to working in Liberia, Darfur and Afghanistan, successfully implementing peaceful, nonviolent solutions.
What does this mean for the fifth district? It means that Tom Perriello won’t be satisfied unless he accomplishes his number one goal of economic revival by means of eliminating tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs overseas and enforcing a higher level of accountability for corporations. It means peaceful solutions for our conflicts overseas. It means supporting environmental policies that would invest in Virginia agriculture to bring about the next generation of alternative energy and fuel, in addition to widespread job creation in the areas of the district that need it most.
Fellow students, residents of Virginia and the fifth district, when you are at the polls this November, remember that Obama and McCain aren’t the only names that matter. Warner for Senate. Perriello for Congress. Democrats for change and pragmatic solutions.
Megan Durkee is vice president of the University Democrats.
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