Kyle Blankenship of Virginia Beach asks about a green energy plan

Kyle Blankenship of Virginia Beach asks: Virginia has always been a state of firsts. Can we be the first state with a true plan for green energy in the next 10 years?

Absolutely, Kyle. We not only can, we must – if we don’t plan now for a green energy future, we’ll never get there. What’s more, we’ll give up valuable opportunities to take the lead in green technology and grow Virginia’s economy. Virginia’s technology sector can make huge gains in the green economy over the next 10 years, and with agriculture and forestry as our #1 industry, we have tremendous potential to grow biofuels and create new markets for our farmers.

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Jeff Beck of Chesterfield County asks about transportation solutions beyond the road system

Jeff Beck of Chesterfield County asks: Mr. McAuliffe, There is a lot of talk in Virginia politics about transportation and the fight for road developments and improvements between Northern Virginia and Central and South Virginia. However, I am curious what you are planning to do for Virginia beyond fixing the logjam in the legislature over roads, what will you do to move Virginia to its next step forward to continue the path Gov. Warner and Kaine have set us upon?

Jeff, Gov. Kaine has made record investments in rail and public transit and he has better connected land use and transportation planning – in twenty years, we’re going to look back at the changes he’s made and truly understand their importance. We need to continue down this path, maintaining a solid emphasis on high-efficiency methods for moving people and goods. We need to see the Dulles rail project through – and then we need to think about what other communities we can connect to Metro. We need to improve transit in Hampton Roads, including transit that moves people across the water. We need passenger rail that connects more parts of Virginia together, and we need to get more freight off the highways and onto the rail system.

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Joseph Stanley of Richmond asks about supporting candidates up and down the ballot

Joseph’s Question: Would you be willing to campaign for down-ticket candidates, particularly in the House of Delegates, if you do not get the primary nomination? I think many potential supporters are concerned that you have not been involved with state politics, and are attempting to “buy” the race. Funding progressive state politicians, especially in the last election before redistricting, would do much to satiate any criticism if you run again in 2013, or for any congressional offices before that.

Joseph, that’s the easiest question I’ll ever get on this site! Yes, yes, yes. I’ve been campaigning for Democrats and helping their campaigns for 30 years, and I’m not going to stop in the foreseeable future. I’ll be there for House of Delegates candidates whether I win or lose the primary – or decide not to run at all. I’ll also be there for our statewide candidates.

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Adam Balbus of Charlottesville asks about my qualifactions

Adam’s Question: You do not have any experience in any area of actual political office such as city mayor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, or state senator. How can you believe you can ascend to gubernatorial office only on the merits of your DNC chairmanship, adept political fundraising and networking? Shouldn’t you work your
way up first? I am asking you to explain what experience or personal insights would make you a great candidate for Virginia Governor.

Adam: I think I bring a fresh perspective to state government – one grounded in my experience of turning around failing businesses and rebuilding struggling organizations like the DNC, where I was Chair when we erased the debt, built the first national voter file, built a new headquarters, and left the incoming chair and his team with a clean balance sheet for the first time anyone can remember.

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Dottie Goldman of Virginia Beach asks about the Dillon Rule

Dottie Goldman, Virginia Beach: Will you work to eliminate the Dillon rule which stifles the more progressive areas of the state from moving forward? We in Hampton Roads (I hate that identifier!) and you in NoVa. are held hostage by the rural right wingers in Richmond. Thank you for listening.

Dottie: For those unfamiliar with the Dillon rule: The Dillon rule says that localities derive their power from the state. Virginia interprets this to mean that localities only have the powers explicitly given to them by the legislature.

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