Northam Fails To Explain Key Meetings He Skipped; Refuses To Ask Governor To Reschedule Annual Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Meeting
At tonight’s final gubernatorial debate, 2017 Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie contrasted his positive vision for Virginia and policy proposals to cut taxes for all Virginians, grow our economy, and keep energy affordable with the Lieutenant Governor’s history of failing to show up for the duties of his current job, longstanding support of higher taxes, and plan to raise energy prices on Virginia families and businesses. Notably, Ralph Northam failed to explain his absence at key meetings that he was expected to attend in his capacity as Lieutenant Governor and failed to call on Governor McAuliffe to reschedule an annual meeting with Virginia’s Sheriffs that the Governor cancelled due to anger over the broad law enforcement support for Ed Gillespie’s campaign.
Ed Gillespie for Governor campaign manager Chris Leavitt noted, “For four years the Lieutenant Governor has failed to attend to the duties of his job, missing meeting after meeting on critical issues like our rural economy, statewide economic development, and homeland security. Tonight he couldn’t defend those absences. The contrast between the Lieutenant Governor and Ed could not have been clearer. Ed wants to lower taxes; Ralph Northam does not. Ed wants to keep energy prices affordable for families and businesses. Ralph Northam’s energy plan would raise those prices, and cost families and businesses hundreds and thousands of dollars. And Ed Gillespie opposes the creation of sanctuary cities in order to keep Virginians safe, particularly those who live in our immigrant communities, while Ralph Northam does not. On issue after issue the differences between the two candidates was obvious, and it demonstrates why Virginians are responding so positively to Ed’s vision of lower taxes for all Virginians, a stronger economy and a Virginia that once again leads the nation in job creation and economic growth and opportunity.”
Speaking about the Lieutenant Governor’s record of not attending any meetings of the Center for Rural Virginia, on which he serves; not attending any meetings of the Secure Commonwealth Panel, on which he serves; and only attending 40 percent of meetings of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, on which he serves, Gillespie noted,“You’ve got 8.4 million clients, I’m one of them, and you’re letting them down by not showing up for them.”
During tonight’s debate, Gillespie released his first regional plan for Southwest Virginia. He has released 19 other detailed policy plans to make life easier for ALL Virginians.
Last week, Gillespie wrapped up his ‘InformED Decisions’ tour, which gave undecided voters a chance to make informed decisions about their choices in this critically important election. Ed traveled across the Commonwealth to hear from voters and to share with them his vision for a safer, stronger Virginia, making seven tour stops in Hampton Roads, Southside, Northern Neck, Richmond, Roanoke Valley, Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia.
He has earned several key endorsements since the last debate including the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s PAC, and Virginia Retail Merchants Association.