During last night’s third and final gubernatorial debate, 2017 Republican nominee Ed Gillespie highlighted the clear contrast between the candidates and their qualifications to lead Virginia. Northam attempted to attack Gillespie for his successful career, but as The Washington Post noted, “Gillespie didn’t flinch”(The Washington Post, 10/10/17). He pointed to the Lieutenant Governor’s dismal record of board attendance during his tenure as Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Missing critical meetings on a wide range of topics, including economic development and homeland security, the Lieutenant Governor has failed to show up for the job he has now, and won’t fool the people of Virginia into giving him a promotion.
Watch: “Ralph Northam Has Failed To Show Up For His 8.4 Million Clients”
Transcript
GILLESPIE: I did show up for my clients at the firm I left more than a decade ago and was effective on their behalf, and I will be effective on the behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia. But the fact is, we’re talking about a job that you are seeking now and that you sought from us. You’ve got 8.4 million clients, Lieutenant Governor Northam. I’m one of them. Part of the responsibility and duties of being Lieutenant Governor is to serve on the Center for Rural Virginia to make sure that rural Virginians are having the opportunities that we need – broadband access and those kinds of things. You did not attend a single meeting during your time in office. Another one is to serve on the Secure Commonwealth Panel, which is responsible for making sure that Virginians are safe in our homes, in our communities, and our businesses. You did not attend a single meeting of the Secure Commonwealth Panel, our homeland security panel. Economic development, we’re talking about it here a lot tonight because we need it desperately. We have the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, which is the central means by which we try to identify an economic strategy to create jobs and raise take home pay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. You missed 60 percent of those, and maybe it’s just as well given that you’re for higher taxes and I’m for lower taxes, and for more regulations and I’m for fewer regulations. My policies will result in job creation, raising take home pay, and helping people lift themselves out of poverty, and I will work hard on behalf of the people of Virginia to get those policies enacted.
Background:
As Lieutenant Governor, Ralph Northam has maintained a dismal record of board attendance, missing critical meetings on a wide range of important topics, including economic development and homeland security.
Northam has missed at least 36 board meetings, including meetings of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel, and Council on Virginia’s Future. Lieutenant Governor Northam never attended a meeting of the Council on Virginia’s Future; nor did he attend a single meeting of the Center for Rural Virginia Board; he attended only 42 percent of VEDP meetings; and one time even sent his scheduler to attend the Secure Commonwealth Panel – a panel on homeland security.
In addition to his poor attendance record while in office, Northam is not seriously working to earn the votes of Virginians across the Commonwealth. He has skipped 12 joint appearance opportunities on the trail since July.
Campaign Events Ralph Northam Has Not Attended
July 28, 2017 – Agriculture and Forestry Gubernatorial Candidate Forum
August 3, 2017 – Virginia State Firefighters Association Conference
August 4, 2017 – Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Conference
August 9, 2017 – The Arc of Virginia State Convention
September 4, 2017 – Buena Vista Labor Day Ceremony
September 16, 2017 – Virginia Governmental Employees Association Membership Meeting
September 25, 2017 – Virginia Rural Center Governor’s Summit on Rural Prosperity
September 26, 2017 – ChamberRVA Board of Directors Meeting
September 27, 2017 – Virginia School Board Association Legislative Advocacy Conference
October 2, 2017 – Virginia Retail Federation Fall Conference
October 2, 2017 – Virginia Municipal League Conference
October 5, 2017 – Central Business District Association Forum
October 7, 2017 – Muslim Association of Virginia Community Event
***
Meetings Ralph Northam Has Skipped While In Office:
February 20, 2014 – Fort Monroe Authority
March 12, 2014 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
June 5, 2014 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
June 9, 2014 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
July 8, 2014 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
September 11, 2014 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
October 21, 2014 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
November 18, 2014 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
December 17, 2014 – Council on Virginia’s Future
February 12, 2015 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
March 12, 2015 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
March 31, 2015 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
May 21, 2015 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
June 4, 2015 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
August 20, 2015 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
October 6, 2015 – Council on Virginia’s Future
October 6, 2015 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
November 19, 2015 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
December 15, 2015 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
December 18, 2015 – Fort Monroe Authority
March 10, 2016 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
April 25, 2016 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
April 28, 2016 – Virginia Military Advisory Council
May 19, 2016 – Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
June 16, 2016 – Fort Monroe Authority
June 21, 2016 –Center for Rural Virginia Board
July 13, 2016 – Virginia Secure Commonwealth Panel
August 18, 2016 – Fort Monroe Authority
September 8, 2016 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
September 26, 2016 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
October 20, 2016 – Virginia Military Advisory Council
October 20, 2016 – Fort Monroe Authority
November 3, 2016 – Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
December 20, 2016 – Center for Rural Virginia Board
February 16, 2017 – Fort Monroe Authority
March 9, 2017 – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
May 23, 2017 – Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Visit NoShowNortham.com to learn more.
# # #