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In the contest for lieutenant governor, incumbent Bill Bolling is asking voters for a second four-year term. Bolling has little to show for his first term or a legislative career that reaches back to 1996. His sparse achievements reflect his aversion to risk-taking, a quality that has hampered his ability to lead on tough issues.
He is more comfortable on the sidelines, quibbling as his colleagues struggle with the complex problems facing the state.
While he has rarely strayed from the restrictive confines of the conservative wing in his party, the Republican has made one foray into moderation with his advocacy for an end to legislative gerrymandering.
He teamed up with Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine in an unsuccessful push for reform last year and helped persuade gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell to join the cause.
Although important, redistricting reform alone is an underwhelming case for Bolling’s re-election, but the onus is on challenger Jody Wagner to make the case for toppling him from the Senate dais.
Wagner’s experience as a corporate attorney, state treasurer and finance secretary should have provided her with arguments in her favor.
But the Virginia Beach Democrat has perplexed voters with a reluctance to provide a clear explanation of her ideas on rebuilding the state’s road budget even as she promises to be an advocate and educator on transportation issues. She is less willing to consider new taxes for transportation than her running mate, gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds.
She knows first-hand the desperation of Hampton Roads for a solution, and her business background could give her clout on the issue, if only she could find the political will to lead.
She understands state finances better than the five other statewide candidates. She understands what is needed to preserve Virginia’s triple-A credit rating because she’s nursed it through the recession.
Still, she must find a surer footing if she is to be an effective leader for her party, her region and the state.
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theguyfromchesapeake
The Pilot Editorial Staff only endorses a Republican candidate when that candidate is going to win with ease, and their endorsement will be wasted. That way they are able to claim that they are not in the "tank" for the Democrats. They've been doing this for years. In any close election they will ALWAYS endorse the Democrat and trash the Republican.
Wow..
this gal Jody Wagner must be an absolute loser per the Pilot's Editorial Board's eyes if they can't even bring themselves to endorse her, which is almost always automatic when it involves one of the Board's fellow Dems! All a Dem candidate has to be is breathing to get their OK. I didn't see anything negative about Bolling, but he ain't a Dem, so, as the Board showed, he ain't gonna get the time of day from them. Ms. Wagner is now almost on a par with failed Congressional candidate Phil Kellam, who ran such a bad campaign in 2006 that the Pilot actually endorsed his opponent, Thelma Drake (although when reading that endorsement, they couldn't hide their scorn and contempt for Ms. Drake, but most of the body of the column was detailing how screwed up Kellam was!). So the Pilot's just going to 'sit on the sidelines' on this one, I reckon..
But fear not. We will be feted to an endorsement here and there of a Republican or Independent, just so the Pilot will tell us how 'non-partisan' they are. They are, after all, in the business of information manipulation, like other Editorial Boards are!
The Numbers Don't Lie
Actually, they did out of Jody Wagner's Department of Finance. DoF dramatically overstated revenue forecasts to lay the legal basis to later try to raid the Rainy Day Fund.
That The V-P didn't call her on such blatant fraud is telling.
This is a minus?
"She is less willing to consider new taxes for transportation than her running mate, gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds."