Reply #56: None... Governor Mark Warner

[nickshepDEM]

Why?

Obviously, I like the fact that he has a proven ability to win in a state that most Democrats would struggle in. I think Mark Warner is very telegenic and comes across as an honest and sincere man.

I was impressed by his "Why I am Democrat speech"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/8/03116/3996

I was also impressed by his State of the Common Wealth address...
http://www.draftmarkwarner.com/StateoftheCommonwealth05

Mark Warner is more inline with my social views than most democrats.

-Supports the death penalty for the most vicous of criminals.
-Supports the second amendment.
-Tough on crime.

All of which are winning issues in the General election.

On Economic issues he is a little too center for my taste, but I can deal with that.

Yes, he reformed taxes in the state of Virginia, but it was in the name of fiscal responsibility. Something that the current Republican party knows nothing about.

Here are some of his achievements I was impressed by...

*Chairman of the National Governors Association
*Chairman of the Southern Governors' Association
*"Navigated Virginia through a $6 billion revenue shortfall, and making choices and investments in education from pre-school to graduate school to create a Commonwealth of opportunity for all."
*"Education for a Lifetime." The pre-school through grad school and beyond into workforce training measures are designed to move students another rung up the ladder of educational achievement, demonstrating the linkage between degrees and other markers of academic achievement and economic prosperity. The Governor also committed to fully funding the $525 million needed to re-benchmark the Standards of Quality for K-12 education, as established by the State Board of Education."
*"Governor Warner has also brought common sense business principles to the way the state purchases goods and services, manages its vehicle fleet and real estate holdings, and maintains information technology functions, with an appropriate emphasis on including those who own small, women- and minority-owned businesses."
*"Governor Warner is working hard to build a foundation to bring economic prosperity to all corners of Virginia. Economic development and job creation are top priorities for Governor Warner. Since January 2002, during difficult economic times, he has helped recruit more than 100,000 jobs and $9.5 billion in new investment in every region of Virginia."
*"He helped found the Virginia Health Care Foundation, which has provided health care to more than 476,000 underserved Virginians in rural and urban areas."
*" In 1997, he developed the Virginia High-Tech Partnership, which helps students from Virginia's five Historically Black Colleges and Universities pursue technology careers through a summer internship and job placement program."
*"Provided the largest increase in education funding in Virginia history."
*"Increased the personal income tax exemption and standard deduction enabling 140,000 to no longer have to file any state income tax, and will cut the food tax from 4% to 2.5 %
in July, 2005."

Read more about Governor Mark Warner (VA) here:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Governor/GovBioHome.ht...
http://www.draftmarkwarner.com /
http://www.draftmarkwarner.com/Warner2008.pdf