Jody Wagner Enters LG Race
Jody W. Wagner, who had served as Finance Secretary under Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), has officially entered the 2009 race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor .
Wagner's decision to run will likely set up a costly battle for the nomination between her and Jon Bowerbank, a wealthy businessman from Russell County who has also announced his candidacy. C. Richard Cranwell, the chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party, is also considering entering the race.
Wagner, who hails from Virginia Beach, would likely have an advantage in a three-way race because Cranwell and Bowerbank are both from Southwest Virginia. Wagner is also expected to be the only female candidate for statewide office next year.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) in the general election. But if Kaine is tapped to be Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) running mate, and the Democratic ticket wins in the fall, Bolling will become governor in January. That would set off a scramble on the Republican side to succeed Bolling as lieutenant governor.
By Tim Craig |
August 15, 2008; 3:29 PM ET
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Posted by: Robyn | August 15, 2008 6:54 PM
Have you heard?
The State Board of Elections confirmed the Independent Greens of Virginia - after collecting over 70,000 petition signatures have - successfully put Michael Bloomberg on their Presidential Ballot line.
wow!
www.VoteJoinRun.US
www.DraftMichael.com
Posted by: Indy Green | August 15, 2008 8:34 PM
Wagner says "we need steady, proven leadership in Richmond ... Leaders who keep Virginia's fiscal house in order." This coming from the queen of the tax and spend economic policies that led to massive tax increases and budget shortfalls in the Kaine administration? I think not.
As a small business owner she should realize the harmful effects of increased taxes. Wagner, or Bowerbank or Cranwell for that matter, will all fight for higher taxes at the expense of taxpayers.
Bill Bolling, on the other hand, has onsistently opposed Wagner's push for higher taxes and called for less government spending. He even received the NFIB Guardian of Small Business award for his efforts.
Posted by: Iris | August 15, 2008 11:00 PM
How hilarious is this?? Jody "I really had no idea what I was doing" running on "keeping the fiscal house in order". Gee, I wonder where she'll be as the Gov talks about the Fiscal House on Monday when he announces a billion dollar shortfall off of HER projections??? Safe to assume no where near Richmond.
Posted by: Jon | August 16, 2008 9:42 AM
Keeping the fiscal house in order???!!! Ms. Wagner pushed the LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN VIRGINIA'S HISTORY through VA's house. She, as a small business owner, must have suffered as a result of her own actions.
She doesn't hold a candle to Bill Bolling in the fiscal responsibility arena. Bolling was awarded the Guardian of Small Business award by the Nation Federation of Independent Business.
Kiss progress goodbye is she wins.
Posted by: Matt | August 16, 2008 4:00 PM
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Oh, this was a needed Friday laugh! Jody running on her "fiscal house in order"? Let's count the ways that is a riot! Ha!
Thanks for the chuckles Jody, but I, for one, don't appreciate your ineptitude in the past several years. 95% of the other states in our country have projected their budgets and shifting revenues just fine when the economy slowed. You, however, were merely happy to lay the blame on unforeseen circumstances. Wasn't your job to foresee those circumstances?