Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Race - Jody Wagner

As is always the case the race for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia is overshadowed by the race for Governor and Attorney General. I have looked at the race for Governor several times to date - particularly the importance of making sure that GOP's presumptive candidate, Bob McDonnell, not be elected.

*

Meanwhile, at the Lieutenant Governor level, the race is shaping up to be between GOP incumbent, Bill Bolling - who is a in my view a thinly disguised reactionary Republican with close ties to Christianist elements in the GOP - and the winner of a three way Democrat primary contest between Jon Bowerbank, a businessman from Russell County (in the extreme southwest corner of the state), Michael Signer, an attorney who worked for former governor Mark R. Warner and former State Treasurer and Finance Secretary Jody Wagner. I will confess upfront that I know Jody personally, particularly from when we served together on the Virginia College Building Authority from 2002-2004.

*

I plan on talking with each of the Democrat candidates and presenting the substance of their views on issues relating to the LGBT community. Today, I spoke with Jody Wagner (her campaign website can be found here) while she was traveling across the Commonwealth and the following are her responses on unsuccessful gay rights related legislative issues from the last session of the General Assembly:

*

1. NON-DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT. Despite broad support, the bill to add sexual orientation to the employment non-discrimination policies applicable to state employees, was tabled in committee.

*

When asked about adding sexual orientation to the state non-discrimination protections for state employees, Jody Wagner said she supported such legislation without hesitation.

*

2. GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. A bill that would have allowed employers to extend group life insurance policies to any class of persons as agreed to by the employer and its insurer as is now the case with group health insurance (Virginia was the last state to allow this) was likewise killed in a House subcommittee.

*

As with the non-discrimination bill, Jody Wagner supports passage of such legislation and believes employers and insurers should be allowed to offer expanded benefits coverage.

*

3. HOUSING NON-DISCRIMINATION. Two bills sought to add "sexual orientation" to the would have added "sexual orientation" to the Virginia Fair Housing Law covering all rental and sales transactions. covering non-discrimination in all rental and sales transactions. Once again, the bills were killed in a House of Delegates subcommittee.

*

Jody Wagner supports adding "sexual orientation" to the Virginia Fair Housing Law covering all rental and sales transactions. Moreover, she reminded me that she served on the Virginia Housing Development Authority when the VHDA Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to remove the so-called “family rule” that required those borrowing money from the agency to purchase a home to be related by blood, marriage or adoption. The Family Foundation and extreme Christianist groups went beserk over the vote, but the policy change was upheld.

*

4. ANTI-BULLYING POLICY. A bill was introduced that would have required the model policy to specifically address bullying directed at a student because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. After numerous amendments, all references to sexual orientation or gender expression were removed.

*

As with her other responses, Jody Wagner supports anti-gay bullying policies protective of LGBT students. She is a strong opponent of bullying on any basis.

*

As soon as I get responses from Mike Signer and Jon Bowerbank, I will do follow up posts. Suffice it to say, any of the primary candidates wiould be an improvement over Bill Bolling. I also intend to speak further with Brian Moran, a Democrat candidate for governor, who I met with at the Commonwealth Dinner earlier in the month.

Jody Wagner for Virginia Lieutenant Governor

As the campaigns in Virginia move into the home stretch, I attended a fundraiser this evening for Jody Wagner, the Democrat candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. I have known Jody for many years, first from working as opposing counsel on some legal matters years ago when she was in private law practice. Later, when I served on the Virginia College Building Authority - the authority that issues all bonds for Virginia's public colleges and universities and certain qualifying 501(c)(3) tax-exempt universities - from 2000 to 2004, I again had the opportunity to work with Jody. She is smart, competent, dedicated and shows up on the job when required. Her GOP opponent, Bill Bolling, happily accepts his government salary, yet showed up for only 6% of the meetings of the boards and commissions of which the Lieutenant Governor is a member. Worse yet, Bolling speaks out of both sides of his mouth depending upon whether his past positions and voting record are convenient or not.

*

I am not the only one to recognize Jody as the far better choice for Lieutenant Governor. The Washington Post endorsed her in its October 19, 2009 editorial. Bolling has been a do nothing Lieutenant Governor and worse yet, he lacks principles and will do whatever bidding the lunatic Republican Party of Virginia base dictates. Like the rest of the GOP statewide ticket, Bolling has no understanding of the concept of separation of church and state - something that should frighten every voter other than hard core Christianists. Here are some highlights from the Post's endorsement:

*

JODY WAGNER, Virginia's former secretary of finance, is the sort of Democrat that helped cement the Old Dominion's status as among the cleanest, best managed and most business-friendly states in the country. She is easily the better choice as Virginia's next lieutenant governor and would represent a sharp improvement over the incumbent Republican seeking reelection, Bill Bolling.

*

Smart, tough-minded and capable, Ms. Wagner would be among the best-prepared public officials to assume the job. A former corporate lawyer, she started a successful family business (making kettle corn) before going to work for then-Gov. Mark R. Warner (D). Then, as Mr. Kaine's finance secretary -- she resigned this year to launch her campaign -- she developed an authoritative command of state government, spending and income, critical knowledge for the challenges posed by the recession.

*
Unlike the usual run of officeholders in Richmond, she is more pragmatist and problem-solver than partisan political warrior. As the only one of the six statewide candidates to have had hands-on experience with the state's budget, she would be uniquely well placed to serve as a resource for whichever candidate is elected governor.

*

Of particular interest to Northern Virginia, his [Bolling's] ideas on transportation funding are patently unworkable. He proposes raiding already bare-bones core state services to pay for transportation but bobs, weaves and ducks when pressed to say which ones -- education? public safety? human services? health? -- he would target.

*

For LGBT voters, Jody Wagner is also the far better choice. Unlike Bolling, she is not a tool of the Christianists like Pat Robertson, The Family Foundation, and other mouth pieces for the anti-gay far right GOP base. I know first hand that Jody supports equality under the civil laws for ALL Virginians, not just those who toe the line with Christianist religious beliefs. I urge all Virginia readers to get out and vote on November 3, 2009. If you don't live in Virginia but have relatives and friends that do, PLEASE urge them to get out and vote for Jody Wagner.

Jon Bowerbank for Virginia Lieutenant Governor

Last week I did a post on Jody Wagner, one of the candidates for the Democrat nomination for Lieutenant Governor. As part of the post I included Jody's responses to four gay rights related questions and now I have received responses to the same questions from Jon Bowerbank, another of the candidates vying for this nomination (I expect responses from Mike Signer shortly as well). Unlike Jody Wagner who I know personally and Mike Signer who I met at the Equality Virginia gala in Richmond on April 4, 2009, I have never met or spoken with Jon Bowerbank. He seems to have an amazing personal story and has built a very successful business and personal fortune from scratch. He hails from the far southwest of Virginia - something that might hurt his appeal to those in Tidewater and Northern Virginia, two areas where one must do well to win. Jon's campaign website cane be found here. Here are Jon's responses to the questions I posed:

*

1. NON-DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT. Despite broad support, the bill to add sexual orientation to the employment non-discrimination policies applicable to state employees, was tabled in committee.

*

I would support legislation that extended the state employee non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation-- following in the tradition of Governors Warner and Kaine.

*
2. GROUP LIFE INSURANCE. A bill that would have allowed employers to extend group life insurance policies to any class of persons as agreed to by the employer and its insurer as is now the case with group health insurance (Virginia was the last state to allow this) was likewise killed in a House subcommittee.
*
I support this legislation.
*
3. HOUSING NON-DISCRIMINATION. Two bills sought to add "sexual orientation" to the would have added "sexual orientation" to the Virginia Fair Housing Law covering all rental and sales transactions. covering non-discrimination in all rental and sales transactions. Once again, the bills were killed in a House of Delegates subcommittee.

*

I support legislation that would add “sexual orientation” to the Virginia Fair Housing Law covering all rental and sales transactions. It’s important for all people to be treated equally under the law.

*

4. ANTI-BULLYING POLICY. A bill was introduced that would have required the model policy to specifically address bullying directed at a student because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. After numerous amendments, all references to sexual orientation or gender expression were removed.

*
It’s critically important that all Virginia children feel safe at school and in our communities. As Lt. Governor I would support policies that protect LGBT students and any other students from bullying. In fact, part of the $2.5 million dollars that I’ve personally committed to public schools in Virginia has gone to fund anti-bullying programs.

Get Out and Vote!

UPDATED: Creigh Deeds puled out a significant win today in the Democrat primary setting up a rematch between himself and Bob "taliban Bob" McDonnell come November. He did surprisingly well in urban areas as well as rural areas that he was expected to carry. While he is nowher near as gay friendly as Brian Moran, he's light years better than McDonnell who would reintoduce the sodomy statutes if he could to appease the Christianists who are his strongest supporters. Hopefully, Deeds will be able to expose the real McDonnell and thereby convice moderate Republicans to vote for him rather than the Christian Taliban candidate.

*

In the race for Lieutenant Governor, Jody Wagner crushed Mike Signer with roughly 70% of the vote.

*

Today is the day of the Democrat Primary here in Virginia and it's important that people get out and support their candidate. In my case, I am supporting Brian Moran for Governor (lower left in the photo) and Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor. It is absolutely essential that the Democrats field a candidate that can defeat Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell in November. The thought of McDonnell as Governor is most frightening.

*

In short, if Virginians do not want policy decision to be dictated by Pat Robertson, The Family Foundation, and the folks at Liberty University, McDonnell MUST be defeated. Hopefully, whichever Democrat prevails today they will quickly begin exposing the falsity of McDonnell's claim that he is a moderate.

Will Obama and Kaine Turn Virginia Red Come November?

From time to time I get contacted by political campaigns either to ask that I cover issues or opposing candidates or for my thoughts on how to reach out to the gay voters - not that any of the Virginia statewide Democrat candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, or attorney general have done much reaching out to date. I expect that to change very soon in the case of Jody Wagner, candidate for lieutenant governor, who I have previously endorsed and who has a gay-friendly track record. The same holds true for Steve Shannon the candidate for attorney general who publicly opposed Virginia's anti-gay marriage amendment and even wrote an editorial as to why the amendment should be voted down. As for Deeds, I unfortunately expect no outreach efforts to LGBT Virginians and I very much fear that he will lose to Bob McDonnell in November.

*

Despite Deeds' shortcomings, the biggest problem that these three Democrat candidates face - and Wagner and Shannon are excellent candidates - is the dis-engagement of many Virginia Democrats who feel that they worked their hearts out and dug deep in their pockets to elect Barack Obama and elect addition Democrats to Congress and have received NOTHING in return for their efforts. LGBT Virginians have received nothing from Obama - ditto for Governor/DNC Chair, Tim Kaine. For gays and non-gays alike the same problem exists. With a Democrat in the White House and Democrat majorities in the House and Senate, little has been accomplished because of the ridiculous efforts for "bipartisanship" - i.e., reaching out to members of the GOP who will NEVER cooperate and who seek only to torpedo any real change. The public gave the Democrats all the tools they need to effect change and they have bungled it badly. Campaign visits to Virginia by Obama will not have the effect he believes - people are looking for delivery on promises, not more pretty words.

*

Yesterday, when an aide from one of the state wide campaigns called me, I expressed the above stated view and to my surprise the aide acknowledge that it was a major concern that the failures of Obama and the Congressional Democrats to deliver would potentially severely compromise the statewide Democrat candidates. I expressed my view that unless Obama signs a stop loss order to suspend Don't Ask, Don't Tell or delivers on some other promise to LGBT voters BEFORE election day in November, he will have convinced LGBT Virginians that voting Democrat is a worthless effort - basically pissing into the wind - because the Democrats simply talk a good game but fail to deliver. Other core Democrat constituencies have likewise been left feeling they were lied to.

*

I truly hope someone carries this message to the White House and Congressional Democrats because they are clearly putting Virginia at risk for a GOP sweep - something that will set the state back dramatically and allow McDonnell to appoint all kinds of Christianists and extremists to state positions. The mere thought of it makes me shudder.

Equality Virginia 20th Anniversary Dinner

The boyfriend and I traveled to Richmond yesterday for the 6th Annual Commonwealth Dinner which celebrated the 20th anniversary of Equality Virginia. The event had over 1,100 attendees and was a wonderful affair with LGBT Virginians and straight allies from all over the state. Ellen Qualls, Senior Advisor for Strategic Planning for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was the mistress of ceremonies - with whom I hope to speak further this coming week. The dinner also honored 20 outstanding LGBT Virginians - past and present and among those honored were my former law school classmate, Clarence Cain, on whom the movie Philadelphia was based, Charles Whitebread, a former law professor from my days at UVA Law, and Claus Ihelemann, a friend from Norfolk. I will admit that I got a little veklempt when photos of Clarence and Charlie were projected on large screens in the ballroom. The lighter side of the entertainment for the evening was Leslie Jordan -a/k/a "Beverly Leslie" on "Will and Grace" and "Brother Boy" in Del Shores’ adaptation of his play "Sordid Lives" - who had the crowd laughing loudly with his storytelling.

*

Also attending were some of the candidates for political office in the November, 2009, elections here in Virginia. The governor's race was represented by Brian Moran who seeks to be the Democrat candidate against the GOP's Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell. The boyfriend and I had a very good conversation with Moran and may well get involved in his campaign. The boyfriend and I also had a great conversation with Michael Signer who is seeking the nomination to be the Democrat candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Also in attendance as were campaign staff personnel for Pat Edmondson who is likewise seeking the Lieutenant Governor nomination. I hope to be speaking with all three campaigns this coming week and will be posting interview results and/or thoughts on these candidates. The Democrat Primary is on June 9, 2009. All three of these candidates are publicly taking pro-gay positions and Moran actively campaigned against the Christianist hate-based Marshal-Newman Amendment to Virginia's Constitution. I was very disappointed that Jody Wagner apparently had no one from her campaign at the event at the event.

*

Candidly, I was a bit surprised when the Edmondson staff sought me out after seeing us talking with Mike Signer. To my surprise they were aware of this blog and want me to discuss the pro-gay positions that Pat Edmondson is taking. At some point I will likely endorse candidates based on who I think will be the best candidate over all and in the best position to defeat the GOP rivals come November. It is absolutely essential that Bob McDonnell NOT be elected governor since it would be tantamount to having Pat Robertson and The Family Foundation setting state policy through the Governor's Office. Based on the close race in 2005 that saw Bob McDonnell win the Attorney General race by fewer than 400 votes, LGBT Virginians could well decide who wins these races in November and we all need to get informed and get to the polls come November.

McDonnell at 49% and Deeds at 43%

Speaking of Democrat apathy, an early poll in Virginia shows ALL of the top three Democrat candidates trailing their GOP opponents. Yes, it is still early in the campaign, but given Obama's carrying of Virginia by a several hundred thousand vote margin and Mark Warner's huge victory in the U.S. Senate race, this poll ought to be sending off alarm bells and screaming sirens. Bob McDonnell (at left) is a long time puppet of Pat Robertson and water carrier for James Dobson's Virginia affiliate, The Family Foundation, yet he is being allowed to market himself as a "moderate" with to date little or no opposition.

*

I believe the race will tighten up markedly - Deeds lost to McDonnell in 2005 by only a few hundred votes for the Attorney General slot - and if history repeats itself, the LGBT vote alone could decide who is the next governor of Virginia. However, neither the Democrats at the national level nor Governor Tim Kaine have given LGBT Virginians any reason to trust their promises of support. Obama and Congressional Democrats have delivered almost nothing. As for Kaine, he signed Executive Order 1 (2006) which allegedly gave employment protections to gay state employees. When a Circuit Court recently said that the Executive Order was basically worthless, Kaine's glib response was that it would be enforced at the executive level. Truth be told, however, Kaine did NOTHING in that case to support his own executive order and its enforcement by his subordinates was nothing less than a joke. The Democrats need to seriously wake up. Here are some highlights from the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

*

The latest survey by Public Policy Polling shows Republican Bob McDonnell has the support of 49 percent of those polled, and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds has 43 percent, in the race for governor. The result follows polling right after the June 9 Democratic primary that showed Deeds, a state senator from Bath County, with an edge over McDonnell.

*
The new poll also shows Republican Bill Bolling apparently ahead of Democrat Jody Wagner, Virginia's former secretary of finance, 46 percent to 40 percent in the race for lieutenant governor. State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, has 45 percent versus 38 percent for Del. Stephen C. Shannon, D-Fairfax, in the race for attorney general.

*
According to Public Policy, McDonnell has picked up more support among independent voters and holds a 54-33 advantage over Deeds in that category. . . . the survey suggests that there is little interest in the race among black voters, or young voters, whom pollsters expect to turn out in lower numbers than last year. The pollster noted that at the same juncture in 2005, Republican Jerry W. Kilgore had a 6-point lead over Democrat Timothy M. Kaine in the race for governor.