ISSUES

Jobs
Our region has been hard hit with job losses. It's easy to point fingers and place blame, but in the end, the reality is still the same. We need business and industry to locate here in Southside Virginia.

I will actively promote our region to bring business and industry leaders to Southside to experience the best of what we have to offer. We all need to do our part in making our area attractive to potential new businesses. We need to utilize workforce training programs already in place to prepare for the ever changing skills needed by potential employers; we need to keep abreast of trends and new skills that may be attractive to industry but in other words, we must be prepared and we must be ready to adapt.

Transportation
The key to attracting new businesses and industry to our area is an infrastructure that allows easy access to major highways throughout the Mid-Atlantic. We desperately need to finish the work on Highway 58 all the way to Hillsville. This will allow access to two major arteries that would provide an alternative route for transporting goods and services from our port systems.

The Highway 41 connector to the Danville Expressway is critical to relieve traffic and provide easier access to the by-pass for the many residents of Southern Pittsylvania County.

In addition, the I-73 corridor needs to be completed that will again serve as a conduit for moving goods and services, not only through our area, but to our area, and will aid in attracting new businesses and industry. I will actively work to insure funding remains in place for the continuation of these projects. I will also actively seek additional funding to move these projects forward.

Education
All citizens of Southside Virginia are entitled to the best education that we as a community can provide. We must continue to improve our facilities to provide a viable learning environment; we must continue to provide our educators with the resources and training they need to work at their best; and we must encourage everyone, both young and old, to actively pursue every educational opportunity that is made available. This is how we attract and grow industry in our area.

I will work hard to insure adequate funding for education in our region, including the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville and the New College Institute in Martinsville. In addition, our community colleges play a very important role in providing a quality and affordable education to our citizens. I will support funding for our community colleges that will enable them to increase programs and training, especially for our displaced workers.