Terry McAuliffe, Democratic candidate for governor, is holding a telephone town hall meeting right now. I called in on the press listen-only line, but then my home phone rang – I got called for it, anyway.
McAuliffe says this is the third such call he has made. Prior calls, he said, had over 5,000 callers each participate. His last announcement was that there were about 3,800 people on the call.
I’ll be updating this post as the call continues.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
First couple of questions were about education funding. McAuliffe’s answer: jobs.
Next question was on public transportation. McAuliffe spoke about public/private partnerships, cost of sitting in traffic.
Economy? Need to grow more jobs.
Alternative energy? VA should become a mandatory renewable energy state, like 26 other states. Not voluntary. Will bring capital in. Talked about chicken waste – build biodisel facilities. Can create 40 megawatts of power.
Support president? Yes, support the stimulus package. Keep the carrier here in VA. Open the bank credit windows.
About 4500 people on the call now. Plans to do these telephone town halls every week thru the election.
Crime in VA? Need to provide sheriffs and state troopers with the resources they need. Doesn’t want them filing out paperwork for ICE – need them on the streets. Invest in education early to keep them out of prison later. 50% of prison population are high school dropouts.
They project prison population from 3rd grade pass/fail test rates.
Restore the voting rights of felons.
Question from TM: what is the most important issue facing Hampton Roads?
1- Jobs
2- Transportation
3- energy and the environment
Petition on website to keep carrier http://action.terrymcauliffe.com/t/83/signUp.jsp?key=33
“Someone to come in – NOT FROM THE LEGISLATURE – to have a new look on how to grow this economy.”
Is that a dig at the other candidates?
Healthcare? Need more nurses. Should be providing the best healthcare in the country but today we are not. We don’t offer what they offer elsewhere, like autism.
Medicaid – we have the lowest match. If we can change this, we could offer more benefits to people.
Refinance home loans? 1 in 7 Americans today are underwater. Wants to keep people in their homes. Banks have got to start working with homeowners.
Poll results – 58% chose jobs/economy as the #1 issue in Hampton Roads.
Ross Kearney from Hampton: funding to teach the trades – bricklayers, welders, etc? TM: needs to put more emphasis on job training. Some folks don’t want to go to college. Have to train them to go to work right out of high school.
Have to create jobs. Job training is issue #1
Mentioned TV ad during the Superbowl.