Terry McAuliffe (D)

About The Candidate

• Office Sought: Governor of Virginia
• Occupation: Political consultant
• Web site: http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/
• E-mail address: terry@terrymcauliffe.com

Education

• Bishop Ludden Junior and Senior High School
• B.A., Catholic University of America, 1979
• J.D., Georgetown University, 1984

Offices and positions held

• Chairman, Democratic National Committee, 2001-2005

Businesses Owned, Past Careers, Board Memberships, Etc.

• Chairman, Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-2008
• Former chairman, Democratic National Committee, 2001-2005
• Finance Chairman and National Co-Chairman, Clinton-Gore Re-election Campaign, 1996
• Finance Chairman, Dick Gephardt for President, 1988
• Finance Director, Jimmy Carter for President, 1980
• Former U.S. ambassador to Taejon Expo in South Korea
• Lifetime member, NAACP

Book(s)

What A Party! My Life Among Democrats: Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators, and Other Wild Animals

What one policy change would have the greatest impact on bringing new jobs to the state?

Passing a mandatory 25 percent renewable energy portfolio standard by 2025 for utility companies. We need to create good jobs in a sustainable industry – this standard will create a market for renewable energy, which will attract renewable energy companies, creating thousands of green jobs. That change would also take Virginia from the bottom half of states in terms of making a commitment to renewable energy and make us one of the leading states in setting aggressive but realistic renewable energy goals.

What are the factors dividing Northern Virginia from the rest of the state, and what can be done to bridge those divisions?

Like Govs. Kaine and Warner, our next governor needs to understand how diverse Virginia is and pay attention to the needs of every part of the state. When local governments have a good solution, they shouldn't have to go to Richmond for a permission slip. If I'm elected governor, I'll work with folks from every part of the Commonwealth to come up with the best plans to address the unique challenges of their regions. In Northern Virginia, for example, we need to work together address transportation through projects like rail to Dulles and high speed rail.

If the economy does not improve, would you cut money from the state education system?

While we always need to look for ways to be more efficient in all of our state spending, education is one place that we can't afford to make major cuts. Investing in education up front is a smart use of resources because it saves us money down the road. Not only do investments in education pay off directly by lowering other costs, but they also help us grow our economy by building an educated, skilled workforce that we can use to attract businesses and good jobs to the Commonwealth.

The economic, energy and environmental porblems in Virginia are tightly intertwined. What are some sacrifices Virginians should be prepared to make in order to address these issues?

The first place we should look to address the challenges we face in energy is conservation and efficiency. That's why my Business Plan for Virginia includes a proposal that would require utility companies to implement efficiency measures before building any new coal plants. But state government and utility companies can't solve those problems alone -- we all have to take steps to reduce our own energy use. Likewise, we need to improve and expand public/mass transportation options to help reduce traffic congestion. But ultimately, solving our traffic woes will depend on commuters being willing to use those options when they're available.

Summarize a difficult problem you encountered that you were unable to solve, and discuss what you gained from that challenge.

Never having enough time to do everything I want to do, especially spending time with my family. I've always said sleep when you're dead, but trying to balance everything is a challenge that I haven't found a perfect solution to, even if my waking hours are a little longer than average. I think what I've gained is a real appreciation for the time I do have with my family -- and I've learned to be fiercely protective of that time.

What is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?

The economy. Gov. Kaine has had the difficult task of cutting Virginia's budget to handle the effects of the national recession. This was not an easy task, but he has done what is necessary to keep Virginia's finances sound. But the bottom line is that there is no more room to cut. To continue to provide needed services like Medicaid and public education, we must find more revenue. A down economy is no time to raise taxes, which means we must grow Virginia's economy. My Business Plan for Virginia lays out a strategy for how we can do this.

Why should voters elect you?

I have decades of executive experience building businesses and turning around struggling organizations. I’ll put that experience to work getting our economy back on track.