Bob McDonnell (R)
Education
- Bishop Ireton High School
- University of Notre Dame, 1976
- MSBA, Boston University, 1979
- MA and J.D., Regent University, 1989
Offices and positions held
- Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia, 2006-2009
- Member, Virginia House of Delegates, 84th District, 1991-2005
Military service
- U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), 1976-1997 (active duty and reserve)
Businesses Owned, Past Careers, Board Memberships, Etc.
- Prosecutor, Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, 1989-1991
- Partner, Huff, Poole & Mahoney, P.C
- Intern, House Republican Policy Committee
- Sales Manager, The Virginian-Pilot
- American Medical Supply Company, 1981-1985
- Medical Supply Officer, 1979-1981
- Platoon Leader, 2nd Army Division, 1976-1979
What is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
All Virginians have been impacted by this economic downturn, and people are anxious about what the future holds. I will make my top priority bringing new jobs and greater opportunity to every corner of the commonwealth. Traffic congestion is a quality-of-life, economic development and environmental issue. I will make transportation infrastructure a four-year priority, beginning with substantial reforms in the 2010 session. Furthermore, controlling government spending is critical to the economic vitality of Virginia's future. We must be realistic in our budgeting process, consolidate state functions and implement budget priorities focused on job creation, education and transportation.
Why should voters elect you?
As an Army officer, prosecutor, delegate and attorney general, I worked in a bipartisan manner to get results. I will do the same as governor.
Why is your transportation plan, including your proposals for funding it, more realistic than your opponent's?
My transportation plan means additional funding, $1.4 billion annually when fully implemented -- without raising taxes. Several of the proposals have gained bipartisan support, but have never been advanced by a governor. My plan will sell state liquor stores, leverage private dollars, generate new funds, make transportation a budget priority and capitalize on approved bonds. My opponent does not have a plan. Northern Virginia is a significant economic engine of the commonwealth, and more of the money raised there should stay there. I propose that .30 percent of sales tax collected in Northern Virginia be retained in the region for transportation.
Why are you better-suited than your opponent to persuade and achieve compromises in the General Assembly?
I have a record of bringing people together to get results. As attorney general, 92 of my 105 legislative proposals were passed into the law, most with bipartisan support. My opponent voted for 98 percent of them. Just as I did as attorney general, I will work to bring people together and get results as governor. The Virginian-Pilot editorialized that “McDonnell has worked effectively with Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine and, in his previous tour as a Virginia Beach delegate, showed a talent for assembling bipartisan coalitions to tackle transportation and law enforcement issues.”
What are the three largest cuts you would make to the state budget?
As Attorney General I cut my office's budget by 14 percent, took a pay cut and gave back my state car. Those are the kinds of tough decisions Virginians expect to see out of our state government.
We must have realistic and conservative projections of state revenue, consolidate state functions such as accounting, payroll and human resources, and focus on core services like education, transportation and public safety. That is how Gov. Doug Wilder addressed significant budget shortfalls during his administration, setting the commonwealth on a positive fiscal course in the years ahead. We must always be responsible with the taxpayers' hard earned dollars.
This is not an easy time for the people of Virginia. It is not an easy time in Richmond. Just as families sit around their kitchen tables making tough decisions and prioritizing their budgets, so too should Richmond. By making the tough decisions today, we will secure a more prosperous tomorrow, and that will ultimately benefit every citizen in the commonwealth. Priority in the state budget will be given to the aforementioned core functions or those designed to increase revenue through job creation.
What three areas of the state budget would you most want protected from cuts, and why?
Our focus must be on supporting policies that will facilitate growth in the private sector, encouraging entrepreneurship and allowing Virginians to achieve their dreams, and in so doing, expand our economy. I will make the tough decisions to prioritize the budget, and economic development, education, public safety and transportation will be among the top priorities.
What was your proudest accomplishment in the Assembly? What has been your proudest accomplishment outside of politics?
I led strong bipartisan efforts to make the commonwealth a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. I served on Gov. Allen's Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentencing Reform, and played a significant role in the abolition of parole. As attorney general, I enacted the nation's toughest laws cracking down on sexual predators who use the Internet to prey on our children. I have also been instrumental in providing law enforcement with tools to combat criminal street gangs in cities, suburbs and rural areas of Virginia.
I have been married to the love of my life, Maureen, for 33 years and we have five children. My oldest daughter, Jeanine, followed in my footsteps and served as a U.S. Army officer and is an Iraq War veteran. My daughter Cailin recently received her master’s degree and is now working in Virginia politics. My daughter Rachel is a senior at James Madison University and my twin boys are seniors in high school. I am proud of all their accomplishments and Maureen’s time as a small businesswoman and mother to our children.
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