Bowerbank taking aim at LG post
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
You may not have heard the name of the only announced candidate in the Democratic Party 2009 lieutenant-governor race, Jon Bowerbank yet, and if you have, chances are that you heard it in reference to how he has run one election campaign, and he didn’t do it as a Democrat.
Bowerbank, the owner of a 225-employee energy-services business in Southwest Virginia, was elected to the Russell County Board of Supervisors last fall as an independent, and in the process had to knock off a Democratic Party nominee. He did formally join the party around the time of his swearing-in, and he told me in an interview last week that he has been a Democrat “for a long, long time.”
Throw in the fact that he’s only a freshman member of the board of supervisors in Russell County, and you could state without being too harsh in the judgment that Bowerbank is being a bit presumptuous. But the Dem LG field is mighty thin right now – outside of Bowerbank, the only other name we’re hearing right now is that of Jody Wagner, who is currently serving as secretary of finance in the Kaine administration. And Bowerbank seems to have some key early support in the Democratic netroots, which could be key in him being able to overcome the inevitable criticisms of some on the left regarding his experience and authenticity.
“We understand that that avenue for dissemination of information is continually evolving and getting stronger and stronger daily, probably. So we’ve been cultivating relationships with that sector,” Bowerbank said, describing his efforts to curry favor in the Virginia Democratic blogosphere.
Not only could he face a tough time winning the Democratic Party nomination in ’09, but he would be expected to be a massive underdog if he were to get the nomination and thus win the right to square off with the sitting lieutenant governor, Republican Bill Bolling, who is making a rare run for re-election to the office. Bowerbank is spinning the presence of Bolling in the race as being a positive in “helping define the race for us” by giving the Bowerbank team a “handle on what our target is.”
“Obviously now that’s been defined for us, and because he’s an incumbent, it’s going to be well-defined, because we’ll have four years of history to go back and review and figure out where the pluses and minuses are from his tenure in office,” Bowerbank said.
Bowerbank hinted to one ’09 general-election campaign message – aimed at Bolling’s definition of the lieutenant-governor job. “One of the things we’d like to do is become more of a visible, more of a vibrant, more of an accessible lieutenant governor Commonwealth-wide,” Bowerbank said. “One of the things that I feel our opponent has not done, which his predecessor, Tim Kaine, did do, is become more of a statewide figure by getting out and talking to constituents throughout the Commonwealth. Our opponent has for the most part stayed in the Richmond area.”
But that’s several months into the offing at this point. In the here and now, Bowerbank is focusing on becoming more known across the state, which isn’t easy for someone whose home base is in extreme Southwest Virginia.
“By definition, we’re always playing away games. And also by definition, we’re three hours away from the nearest population center, Roanoke. So just by strict geography, we have to put in the miles if we’re going to go anywhere,” said Bowerbank, who has put 14,500 miles on his car in the past month.
“This isn’t a chore at all. We see it as an opportunity to meet and greet folks in the major population centers. And we’re enjoying our forays into different parts of the state,” Bowerbank said.
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Ha!
Does Bowerbank know ANYTHING about Bolling? As I remember, he held over 50 events around Virginia to kick off his 100 Ideas for the Future of Virginia initiative.
To say the LG doesn’t get out of Richmond is ridiculous. I’ve met him twice, and both times were in the western part of the state.
I guess when you don’t have a background to stand on, fabricating a weakness for your opponent would be expected. Nice try, Jon.
Lt Gov. Bolling has not stayed in the Richmond area for most of his term. He traveled all over Virginia listening to citizens in 2007. He has been in my local area speaking to children’s groups and others, more than once in the past few months. The LG’s schedule for the week can be found on the state website, and reflects the extent of his travels across this state on behalf of the people of Virginia.
I have to object with this statement that our Lt. Gov. Bolling spends all his time in Richmond.
To say the Lieutenant Governor doesn’t get out of Richmond is absurd. He held over 50 Town Hall “Idearaiser” meetings all across the Commonwealth as a part of his “100 Ideas for the Future of Virginia” initiative and I was in attendance at one of those in the Roanoke area. Our Lieutenant Governor really cares – he actually went to each area and personally talked with and asked people about their problems and what should be done to fix them. He kicked off this initiative in southwest Virginia and actually held the first Idearaiser in Richlands.
Our Lt. Governor spent most of the first year of his position in office traveling around to rural parts of the state to learn about the challenges facing their areas. That’s doesn’t even countall the events he’s covered since 2006.
As usual, Bowerbank has no real facts to prove his accusation of inactivity on the part of our dear and great Lieutenant Governor. Bowerbank’s track record is sparse and his experience is even smaller. The evidence is there, Bill Bolling is and will continue to be a “hands on,” and dedicated public servant for all citizens of Virginia, inside and outside of Richmond.
I have to agree with the statements above. Bill Bolling has been a rather active LG. I haven’t seen as much of him in the past 6-9 months, but I think we can write some of that off to his involvement in the Romney presidential campaign and the GA session.
I think I understand the point that Bowerbank was trying to make here. My take is that Tim Kaine was a little more active than Bolling, and Bowerbank is trying to say that he will follow the Kaine model. But to say that Bolling has stayed at home in the Richmond area is a stretch.
Bill Bolling is both a Virginia Tech Hokie parent as well as a beloved adopted member of the Hokie Nation. As someone who personally lives by the values of the Fightin’ Ninth and understands the need for Richmond to know all that we believe in, I can’t think of anyone more qualified than Bill Bolling to continue representing Southwest VA and the Commonwealth as our LT Governor. Bill will continue to bring our strengths, our interests … and most importantly our voices … to Richmond when we re-elect him in 2009. I look forward to the many and continued visits that Bill and his family will make to our district!
I have to disagree with Mr. Bowerbank when he says that Mr. Bolling hasn’t been very visable outside of the Richmond area. Mr. Bolling has roots in Southwest Virginia and has visited here on several occasions and in fact was here as recent as last month. In fact one of the things I like the most about the Lt. Governor is that he knows that Virginia doesn’t end at Roanoke. Bill has been committed to South Western Virginia and has been a friend to the folks who live here. He went to school at Cedar Bluff Elementary and choose Richlands, Virginia as the site of one of his 100 ideas for the future of Virginia events. He has shown his support and committment to South West Virginia. Bill is a great Lt. Governor and I look forward to supporting him again in 09.