Cline kicks off re-election bid with manufacturing tour

Del. Ben Cline (R-24) today officially kicked off his campaign for re-election to the House of Delegates this November with a focus on creating jobs and accelerating Virginia’s economic recovery. Del. Cline was joined by Congressman Bob Goodlatte as he toured three local manufacturers in the 24th House District.

“It has been an honor for me to represent the citizens of the 24th House District in the General Assembly,” said Cline. “I am proud of the successes that we have been able to achieve, including the passage of tax relief for families and businesses across Virginia and the establishment of community college branch campuses in Amherst and Buena Vista. But there is more to do, especially when Virginia families are hurting due to the economic downturn. Providing additional workforce training and economic incentives that help businesses like S&S Machines in Amherst, Advanced Drainage Systems in Buena Vista, and McKee Foods in Stuarts Draft create jobs will lead to a brighter future for families across our part of Virginia.”

Cline’s legislative accomplishments during his nine years in office focus mainly on improving the economy in three areas: Infrastructure, Instruction, and Incentives. Locally, Cline’s major infrastructure focus has been on securing funding to open and operate the aforementioned CVCC Amherst and DSLCC Rockbridge branches, fighting against the closure of the Central Virginia Training Center (Amherst County’s largest employer), and passing several bills that encourage safety, reduce congestion, and promote intermodal rail to improve the long-term viability of Interstate-81.

Cline’s focus on workforce instruction and job training resulted in the creation of the Community College Transfer Grant scholarship that enables students to transfer from community college to four-year state schools more easily (HB2168 – 2007). Cline also sponsored legislation in 2006 to save students and their families money by creating a school supply sales tax holiday (HB1125 – 2006), as well as legislation to provide instate tuition benefits to children of military personnel stationed in Virginia (HB 1135 – 2006). Cline has also focused as a member of the House Finance Committee on providing tax and regulatory incentives for employers and working families to locate and create jobs in Virginia.

“It has been an honor to represent the hardworking citizens of Amherst, Augusta and Rockbridge in Richmond, and I look forward to a positive campaign and asking for their votes this fall,” Cline said. “In addition, I look forward to getting to know folks across Bath County as I introduce myself to the newest parts of the 24th House district.”

The 24th House District includes the Cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, Bath and Rockbridge Counties, and parts of Amherst and Augusta Counties. Delegate Cline was elected in 2002 and re-elected to his fifth term in 2009. Cline is Chairman of the Joint Health Care Commission and a member of the House Commerce Committee, Public Safety Committee, Finance Committee, and Courts of Justice Committee. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, near Lexington and is an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Rockingham County.