Northam earns high marks from Virginia business community

Virginia’s leading nonpartisan pro-business organization, Virginia FREE, gave Democratic Party lieutenant-governor nominee Ralph Northam a 100% rating for the 2013 and 2012 legislative sessions.

State Sen. Northam has the highest lifetime Virginia FREE rating of any candidate running statewide this year, in order to earn a score candidates must have served in the General Assembly.  Virginia FREE provides objective public policy analysis to the Virginia business community and its membership is made up of business leaders from across the Commonwealth.

The stated mission of Virginia FREE is to: foster a well-informed business community that will take the lead in electing legislators who advance free enterprise and responsible, pro-business government. In order to earn a 100% rating in the 2013 session, legislators needed to support the historic bi-partisan transportation bill because improving Virginia’s transportation system is a top priority of the Business community.

Northam voted for the bipartisan transportation bill to create jobs updating our infrastructure and help businesses thrive.

“Ralph understands the needs of the business community and is the kind a commonsense leader we need in Richmond,” said Bert Dodson, VAFREE board member and President/CEO of Dodson Pest Control, a multi-state firm based in Virginia. “Ralph has a record of supporting legislation to help businesses grow and deserves credit for supporting Governor McDonnell’s transportation bill which is going to help solve our transportation crisis. Ralph just gets it, he had the judgment to oppose the ‘Road for Nobody’ and I know that as Lt. Governor he will continue his efforts to make Virginia the best state for business.”

“As lieutenant governor I will continue to protect and improve Virginia’s strong business climate,” said Northam. “I look forward to continuing to work with the business community and making Virginia an attractive place for businesses and entrepreneurs. We don’t need to be putting up barriers to job creation, that’s why I want to put an end to the divisive agenda in Richmond and put jobs first. “

Dr. Northam owns a Norfolk-based business with over 200 employees. The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce endorsed Northam in his 2011 campaign for re-election to the Virginia State Senate.

Northam’s opponent, E.W. Jackson, would have earned a 0% because he opposed the bipartisan transportation bill, along with his running mates, Ken Cuccinelli and Mark Obenshain.  All three statewide Democrats sided with Virginia FREE and supported the transportation bill earlier this year.