Vote 2007: 59th House District Race|ABC 13

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Vote 2007: 59th House District Race

posted 10:41 pm Thu October 25, 2007 - Across the ABC 13 Viewing Area

tags: election • general assembly • campaign • 2007

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ABC 13 - Vote 2007: 59th House District Race

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Watkins Abbitt is an Independent delegate with more than two decades of experience in Richmond. Connie Brennan spent the last ten years representing the school board and board of supervisors in Nelson County.

Both hope to gain support from voters in Nelson, Appomattox, Albemarle and Cumberland counties. We preview the race for the 59th District in the House of Delegates.

Connie Brennan, (D) Candidate - "I believe that we don't have enough folks in Richmond who understand local government, and how everything that happens in Richmond profoundly affects those of us right around our own kitchen tables."

Connie Brennan says she learned plenty on that topic the hard way, working in health care and serving the people of Nelson County. But don't try to label Delegate Abbitt an out-of-touch Richmonder.

Del. Watkins Abbitt, (I) 59th District - "I've been in the General Assembly for 22 years, and my goal every year has been to make sure that rural Virginia has a voice in the state legislature, and that we get our fair share of funding for education, law enforcement, health care, and so forth."

He says it takes experience to win battles on the house floor, especially coming from a rural area.

Abbitt - "We don't have the tax base that the urban areas do, so we have to make sure that we get our fair share, whether it's for education or law enforcement."

But Brennan says he hasn't done enough.

Brennan - "We have deputies right now who are on food stamps. That is ridiculous. I talked to a sheriff in one of our counties who said everyone of his deputies has a second job. Now, that's not right."

Abbitt would agree with that statement, but points out, as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, he's the one in position to make things better.

Abbitt - "With Lacey as chairman, and me on there, we should be able to bring finances to this area."

After all, he says, he did put more officers on the road in 2007.

Brennan - "We cannot do the same things we have been doing because we are not in the same time."

Still, Brennan would argue this race is about priorities and fresh ideas.

Brennan - "We've got a real health care crisis, not only in Virginia, but in our country. And, we need to take a good hard look at how we're going to provide health care for everybody. The Governor's Commission on Healthcare Reform just came out, and it was full of wonderful ideas that are Band-Aids, again on a problem that really is going to take a comprehensive review."

It's a job both say they're ready for. Just a reminder that we will profile many more of the key election races in our area between now and Election Day on November 6th.

Click here to view all of our profiles.

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