THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 21, 1995 TAG: 9510200025
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
As the important elections of Nov. 7 approach, Virginians are taking a close look at candidates for the General Assembly. So is the editorial page of The Virginian-Pilot.
Our editorial board will meet with candidates. As the election nears we'll make endorsements in some closely contested races. Here are the issues we believe are important and on which we'll be quizzing the candidates.
A fiscally conservative state government is a Virginia tradition. The state must live within its means. It must spend no more than necessary and tax no more then needed to raise monies for essential services. Fiscal prudence demands that government services be cut before cutting taxes that pay for them. We'll be asking candidates where they stand on key issues, including proposals to increase the exemption for dependents allowed by the state personal-income-tax law, phase out the Business Professional Occupational License tax levied by many localities distribute lottery profits to cities and counties.
We support, and the state Constitution mandates, public education of ``high quality.'' We'll ask candidates how elementary and secondary schools can achieve better results. We'll ask their views on discipline, standards of learning, class size and funding. We'll also ask them to discuss the higher education the state should make available and how to fund it.
We support aggressive efforts to promote economic development and create jobs. Candidates will be asked what state government should do to help, whether urban-policy reforms are needed, how regional cooperation can be advanced in Hampton Roads and what to do to break the impasse on providing adequate water resources.
We believe citizens have a right to live safely in their communities. We'll want candidates to tell us how they'd fight crime and prevent it. We'll ask them where they stand on building prisons and paying for them.
Finally, we'll support candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to improving Hampton Roads and who have traits of character that are important in a public servant: conscientiousness, prudence, honesty, integrity and effectiveness in getting things done.
The Virginian-Pilot believes these elections are important and that choosing the best candidates can make a difference. We know voters will be trying to make up their own minds. To help them, we'll share what we learn and tell readers who we favor. But, ultimately, the only endorsement that really counts is the one made by each individual in the privacy of the voting booth.
KEYWORDS: ENDORSEMENT CANDIDATE by CNB