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Deeds vs. McDonnell on the issues, part 4: Public safety
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Politics are becoming more volatile then ever. Many Americans go to the voting booths uninformed of many of their candidate's views on issues. They rely more on party name then any other factor. With the Virginia gubernatorial election coming up next week, and with Loudoun County playing a crucial role in deciding its outcome, it is important to know exactly where each candidate stands on the issues without the spin. We will now examine each candidate's plan for public safety.
One of the most pressing issues for any elected official is public safety. This is especially true this election, as the race for the governor's office features a rematch of 2005's Attorney General race. (It should be reiterated, however, that although the crime rate in Virginia has increased slightly in recent years, the state still has a relatively low crime rate, ranking 16th nationally in rankings of violent crime by state. )
Both candidates are taking very strong stances on public safety, both having run previously for Attorney General. McDonnell and Deeds both seek to combat gang violence. Both candidates want to vastly expand resources available for victims of domestic violence, and increase penalties for such acts. Both candidates say they are committed to protecting children, with Deeds focusing on internet predators and McDonnell focusing on predators of all kinds. Despite similarities in rhetoric, what these stances entail are very different.
For example, Creigh Deeds would like to expand the number of troopers on patrol in communities by ensuring "future State Police academy classes graduate on time" and offering scholarships to high school seniors who maintain a "B" average and commit to at least two years of service in the public safety sector. He seeks to improve emergency communications, particularly on college campuses, and increase training and support for emergency responders. He wants to create new drug courts in "targeted areas" to expand treatment, and wants to make sure Virginians are ready for emergencies, in particular natural disasters. He further wants to create a public-private partnership to increase port security. Deed's plan to protect children from internet predators involves the funding of "the Southern and Northern VA Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces (ICAC)" as well as educating parents on the dangers of internet predators. To combat gangs, he wants to create more regional task forces, in the vein of the one established by Congressman Wolf.
Bob McDonnell's approach is far more retributive in nature. He endorses stringent, life-long monitoring of convicted sex offenders, and that the punishment for a sex offender who fails to register be increased. Additionally he would like to make the commission of a violent act in the presence of a child a separate, class 4 felony (2-10 years in jail and a fine up to $100,000). To protect victims of domestic abuse, he wants to create a "Domestic Violence Prevention Advisory Board to advise on domestic violence issues", while also simplifying the process to receive a protective order. Additionally, McDonnell wants to make the protective order forms more consistent with neighboring states to encourage cooperation and enhance multi-jurisdictional enforcement. Like Deeds, McDonnell wants to increase drug treatment options in the state, but also wants to crack down on career drug dealers. Unlike Deeds, in cases of child endangerment, McDonnell would like cases to go directly to the court of appeals to expedite the process and remove children from hazardous situations more quickly. To further deter crime, McDonnell wants to strengthen asset forfeiture. In an effort to combat gangs and gang violence, he seeks to expand the role of State Police in gang deterrence, while also increasing penalties for gang recruitment and rewriting the statute to explicitly include electronic recruitment of gang members. He also would like to amend the gang participation statute to include any felony and many misdemeanors committed on behalf of a gang. Like Deeds, McDonnell endorses utilizing more regional task forces, as well as appointing an “Anti-Gang Coordinator" for the state.
As the race continues to heat up and become more and more contentious, it is important to separate the negativity from the issues at hand. Leading up to election day, we will examine the issues and do our best to provide you with more in-depth, no-spin coverage.
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Bob McDonnell
Creigh Deeds
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