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One
theme, making government work better, has emerged
above all others in political discussions in
Northern Virginia as the region joins the rest of
the United States in voting on November 7. Getting
to the theme of competence, of course, means wading
through a sewer pipe of personal and partisan
attacks. But the theme is there in Virginia
Congressional races, as in Congressional races
across the country, and it seems to suggest
significant changes in the political landscape when
the vote-counting is finished this week.
In
looking at the mid-term Congressional elections from
a Northern Virginia perspective -- there also are
gubernatorial and state legislative races in most
states -- it is important to keep two points in
mind. First, Congress and the federal government are
local industries in Northern Virginia. Hundreds of
U.S. Representatives and United States Senators live
in the region, not just those who represent
Virginia. So do thousands of powerful Congressional
staffers, regulators, federal employees, industry
association executives and lobbyists. They are
neighbors, parents and sports fans during the school
year and fellow road warriors in the daily commute.
Mid-term election pools at the office are just as
big as football pools.
These
federal employees and officials, both elected and
appointed, want to succeed at their jobs and at the
work they have set out for the country. To the
extent that they cannot succeed in solving the
problems they focus on -- the war in Iraq, global
terrorism, 9-11 Commission reforms, the economy and
the federal budget, energy independence, rebuilding
after Katrina, protecting children -- they are
disappointed. They cannot help but question the
competence of the President and the Congress like
everyone else when they fail. The President’s
favorable/unfavorable ratings, in fact, are as low
in Northern Virginia as they are anywhere.
Second,
remember that Northern Virginians live in the
Internet age, where they gather information fast,
process it fast and make decisions about what to do
fast. Northern Virginian expectations run along the
lines of "continuous improvement in
quality" that modern business demands, even
when the slow and hoary in politics and governance
is involved. In this fast-paced environment, a
decade in the majority for any political party is an
eternity. And if continuous change is blocked, even
when incremental, the stage only gets set for a
bigger, more comprehensive change. That is the shift
in control of the U.S. House of Representatives,
possibly even the United States Senate, that is
looming. Northern Virginians don’t see this change
as a threat to be avoided. If the majority party
cannot get the job done why not put a new management
team in place.
Understanding
these two points about Northern Virginia brings more
insight to the documented differences between
Northern Virginia voters and and voters in other
parts of Virginia than do traditional regional or
partisan explanations. In the hot race between
George Allen and Jim Webb for the United States
Senate, for example, a healthy majority of Northern
Virginia voters surveyed support Jim Webb, while a
majority of voters in other parts of Virginia
support George Allen. That support for Webb is from
far more than just Democratic Party activists.
Voters are looking for more responsive, competent
governance and leaders who ask the tough questions.
They see that it’s time for a change.
Statewide
voters are giving Webb a small lead going into
election day because they see Webb as the candidate
of change and, perhaps within a new Democratic
majority, as the better bet for more competent
problem solving. If Allen can convince undecided
voters in the final hours that there are changes he
can deliver within a continuing Republican majority,
Webb may find his slight lead in the race
evaporating quickly.
Similarly,
a healthy majority of Northern Virginia voters
oppose Ballot Question #1, the proposed
constitutional amendment to suspend rights and legal
status for unmarried individuals, while a majority
of voters in other parts of Virginia say they will
vote for the amendment. Northern Virginians
haven’t suddenly become more liberal. The
majority, which includes many conservatives, simply
looks over the dynamically diverse population that
is driving both the regional and state economies and
sees no upside to adding new discriminatory language
to the state constitution. Such measures distract
leaders from real questions of making government
work and by adding uncertainties, actually can make
it harder to solve problems.
So,
regardless of the final results of the election for
the United States Senate, Northern Virginians will
expect the winner to make government work better. If
the winner is not George Allen in a Republican
Senate, so be it. Remember that for Northern
Virginians changes in the majorities of the U.S.
House and Senate open up new employment
opportunities and committee staff leadership
potential for some neighbors.
Regardless
of the results of the vote on Ballot Question #1,
Northern Virginians also are signaling the rest of
the Commonwealth that they will no longer acquiesce
in a policy agenda that puts Virginia at an
unnecessary competitive disadvantage and distracts
the state from solving real problems, such as new
transportation investments, quality education, safer
streets and healthier citizens. And there appears to
be a growing number of Virginians in all parts of
the state who feel the same way about change and
competence.
--
November 6, 2006
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