Signer Brings Lt. Governor's Campaign to South Boston

From the News & Record:

 The News & Record / April 13, 2009

One of the three Democrats vying to run for lieutenant governor this fall visited South Boston Friday with a self-proclaimed “playbook” for winning the office away from incumbent Bill Bolling, a Republican.

Mike Signer, former deputy counselor to Gov. Mark Warner and a national security consultant, told a crowd of about 20 local Democrats that he would focus his general election campaign around five themes: job creation, extending the legacy of Warner and current Gov. Tim Kaine, building on last year’s victory in Virginia by Barack Obama, strong national security and “staying on offense and knowing how to win.”

He dived straight into a political controversy that unfolded late last week — a vote by the Republican-led House of Delegates to reject $125 million in federal stimulus funds to expand unemployment benefits for idled part-time workers and individuals who are training for new jobs.

“They just took money out of this economy when we needed it most,” said Signer, who called the vote “disgusting.” “They do a lot of things that have nothing to do with improving the lives of ordinary people,” he said of Republican delegates, noting that all but two — Donald Merricks of Pittsylvania and Danny Marshall of Danville — voted against the unemployment benefit expasion.

Bolling, Signer said, refused to take a stance on the issue until the debate was almost settled. The State Senate, over which Bolling presides as lieutenant governor, approved the expanded benefits by a party-line 21-19 vote with Democrats voting yes and Republicans no.

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