Virginia’s loss
From down in Norfolk, Vivian Paige reports that Rich Savage has dropped out of the campaign for Lieutenant Governor. It is a loss to Virginia. His written statement is in her article, and every Virginian should read it.
In a phone call this morning, Savage said he is proud of the race that he ran. He leaves with his head held high, having “raised the bar” on the issues, particularly his passion, education.
Indeed, Mr. Savage should be proud of running a good race, but unfortunately he didn’t “raise the bar”.
In the remaining field of Democrat nominees, Signer simply evades education issues entirely, while the rest (Bowerbank, Wagner, and Edmonson) are echoing the stock “mo money” mantra that has served blowhard lefty candidates so well —and has so effectively shortchanged Virginia’s children for the last 30 years.
Savage was the only Democrat candidate who thought about the issue, who had honestly grappled with the problems to arrive at realistic solutions, and was the only candidate willing to work across political lines to better our educational system.
Savage was the only Democrat candidate who realized the Lieutenant Governor’s position is primarily a bully pulpit. Remaining candidates have legislative agendas, disregarding (or ignorant) that the Lt. Governor position doesn’t have one; or speak of what they will “do” when in office, oblivious to the fact that the position can’t really “do” much of anything.
Virginia needs to have some who can force all parties —Democrat or Republican— to face the facts about our failing education system and agree to attempt the repair. Public attention was Savage’s intention, and it was a realistic, practical and extremely worthwhile goal. Until there is enormous change, our children are destined to work for foreigners.
On many points I disagree with his solutions to our education shortcomings, but the conversation —the public debate about what we must do— is crucial. It is Virginia’s loss that Rich Savage has withdrawn.
EDIT: Apologies to Vivian Paige for initially mispelling her name. All is —I hope— corrected now.
March 6th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Thanks for the link as well as the comments about Rich, who is a great guy.
PS - my last name has an I in it.