| MCLEAN, VA – Over 100 rural Virginia leaders have endorsed Terry McAuliffe for governor, following the release of Terry’s comprehensive new plan, “Growing Greener Pastures: Planting Innovation and Raising Opportunity on Virginia’s Working Lands.” These leaders cite Terry’s proven leadership on supporting and expanding Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries and his unwavering commitment to creating a thriving, innovative agricultural and forestry economy.
As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will continue to grow the Commonwealth’s largest private industries — agriculture and forestry — by expanding domestic and international markets for Virginia products and creating new opportunities for small businesses. His comprehensive plan will increase investments in the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development fund to help attract and expand agriculture and forestry businesses in the Commonwealth. In addition, Terry will build a highly-specialized agriculture and forestry workforce through partnerships with community colleges and institutions of higher education and will cultivate next-generation smart farming through expanding broadband access to every Virginian. These goals will open up new markets for farmers and attract state-of-the-art meat and dairy processing facilities, establishing Virginia as a major supplier of specialty crops, particularly grains used in craft beverage production.
As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry made agriculture and forestry key components of his economic development plan. This focus on agriculture and forestry expanded the industry by 30% in the first half of Terry’s term and substantially grew exports of agricultural and forestry products to over $3 billion for the first time in Virginia’s history. Despite facing the effects of the Great Recession and sequestration, Terry created 200,000 good paying jobs, reduced unemployment from 5.7% to 3.3% — including reductions of nearly 50% in most rural counties– and raised personal income 14% during his administration.
“I am incredibly proud and excited to support Terry McAuliffe for Governor of Virginia. Terry knows that agriculture is what makes Virginia’s economy run and when he was governor, he worked with the agriculture community to create more jobs and expand exports of our products. Under Terry’s leadership, I have no doubt that Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries will continue to thrive,” said Delegate Wendy Gooditis, Vice Chair of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.
“Agriculture and forestry are the backbone of Virginia’s thriving economy, but they need the Commonwealth’s support as we continue to rebuild a stronger post-COVID economy and move Virginia forward,” said Terry McAuliffe. “As governor, I will make sure Virginia leads the way in agricultural innovation by working with rural leaders to build small business opportunities and expand the markets for Virginia-grown agricultural products. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Virginia’s rural community to take Virginia agriculture and forestry to the next level, and know that together we will get it done.”
Rural Endorsers Include:
- L.F. Payne, Former 5th District Congressman, Albemarle
- Dick Cranwell, Former House of Delegates Majority & Minority Leader and Former DPVA Chair, Roanoke
- Senator John Edwards, Giles County, Roanoke City, Montgomery County and Roanoke County
- Senator Lynwood Lewis, Accomack County, Mathews County, Northampton County, Norfolk City, and Virginia Beach City
- Senator Creigh Deeds, Albemarle County, Alleghany County, Bath County, Buena Vista City, Charlottesville City, Covington City, Nelson County, Highland County, Rockbridge County, and Lexington City
- Delegate Chris Hurst, Counties of Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski; City of Radford
- Delegate Roslyn Tyler, Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Lunenburg, Southampton, and Sussex; Cities of Emporia and Franklin
- Delegate Wendy Gooditis, Counties of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun
- Daniel W. Bird, Jr., Former State Senator, Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell, Smyth, Wise, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties
- Jackson E. Reasor, Jr., Former State Senator, Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Tazewell, Smyth, Wise, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties
- Ward Armstrong, Former Delegate
- Albert C. Pollard Jr., Former Delegate, Lancaster County
- Sherman Lea, Mayor, Roanoke
- Alonzo Jones, Mayor, Danville
- Deanna Reed, Mayor, Harrisonburg
- Mary Jane Dolan, Mayor, Lynchburg
- John David Smith, Mayor, Winchester
- Ed Owens, Mayor, South Boston
- Beau Wright, Vice Mayor, Lynchburg
- Joan Foster, Former Mayor, Lynchburg
- Jennifer Bowles, Martinsville Vice Mayor
- A.D. “Chuckie” Reid, Farmville Vice Mayor
- Hubert Pannell, Board of Supervisors Chairman, Halifax County
- Ron S. Wolff, Board of Supervisors Chair, Accomack County
- James Brown, Board of Supervisors Chairman, Greensville County
- Dr. Barbara Jarrett-Harris, Board of Supervisors Chair, Brunswick County
- Belinda Astrop, Board of Supervisors Vice Chair, Greensville County
- Wayne Jones, Board of Supervisors Vice Chair, Sussex County
- Reggie Underwood, Caroline County Board of Supervisors Chair
- Floyd Thomas, Board of Supervisors Member, Caroline County
- Pattie Cooper Jones, Board of Supervisors Member, Prince Edward County
- Jerry Townsend, Board of Supervisors Member, Prince Edward County
- Brenda R Sutherland, Board of Supervisors Member, Grayson County
- Jordan Miles, Board of Supervisors Member, Buckingham County
- Rufus E. Tyler, Board of Supervisors Member, Sussex County
- Debbie Jones, Board of Supervisors Member, Sussex County
- Rev. Marian Johnson, Board of Supervisors Member, Sussex County
- Maggie Asbury, Board of Supervisors Member, Tazewell County
- Sherman C. Vaughn, Board of Supervisors Member, Nottoway County
- Mozell Booker, Board of Supervisors Member, Fluvanna County
- C. Reneta Major, Board of Supervisors Member, Accomack
- Rudolph Jefferson, Board of Supervisors Member, Isle of Wight County
- Benard Jones, Board of Supervisors Member, Brunswick County
- Chris Jones, City Councilor, Harrisonburg
- Jessie Foster, City Councilor, Radford
- L.G. “Larry” Campbell Jr., City Councilor, Danville
- Sterling Wilder, City Councilor, Lynchburg
- Brian Vincent, City Councilor, Farmville
- Valerie Butler, Town Councilor, Smithfield
- Daniel McGraw, Town Councilor, Ashland
- Neal Osborne, Council Member, Bristol City
- H. Fuller Cridlin, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Lee County
- Jim Hingeley, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Albemarle County
- Joshua Cumbow, Commonwealth’s Attorney, Washington County
- Cliff Hapgood, Former Commonwealth’s Attorney, Franklin County
- Donna B. Nunnally, Treasurer, Prince Edward County
- Evelyn Powers, Treasurer, Roanoke
- Fred W. Parker, Treasurer, Washington County
- Douglas Mullins, Commissioner of Revenue, Wise County
- J. Jack Kennedy, Clerk of Court, Wise County
- Steve McGraw, Clerk of Court, Roanoke County
- Patricia K. “Kathy” Fraley, School Board Chairman, Halifax County
- Donna Dillard, School Board Chair, Martinsville
- Lowell Fulk, School Board Member, Rockingham
- Jon Atchue, School Board Member, Franklin County
- Bill Benson, School Board Member, Pulaski County
- Peter Gur, School Board Member, Prince Edward County
- Doris Coleman Hamlin, School Board Member, Sussex County
- Mark Lee, School Board Member, King William County
- Treney Tweedy, Former Mayor & Councilwoman, Lynchburg
- Bert Dodson Jr., Former Vice Mayor, Lynchburg
- John Gilstrap, Former Mayor, Danville
- Rev. Carl B. Hutcherson Jr., Former Mayor, Lynchburg
- Michael Gillette, Former Mayor, Lynchburg
- Bob Wandrei, Former Mayor, Bedford
- Dr. Ceasor Johnson, Former Vice Mayor, Lynchburg
- Carter Elliott Jr., Former Board of Supervisors Chairman, Campbell County
- Tony Conwell, Former Board of Supervisors Member, Greensville
- Carl Eggleston, Former Council Member, Farmville
- Bill Moore, Former Board of Supervisors Member, Campbell County
- Wesley Reed, Former Sheriff, Prince Edward County
- Robert “Buddy” Maxey, Former Sheriff, Campbell County
- Connie Froggatt, Former School Board Member, Montgomery County
- Basil Gooden, Former Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Secretary
- Roger “RD” Huffstetler, Former Congressional Candidate, Marine Veteran
- Claire Russo, Former Congressional Candidate, Marine Veteran, Albemarle County
- Carter Turner, Former Candidate for Delegate, Salem
- Thomas “Tommy” R. Terry, Tree Farmer of the Year, Appomattox County
- Frank Merryman, Army Veteran, Campbell County
- LeRoy Helferstay, Navy Veteran & Teacher, Campbell County
- John Ramsey, Navy Veteran, Campbell County
- Gerald Jackson, Air Force Veteran, Campbell County
- Betty Zieger, Former Campbell Dems Chair, Navy Veteran, Amherst County
- John Vincent, Army Veteran, Bronze Star Recipient, Campbell County
- Daniel Tuck, Army Veteran, Lynchburg
- Frank Kober, Community Leader, Northumberland County
- Victoria Cochran, Community Leader, Montgomery County
- Steve Cochran, Community Leader, Montgomery County
- Jo-Ann Helferstay, Teacher, Campbell County
- Victoria Meredith, Teacher, Lynchburg
- Michael Nagy, Teacher, Campbell County
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