The following press release from the Terry McAuliffe for Governor campaign highlights how, increasingly, Virginia business people and moderate Republicans are getting on board with Terry’s campaign. Clearly, a lot of these people don’t see Ken Cuccinelli as good for business, and they’re most definitely right about that. All Cuccinelli would do is to divide Virginia and let our educational and transportation infrastructure fall apart, thus making our state less appealing for businesses and families to come live here. Why would anyone with any business sense want that?
Prominent Virginia business leaders Jimmy Hazel, S. Buford Scott, and David Addison announced their support for Terry McAuliffe on Monday. Hazel is the current chairman of Virginia FREE (Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education), a nonpartisan organization which provides information to Virginia’s business community in order to advance responsible, pro-business government. Scott is a former Chairman of Virginia FREE and Addison is currently a member of their Board of Directors.
“We need our next governor to support pro-job, pro-business policies, and that is why we need to make sure we elect Terry McAuliffe for Governor,” Hazel stated. In addition to being the current Chairman of Virginia FREE, Hazel is a Principal at Angler Environmental, an ecological design and building company, and the former Chairman of the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries.
S. Buford Scott, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, said he is supporting McAuliffe because “he is committed to making vital improvements to our transportation systems in Virginia and knows what it takes to diversify Virginia’s economy so we can compete in a global economy.” Scott also referenced McAuliffe’s efforts to garner support for the bipartisan transportation compromise earlier this year as a testament to his commitment to finding mainstream solutions to the challenges facing the Commonwealth.
David Addison, Virginia FREE board member and Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at Sandy Spring Trust, announced his support for McAuliffe, stating, “As a Virginia businessman and an Independent, I am announcing my support for Terry McAuliffe because he will focus on mainstream issues that will help the Commonwealth’s businesses grow and our communities prosper.” He also encouraged “Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike to support Terry in November.”
Statement from Jimmy Hazel:
“I am endorsing Terry McAuliffe because I know he will work every day to support Virginia’s businesses and make sure our economy remains resilient in the 21st Century. Terry will find mainstream, bipartisan solutions to issues Virginia’s business owners care about, like making our transportation system more efficient, streamlining economic development, and simplifying our tax code. We need our next Governor to support pro-job, pro-business policies, and that is why we need to make sure we elect Terry McAuliffe for Governor in November.”
Statement from S. Buford Scott:
“I am supporting Terry McAuliffe for Governor because he is committed to making vital improvements to our transportation systems in Virginia and knows what it takes to diversify Virginia’s economy so we can compete in a global economy. As director of the Virginia High Speed Rail Association and former Chairman of Virginia FREE, I want our next Governor to be someone who will work with both sides of the aisle, like Terry McAuliffe did when he helped garner support for the bipartisan transportation compromise earlier this year.”
Statement from David Addison:
“As a Virginia businessman and an Independent, I am announcing my support for Terry McAuliffe because he will focus on mainstream issues that will help the Commonwealth’s businesses grow and our communities prosper. I have always supported candidates not because of their political affiliation, but because I know they will tackle the challenges that Virginians care about and will support policies that will attract and keep the best companies here. Terry has been focused from day one on job creation and growing Virginia’s economy, and he knows what our state needs to do to help our businesses expand and hire more workers. I know that Virginia will move in the right direction if we elect Terry McAuliffe to be our next Governor which is why I encourage Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike to support Terry in November.”
Background on Jimmy Hazel:
Jimmy Hazel is the Chairman of the Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education (VA FREE), a non-partisan organization committed to protecting and strengthening Virginia’s business community by providing objective political information to business. Hazel is the former Chairman of the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries, and a Principal at Angler Environmental, an ecological construction and consulting firm.
Background on S. Buford Scott:
S. Buford Scott is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, a full service regional brokerage and investment banking firm. Scott has been with the company for over 54 years, and provides investment services for individual clients with assets of over $200 million. He is the Director of the Virginia High Speed Rail Association, served as Chairman of Virginia FREE from 2003-2004, and was a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University. Scott also served for ten years as trustee and member of the Investment Advisory Committee for the multi-billion dollar retirement system for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Background on David Addison:
David Addison is Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager at Sandy Spring Trust and board member of Virginia FREE. He has a history of supporting mainstream candidates who are focused on growing Virginia’s economy and making the Commonwealth more attractive to businesses. Addison was a member of the Boards of Duke University Cancer Center and Duke University Graduate Mentoring Program.
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