Preston Bryant, who represented Lynchburg for 10 years in the House of Delegates before joining Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s cabinet, endorsed Del. Shannon Valentine for re-election in his former district Tuesday.
Bryant, who serves as Secretary of Natural Resources, said Valentine “is doing an excellent job in Richmond,” and he sharply criticized her Republican opponent.
“I have been disappointed by the kind of campaign my old friend Scott Garrett has run,” Bryant said, citing Garrett’s claims about Democrat Valentine in brochures he has mailed to voters.
Garrett said he and Bryant have “a difference of opinion on the issues.”
“I think Scott has been falling prey to some of the distasteful campaign tactics that political consultants seem to favor these days,” said Bryant, who also is a Republican.
Bryant cited a Garrett mailer this week that said Valentine has a secret plan to raise taxes as an example of his campaign’s tone.
“The insinuation that there is a secret plan is a bit laughable,” Bryant said.
“Meanwhile, Shannon Valentine has tried to stay on the high road. I think the voters will reward Shannon with another two years in office,” Bryant said.
Garrett replied that he and Bryant are old friends. “I have appreciated his friendship, but we have a difference of opinion on the issues,” Garrett said.
Garrett said Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s administration supports raising taxes and so does Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds.
Garrett, basing his claim mostly on Valentine’s answers on a questionnaire from a business group, said, “Shannon Valentine supports raising taxes.”
The questionnaire, sent to candidates by the business advocacy group Virginia Free, never asked the candidates if they would raise taxes.
It does ask what kinds of taxes could potentially be used to pay for transportation, and Valentine cited several possibilities. Garrett said she wants to raise those taxes.
“The voters deserve a discussion about these issues,” Garrett said.
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