LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Inauguration weekend is here for the 75th Governor of the Commonwealth.
As the preparations continue, excitement is also rising for people in our area attending the festivities.
Barry Bulter works with the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, which is an organization that focuses on improving commerce and economic development for the greater Lynchburg area.
Butler will be at the inauguration ceremony on Saturday and said he is looking forward to the event.
“First, it’s the 250th anniversary of our nation. Secondly, this is the 75th Governor. So, there are some, you know, interesting things there. But then, also with the first woman governor, there are a lot of historical parallels. Also, to be a part of that and be there to witness it firsthand, as opposed to from a distance, you know, I’m excited,” Butler said.
Lynchburg official on hopes for incoming Spanberger Administration for business policy. (Credit: Rachel Tillapaugh/WSET)
Butler said under Youngkin’s administration, there were great things done for business growth.
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Lynchburg official on hopes for incoming Spanberger Administration for business policy. (Credit: Rachel Tillapaugh/WSET)
“I think that one thing is that there have been a lot of tremendous strides that have happened under the Youngkin administration, especially with sites and buildings, with the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, which has been instrumental in getting sites prepared and also attracting businesses from outside the region. It’s already started to bear fruit in a number of different locations,” Butler said.
He said that, with one of Lynchburg’s big industries being energy, with companies such as Framatome and BWXT, he is hoping Spanberger will push for policies that create more jobs and industry.
“Well, I think with any new administration, there’s going to be a learning curve. So, trying to help the governor understand that this region plays an important part in energy security, not just for the city, not just for the city and the state, but also nationally and globally. Affordability is the keyword right now, and affordability also applies to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as even, you know, large corporations. We can also be important subject matter experts in a number of different areas to help the governor make the right decisions,” Butler said.
ABC13’s political analyst, Dr. David Richards, provided some insights on Spanberger as well.
He said Spanberger ran in November on policies that were fairly moderate, and those policies, plus her calm and steady demeanor, helped her into the governor’s mansion.
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Once her term starts, Richards said Spanberger’s top issues will likely be economically focused.
“Healthcare affordability and housing affordability those main issues that she wants to tackle. And of course, any governor who is worth their salt, jobs, attracting business and jobs into the state, that’s going to be a priority as well.”
Richards said it will also be interesting to see how Spanberger’s relationship with the White House emerges, as the Youngkin administration maintained a fairly friendly relationship over the last four years.
“I think the interesting thing that’s, that’s, you know, people are going to want to look out for is, how does Virginia now situate itself with the administration in Washington? Because with Youngkin, we had a fairly friendly relationship, you know, about as good a relationship as we could get now, with a Democratic legislature and governor,” Richards said.
Richards said that with Democrats controlling both the House of Delegates and the Senate, it will be very difficult for Republicans and Democrats to come together for bipartisan legislation.
He predicted they may find some common ground on bringing prices down and creating jobs.
