Tours Head Start Facility, Danville Community College Workforce Services Center
May 6, 2009 Danville, VA - Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank today visited Roanoke and Danville on his four-day, statewide Commonwealth Education Tour. Jon toured a Head Start facility in Roanoke and the Danville Community College Workforce Services facilities in Danville. He met with the organizations' staffs and discussed his recently released Education Plan.
In Roanoke, Jon discussed the importance of investing in early childhood education programs.
"Research shows that critical brain development occurs before a child is 5 years old, and that the education and instruction a child receives during that time affects his or her academic and social development for years to come. Early childhood education does not just affect individual children - it also affects entire communities. It reduces truancy and lowers unemployment and crime rates. There is no question that we need to invest in pre-k and early childhood education programs like TAP Head Start," Bowerbank said.
In Danville, Jon spoke about the role of community colleges and career training programs in growing Virginia's economy.
"In order to get Virginia's economy back on track, we need a skilled, trained workforce prepared to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow. Investing in our community colleges is the best way to reach this goal. Career and workforce training programs like the ones offered at Danville Community College are a vital part of the Commonwealth's economic recovery, and we must make sure that they and their students succeed," said Bowerbank.
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Calls for Renewed Discussion of Issues that Affect Virginians' Everyday Lives
April 29, 2009 Alexandria, VA - Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank today challenged his primary opponents to a series of debates across Virginia, calling on his opponents to concentrate on issues that affect Virginians every day. Bowerbank's proposal requests debates in Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
"I spent last week, and the last 16 months, traveling around the Commonwealth talking about how to create jobs for Virginians and get our economy back on track. As Virginians are losing their jobs, unable to make their mortgage payments, unable to afford college tuition, and facing so many other challenges, I am focusing on these issues and I hope my opponents will join me in three debates to discuss the formidable challenges facing our Commonwealth. We need to get this election focused on the issues that make a difference in the lives of Virginians every day," Bowerbank said. |
Alternative Energy and Increased Efficiency, Not Drilling, Will Lead to Short and Long Term Economic Growth
April 28, 2009 Alexandria, VA - Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank today blasted Bill Bolling for releasing an energy plan that would exacerbate, rather than alleviate, Virginia's economic and energy crises.
"Bill Bolling's energy plan was not a plan at all, but rather read more like a history of the failed energy policies of the last eight years. And given our current energy and economic crises, we cannot afford to repeat our mistakes of the past. I have worked in the energy sector for 25 years, and I have the experience and expertise to know that drilling off Virginia's coast is not going to solve our energy problems. In fact, drilling off the coast of Virginia has the potential to damage our economy, a reckless risk in such uncertain economic times. Unlike my primary opponents, I came out early and strongly against drilling off of Virginia's coast for exactly this reason. Let me be clear- there is not enough oil and natural gas in the area discussed off of Virginia's shore to be significantly commercially viable and under current federal law, not a dime of any revenue derived from these areas would go to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bill Bolling is pushing an agenda to curry favors with national Republican leaders at the expense of Virginia taxpayers who would bear the weight of all potential economic, environmental and tourism losses from this "Drill Baby, Drill" philosophy. Bill Bolling either doesn't know the facts or chooses to ignore them and walk lock step with his party, and I don't know which is worse.
We need to be investing in energy sources that lead Virginia into the future of the energy industry, including making current energy production cleaner and more efficient and investing in renewable and non-conventional energy sources. It is this industry that will create good paying jobs for Virginians and help get our economy back on track. This approach of creating jobs through fostering and growing the renewable and non-conventional energy sectors in Virginia is the foundation of my Jobs Plan, and as Lieutenant Governor I will be an advocate for this energy and economic strategy," Bowerbank said. |
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Roanoke Times April 23, 2009 Jon Bowerbank, one of three Democratic candidates hoping to challenge Republican incumbent Bill Bolling for lieutenant governor, stopped in Roanoke on Wednesday as part of a three-day tour touting his jobs plan. Bowerbank, a Russell County supervisor and businessman, is facing off against Jody Wagner and Mike Signer for the Democratic nomination. The winner will face either Bolling or lawyer Patrick Muldoon in the general election. Bowerbank walked through the Roanoke Higher Education Center on a tour guided by Bobby Williamson, the center's director of operations. Williamson described historic aspects of the building and some of the center's attempts to boost alternative energy. At one point he noted the wind gusting outside and asked, "Why can't we capture that?" Bowerbank didn't miss a beat. "The obvious answer is that we need to elect a lieutenant governor with those priorities." Bowerbank said he wouldn't just preside over the Virginia Senate during the General Assembly session but would be a "full-time" lieutenant governor focused on pushing for job creation. |
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Jon Bowerbank visits the area Martinsville Bulletin Thursday, April 23, 2009 Democratic lieutenant governor hopeful Jon Bowerbank’s visit to Martinsville and Henry County on Wednesday was overshadowed by news that a local company will close this fall. The Martinsville GSI Commerce site at Patrick Henry Mall will close at the end of September when the company consolidates four sites into three, officials said Tuesday. Nearly 300 jobs will be eliminated. Although unfortunate, Bowerbank said the timing of his visit “could not have been better” because the closing illustrates the need for a jobs plan such as his. It also “emphasizes the importance of these research and development facilities,” Bowerbank said Wednesday after a tour of Red Birch Energy, a biodiesel producing facility in Bassett Forks. |
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April 22, 2009 Richlands, VA - Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank today met with officials from Southwest Virginia Community College to discuss the college's career and workforce development programs and the important role community colleges play in getting Virginia's economy back on track.
The meeting today was led by Frank Horton the Dean of Workforce Development at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) and participants included Delegate Dan Bowling, Len Kogut, Vice President for Finance at SWCC, Larry Hughes, Project Director for Construction at SWCC, Randy Williams, Russell County Commissioner of Revenue, Lee Potter, of the United Mineworkers of America, Brian Patton, Russell County Commonwealth's Attorney, and Jan Bowling, Administrative Assistant for Engineering at SWCC.
"Community colleges are a vital part of Virginia's education system, and we need to invest in these institutions and ensure that students get the training they need to get good paying, high demand jobs when they graduate. Community colleges not only benefit the students who attend them, but also the businesses in the area, by producing knowledgeable and effective workers. The work done by Southwest Virginia Community College's Career and Workforce Development program is a a great example of how community colleges can contribute to Virginia's economic recovery," Bowerbank said.
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April 22, 2009 Roanoke, VA - Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Jon Bowerbank today toured the facilities of the Roanoke Higher Education Center as part of his three day statewide Jobs Tour. Bowerbank discussed the importance of expanding access to higher education and investing in career and workforce training.
The Roanoke Higher Education Center is an innovative educational institution that partners with a variety of academic institutions to offer a wide variety of educational services, including job training and career development, and helps students attain undergraduate degrees in disciplines related to regional job opportunities.
"Education is the foundation of opportunity, and improving the quality of education and expanding access to higher education is a crucial aspect of growing Virginia's economy. If we want to create good paying jobs, we need to have a workforce ready and willing to take them. Programs like those at the Roanoke Higher Education Center play a critical role in this process," Bowerbank said.
The Jobs Tour coincides with the release of Bowerbank's Jobs Plan, a detailed 27-page plan to create good paying jobs and get Virginia's economy back on track. Each stop on the Tour will emphasize a different aspect of Jon's Jobs Plan, from improving Virginia's infrastructure to investing in renewable and alternative energy solutions to fostering a positive business environment that benefits both workers and businesses to prioritizing innovation at our colleges and research centers.
The plan can be viewed at www.jb2009.com.
Jon Bowerbank is the owner of a successful energy services company that employs hundreds of people in Virginia and throughout the country. He has also served as an operations manager in a Fortune 10 company in numerous states, and has both a business and technical background. He currently serves as the at-large member of the Russell County Board of Supervisors, and he is a member of the Virginia Association of Counties Finance and Transportation Committees.
Bowerbank has spent the last year traveling around Virginia spreading his message of change. As Lieutenant Governor, Jon will be committed to improving Virginia's infrastructure, investing in our schools and education programs, and using effective business practices to create jobs and transform Virginia's economy for a new energy future. |
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