Del. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax), who happens to be my delegate, has a wonderful way of merging his ideas with the homey physical façade he’s cultivate, what with his bow-tie, rumpled shirt and impish grin. He’s got an unconventional view of the Lieutenant Governor’s job.
“The way I visualize it is, the lieutenant governor is akin to being the people’s governor,” said Petersen, a Fairfax Democrat who represents the 37th House District in the Virginia House of Delegates.
“It’s not a full-time position. It doesn’t bring with it a mansion in Richmond. You don’t have a security detail. The lieutenant governor is not tied down like the governor is,” Petersen told The Augusta Free Press.
“The person in that position can travel across the state to meet with citizens where they are one on one with no pretensions. And the person in the office can be free to serve as an advocate on issues that the people have deemed to be important,” Petersen said.
“My vision of being lieutenant governor is that I can be the lobbyist for people who can’t afford lobbyists,” Petersen said.
Petersen is one of four Democrats running for the party’s 2005 lieutenant-governor nomination.
He is also among a growing number of Dems who are not afraid to talk about fiscal responsibility.
“I voted against the original Senate proposal because I felt it was too excessive,” said Petersen of his role in the 2004 state-budget debate. “I was also opposed to any increases in the income tax. That is one thing that stands out as far as making Virginia competitive economically. Our income-tax rate is lower than that of some of our neighbors.
If there’s anyone I can see traveling the state to talk to folks about what’s on their mind, Chap is the guy. If that what you want out of an LG. What exactly else are they good for?