Will Virginia become home to a second headquarters for Amazon? That’s a question that’s consuming economic development officials right now. But it’s also become an issue on the campaign trail for the Executive Mansion.
One thing about Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe — he loves to cut a deal. Even some of his harshest critics acknowledge that he’s got a knack for persuading businesses to move their headquarters here. But that’s not a skill that everybody admires. Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie seems dismissive of this approach.
“We have tended to put a lot of focus on what I call whale hunting, trying to get a Fortune 100 company to move lock, stock and barrel to move their headquarters here.”
Gillespie says whale hunting shouldn’t be the singular focus of Virginia’s economic development agenda, although he adds he would like to see Amazon choose Virginia as the location for its second headquarters. Democrat Ralph Northam says Gillespie is actually undermining the possibility that Amazon will choose Virginia with all his talk about low wage growth and out-migration.
“We are having negotiations with Amazon, 50,000 jobs. Amazon doesn’t want to hear people like you, especially if you want to be the next governor, that we are doing poorly in Virginia.”
Economic development officials say Northern Virginia might be an attractive location because of all its data centers. And Virginia Beach might be able to offer high-speed internet thanks to a transoceanic cable
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
