In the first Gubernatorial debate of the general election, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds sparred on economic plans and addressed issues of education and gun control.

Moderator Rod Smolla, dean of law at Washington & Lee University, said an 11-year-old boy tracked down the suggestion box in an attempt to place a question about the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech.

Smolla posed his question to Deeds, asking about his specific ideas on the role of guns in Virginia.

Deeds, who drew opposition from several April 16 families in his run for the Democratic nomination voiced support for the Second Amendment, attributing his values on guns to the rural part of the state in which he grew up.

However, Deeds also expressed support for the gun show loophole bill supported by many April 16 families.

“These people poured their grief into the gun show loophole bill to close that loophole,” Deeds said. “I got that bill out of committee for the first time.”

It was voted down in the full Virginia House of Delegates in March.

He said he has “become convinced” that the bill should be passed.

McDonnell focused on a different side of the shootings.

“I think the way Gov. [Tim] Kaine handled Virginia Tech and mental health legislation after that was his finest moment at governor,” McDonnell said.

He pointed to legislation that closed “the mental health loophole” in the weeks following April 16. He also voiced support of the Second Amendment, but did not address the gun show loophole bill.

Higher education was also a heated topic.

McDonnell pushed for increased incentives for students who choose to pursue degrees in math and science, saying Virginia should entice students “to be geeks again.”

Deeds criticized McDonnell’s education plan, saying he would take money from schools to fund transportation, making the accusation that McDonnell was “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

McDonnell, on the other hand, called Deeds out early and often for having no plan to pay for “his wish list,” which emphasizes improving transportation to boost commerce.

Some early reviews of the debate:

Deeds was virtually in his backyard debating at the lavish Homestead Resort. However, the rest of the region has been decimated by the economic crisis. Many localities of the western portion of Virginia have unemployment rates in double digits.

I was speaking with a former county administrator of Deeds’ home county, Bath County, where the debate was held. First, she said she was surprised Deeds did not address the recent shootings at the Homestead when outlining his position on gun issues.

Secondly, she mentioned the tendency of both candidates to try and select single solutions for the economy, rather than look at localities.

As a government administrator, she is having to trim down budgets and workforces across the board, much like Virginia Tech has to do as a state university.

She said if the state government took the actions they are requiring of localities and universities, the economic environment may improve much more quickly.

However, both candidates had very specific plans to be enacted with legislation and policy.

Below is a general summary of positions expressed:

Education

McDonnell: Increase the number of charter schools, add incentives for those who choose to specialize in math and science.

Deeds: Use transportation revenue and other commerce to lower the price of higher education.

Economy

McDonnell: Emphasized improving small business. Hopes to increase tourism and film production in Virginia. Would start offshore drilling.

Deeds: Improve transportation to increase commerce. Make Virginia “the capital of alternative and renewable energy.”

Social “wedge” issues

They both were very short winded on these topics, saying they were not top priorities. Both said marriage is between a man and a woman.

One dominant topic was the Southwest Virginia economy. MeadWestvaco, a paper manufacturer that dominates the economy of Covington (the largest city in the Appalachian region other than Roanoke).

Covington, which is about 20 minutes from the Homestead, plays host to a massive, blue smoking paper mill. A packaging facility is down the road in Low Moor. Most of the residents of the area work for the company is some form or fashion.

Both candidates, particularly McDonnell (attempting to neutralize Deeds’ ties to the area) spoke about how they could help the company, and thus the area. I’m going to try and see which candidate the local workers are in favor of.

The most candidate financial contribution reports show that Deeds has Covington monopolized, but that is to be expected due to his local roots, and the fact that the workers are unionized.

I’ll have more reaction and follow up from this weekend’s debate in the next couple of days. Zc