Virginia tech association declines to endorse gubernatorial candidate
The Northern Virginia Technology Council announced on Monday that it will not endorse a candidate in Virginia’s gubernatorial race between Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli because of “deeply divided” opinions of the organization’s membership on the race.
The decision comes on the same day when TechPAC, an independent, non-partisan political action committee of the NVTC, announced it will endorse Cuccinelli following a vote of its trustees.
“The TechPAC Board of Trustees concluded that Ken Cuccinelli’s experience in Virginia government, command of the issues, and knowledge of key technology priorities will serve him well as Governor in working to ensure the Commonwealth remains a competitive and innovative global technology center,” said Dendy Young, TechPAC chairman and CEO of McLean Capital.
Young continued, “Cuccinelli assured TechPAC Trustees during the interview process that his administration will focus on jobs and the economy, and not on a divisive social agenda, which TechPAC believes would seriously hurt the appeal of Virginia as a place to locate and grow businesses. Cuccinelli also committed to preserving and efficiently implementing the transportation funding legislation passed by the General Assembly earlier this year.”
Members of the TechPAC were given an opportunity to interview both candidates. During the interview process, technology business leaders discussed the candidates’ campaign platforms, proposals and positions relating to specific issues in the technology business agenda of the NVTC.
NVTC was quick to point out that while the TechPAC is a part of the organization it does not speak for the association’s members as a whole.
“NVTC acknowledges and respects TechPAC’s endorsement process, which was deliberative, transparent and consistent with TechPAC’s bylaws,” the NVTC said in a statement. “The TechPAC endorsement, however, may not in itself reflect the views of NVTC’s membership. Given the deeply divided opinions of the NVTC membership concerning this race, NVTC is making no endorsement in the gubernatorial election.”
Virginia and New Jersey are the only states holding gubernatorial races this election year.
Launched by the NVTC in 2001, TechPAC is governed by a 27-member board of trustees that includes prominent business leaders representing many of the largest and well-known technology businesses in the region as well as the smaller entrepreneurial businesses that help drive Northern Virginia’s technology economy.
TechPAC identifies and supports Virginia General Assembly candidates throughout the state, as well as those candidates for governor and attorney general, whose positions, policies and initiatives they believe best reflect the priorities and interests of Northern Virginia’s technology community.
