Perriello fields wide range of questions in York County Democratic candidate forum

May 18--YORK -- Addressing 100 people spread across the auditorium of York High School, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello said, "The resistance is working" -- hyping up the crowd before he answered a wide range of questions presented by progressive Peninsula groups.

The groups hosted Perriello and other state candidates in a town hall-style Q&A at York High School Wednesday evening. Chris Mayer of the York-Poquoson Democrats said the event was intended to familiarize people with state Democrat candidates.

In April, the groups hosted a similar forum with Perriello's primary opponent Ralph Northam at Tabb High School.

During the bulk of the forum, Perriello fielded questions from the organizing groups and the audience that allowed him to voice support of reproductive rights, a $15 minimum wage and two free years of community college or trade school. He also voiced support for campaign finance reform, universal background checks on gun purchases, environmental agencies, the Black Lives Matter Movement and developing renewable and clean energy.

In response to a Peninsula-specific question about Dominion Energy's proposed Skiffes Creek power line across the James River, Perriello said he'd like to empower localities to fight projects they do not want. He wasn't sure of what the state government would legally be able to do.

He responded to audience concerns about his record from his one term as a congressman representing Charlottesville -- including at one point having a 100 percent approval rating from the National Rifle Association -- and said some of his votes against progressive causes came as a result of representing a largely Republican district.

He said he regretted those decisions and has grown since then, but he's able to sleep well at night knowing he supported other legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act, that he said led to his failed re-election.

Perriello also took some jabs at the Trump administration, noting the Department of Justice's naming former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel for its investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, drawing loud cheers.

The Virginia governor's race took a detour Monday as the aftereffects of a torch-lit Charlottesville rally with the distinct flavor of white nationalism continued to reverberate.

Corey Stewart, the

The Virginia governor's race took a detour Monday as the aftereffects of a torch-lit Charlottesville rally with the distinct flavor of white nationalism continued to reverberate.

Corey Stewart, the GOP hopeful who makes a habit of appearing with the Confederate flag and defending Civil War monuments,...

Susan Platt, a candidate for lieutenant governor, touted her experience as a political staffer and her efforts to help women run for office. She also said she would spend time in the communities that voted for Donald Trump and help the people who latched onto the hope he gave them. She said in her conversations with Trump voters in places like southwest Virginia, she saw helplessness and hopelessness that needed to be addressed.

State Sen. Monty Mason, who spoke on behalf of Attorney General Mark Herring, spoke of Herring's record with the opioid epidemic, saying he supported those suffering from addiction while also prosecuting the pushers to get drugs off the street.

"We have to harness the energy we're seeing across the state and across the country," Mason said.

Rachel Bitecofer, a professor at Christopher Newport University, moderated both Tuesday's forum and Northam's forum in March.

The primary elections are June 13.

Reyes can be reached by phone at 757-247-4692.

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