Kaine talks jobs, economy at open house

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine’s message was job creation and the economy at his open house Friday, held at his Danville office.

Surrounded by local residents, business owners and local elected officials from both sides of the political fence, Kaine explained his plan to help grow jobs across Southside — a goal he said can be reached by creating more opportunities for foreign businesses to relocate to the area.

“There are a lot of companies like that their parent companies might be in other nations,” he said. “They’re looking where in North America can we come, where we can really penetrate the American market.”

With seven months in the U.S. Senate behind him, Kaine said his plan for helping create more jobs in Southside hinges entirely upon local leadership.

“I want to work and supplement the existing efforts here,” he said. “Danville’s got a good economic development operation. They don’t need somebody coming in with a different idea, they just need somebody to take the lead from them and say here’s what we want told, can you help us.”

Kaine did say that he could help promote legislation that would help Southside’s efforts by touting the progress that has already been made in the area. He explained companies that have already come to Danville, such as Swedwood, prove that the region is a preferable location for foreign businesses.

“One thing I can certainly help is to tell the economic success story of the region,” Kaine said. “The fact that other [companies] have already come and found it to be a good place, I would love to tell that story.”

While he did make a short speech, the vast majority of Kaine’s meeting was taken up with responding to questions and concerns from those in attendance. The casualness of the meeting went along with Kaine’s message — that although he works primarily in Washington, he chooses to keep his Danville office in order to be personally available to his constituents.

“Somebody can call Washington if they want to know how I’m going to vote on something,” he said. “But if they have a problem, why their home is about to be foreclosed on … sometimes there’s no substitute for person to person.”

Kaine also said he wants to make sure he always had a presence represented in the area, even when he can’t be here himself.

“Having staff who live here, [they’re] going to find out about an issue faster than I’m going to find out living in D.C.,” he said.

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