SADLER: A look at the locals

Last week I wrote about the importance of the sportsmen’s vote in the upcoming elections. As you decide who to vote for, remember the role we play in influencing the local and national policy agenda. I encouraged you to learn all you can about what the candidates think about issues of importance to sportsmen.
In the spirit of “cobbler, shoe your own children,” I decided to check out the local candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives for myself. I wanted to see what was available on the Web that spoke to me as a Virginia sportsman.
Here is the line up. For the Senate seat you have two former Virginia Governors. Jim Gilmore is the Republican and Mark Warner is the Democrat.
For the U.S. House of Representatives, you have the incumbent, Republican Bob Goodlatte who is running against Democrat Sam Rasoul and Independent Janice Lee Allen.
Since I worked in U.S. Senate many years ago I started with the Senate candidates.
I searched “Sportsmen for Gilmore.” Nothing.
There was nothing obvious on Gilmore’s campaign page, so it was on to his issues page.
Now we are getting somewhere. Top of the list is “Protecting The 2nd Amendment”. Since he is a board member of the NRA that didn’t surprise me.
But there was nothing else targeted directly to sportsmen.
I called the campaign office, and asked them to provide me with information on what issues or priorities they were talking to hunters and anglers about.
I wound up doing this with each campaign as you will see.
Dick Leggitt responded that Gilmore was hearing concerns about increased regulations and restrictions. He noted that conservation remains a key issue, as well. Dick also pointed to Gilmore’s efforts as governor to protect the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s waters.
Interestingly, Gilmore hopes conservation issues will get a great deal of attention in Congress. Leggitt pointed to Gilmore’s efforts with The Virginia Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.
‘This joint effort produced cleaner water, improved habitat for threatened and endangered species and other wildlife and better yields from the Bay’s fisheries.’
I used the same approach with former Governor Warner. The Sportsmen for Warner search led with “Mark Warner for Senate 2008 — Sportsmen for Warner”.  A click on that took me to the campaign Web site.
A video of NASCAR Champion Ward Burton and his son Ashton extolling the virtues of Mark Warner started playing. Burton notes that the great outdoors is what makes Virginia special and that Warner understands that. He goes on to point out that Warner signed every pro-second-amendment bill that came across his desk.
Also on the Web site was a list of four issues; protect the Second Amendment, preserve hunting and fishing traditions, protect our rivers, lakes, streams and bays and preserve our open spaces. After each item was a link for more information about what Warner believes and what he did as governor.
On to the House candidates. None of the candidates have information clearly identified on their Web sites as priorities for hunters or anglers.
I spoke with Dave Rexrode at the Goodlatte Campaign. Dave told me the campaign is putting an emphasis on registering voters. They are reaching out to the hunting and fishing community to be sure everyone has a chance to get their voice heard.
As a ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, Goodlatte was engaged in the writing and passage of the Farm Bill. Much of the critical conservation funding that supports hunting and fishing comes in that bill. Rexrode pointed out some areas that his boss was especially proud of.
First was securing funding for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the headwaters here in the Valley to help protect fish, fishing and fish habitat.
Another was the extension for two years of the tax incentives for conservation easements to help protect open space and working lands. Goodlatte also co-sponsored legislation to make those tax incentives permanent.
He also noted that Goodlatte worked hard to get funding increased for the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program. This program provides funding for conservation easements on working lands so they can continue as working lands.
Rexrode said that Goodlatte co-sponsored the Protecting the Second Amendment and Hunting Rights on Federal Lands Act. The legislation would prohibit federal regulations from restricting firearms or ammunition in the National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. It would also require hunting to be considered in the federal land management plans, as long as it is not incompatible with other activity on that federal land.
Sean Sarah from Rasoul’s campaign emailed some information. Sean noted Rasoul is proud to have received an “A” grade from the NRA. Rasoul believes that the “fundamental right to keep and bear arms is more than a right, it’s a tradition handed down from father to son in our farming and rural communities.”
As far as conservation issues getting attention in Congress, Sarah suggested that those issues would not get as much as they deserve. He noted that the natural habitat in the sixth district is a draw for hunters, anglers and everyone who enjoys the great outdoors. He said that “we must be forward thinking in the way we frame and propose legislation related not only to our natural habitats, but also to energy use and building standards.”
In response to my inquiry I also got a couple of emails (and follow up calls) from Janice Lee Allen.
She noted a concern about the number of deer in this area. She would support hunting in National Parks under controlled circumstances. She mentioned that she is also deeply concerned about the conditions of our rivers and streams. She would like to do all she can to revive the rivers, streams and fish. She would also like to see more government funding for it.
Much of what she sent me was similar to what can be found on her Web site so I won’t go into it. She did however send me a provocative question. In her email she wrote, “I wonder what the statistics would be for those who have died in combat who grew up in a household with a gun, and have hunted, versus those without a household gun and never hunted in their lives.”
I am sure our troops get great training and are prepared for their missions. But it does make you wonder if what hunters learn in the field is not a leg up for our combat troops.
Like I said last week, it is up to you to learn about the candidates and the issues that are important to hunting and fishing. I tried to distill some of that from what they told me.
If candidates want to connect to hunters and anglers, they need to do a better job. If what they told me interests you, contact the campaign and the candidates and get more information.
My advice to the candidates — don’t make it so hard for us to find out where you stand on these issues and what you are going to do. More importantly do a better job of connecting your key issues to hunters and angler and others who enjoy the great outdoors. Each one of you has good ideas and important information to share. Help us understand how and why they matter to us as hunters and anglers.
Valley sportsmen and sportswomen are an important constituency that cares about the environment, conservation and American traditions. We are people of the ground and on the ground.
In the future, candidates need to see Valley hunters and anglers as an important voting block. You have the power to help make that happen. Share your concerns and ideas. Make your voices heard. Get out and vote!