(RICHMOND, VA)—Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Virginia Assistant Director and Senior Attorney Peggy Sanner issued the following statement on today's elections.
"We warmly congratulate Gov.-Elect Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov.-Elect Justin Fairfax, and Attorney General Mark Herring for their electoral successes. We look forward to working with them and with all members of the General Assembly to ensure a legacy of clean water for all Virginians. We are encouraged by Gov.-Elect Northam's repeated affirmation of support for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. His continued commitment, and the work of his Administration and the General Assembly, will determine whether Virginia maintains progress in cleaning up its waterways.
"With the right policies, Virginia can continue its recent success in reducing pollution, restoring oysters and other iconic fisheries, and strengthening the quality of life in our communities. In particular, a clean Bay depends on strong state investment in farm conservation practices and efforts by localities to reduce polluted runoff."
Northam spoke to his commitment to Chesapeake Bay restoration at the Clean Water Forum in Richmond on Sept. 6, co-hosted by CBF and the James River Association. "If you look at my environmental record you will see that the health of the Chesapeake Bay and rivers and creeks that feed into the Bay is certainly very important," he said. He also emphasized that "in order to have a healthy economy in Virginia, we have to have the healthy Chesapeake Bay and rivers and streams that run into the Bay."
