House of Delegates candidates pitch voters

Good morning! Today we summarize the Williamsburg Watch/WHRO forum for our local House of Delegates candidates...Optimism for Historic Triangle tourism....James City may go its own way on recycling.

WHRO news director Mechelle Hankerson questions, from left, Valerie Beverly, Jessica Anderson, Amanda Batten. (Williamsburg Watch photo)

While there were areas of common ground at our House of Delegates forum Wednesday night, 71^st District Incumbent Amanda Batten generally diverged from her Democratic challenger and the Independent candidate for the 69^th, hewing to more of a market approach for what ails Virginia.

Wednesday’s forum, hosted by Williamsburg Watch and WHRO, played to a crowd of nearly 200 people at the Williamsburg Regional Library theater and was also streamed live on the public station’s website. You can see the archived version on You Tube.

The only two men in the races – 69th^st District incumbent Chad Green and his Democratic opponent, Mark Downey -- said they had prior commitments.

Differences began with the first question, when the candidates were asked if Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones should drop out of the race after he admitted to texting fantasies about shooting former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, and Gilbert’s wife watching their two young children die in her arms.

Whil…