RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)--Over the past four years, Virginia’s Gov. Bob McDonnellhas appeared on WRVA's "Ask the Governor" show almost every month.
Thursday morning’s 9 a.m. show was his last appearance on the Richmond AM talk-radio station.
The governor took phone calls and shared his plans for the last 35 days in office with the WRVA talk show host Jimmy Barrett.
The state’s departing 71st governor was the darling of the Republican Party when he was elected in 2009.
The sad and shocking newsinvolving the man he beat to begin his career as governor, Democrat Creigh Deeds, was one subject he talked about as he nears the end of it.
Gov. McDonnell says he was greatly affected by the news of Senator Deeds’ stabbing in the Senator’s Bath County home by his son 24-year old son Gus
Deeds says his son wasn’t able to get the mental health treatment he needed before the attack.
The governor says he's announcing later this week, plans to push the upcoming General Assembly for budget refinements to increase funding for mental health care in the state.
The governor also talked about his opposition to Medicaid expansion and Obamacare, something incoming democratic governor-electTerry Mcauliffe supports.
With a federal investigation still going on over donations and loans he received from a Henrico-based dietary supplement company, the governor said he hoped people will remember him for his accomplishments while in office.
“(Fixing) Higher education, 100,000 new degrees, major reforms toK-12. Give every kid access to the American dream in a new school with great teachers regardless of their zip code. (I) fixed transportation, fixed the retirement system. And he cared about people; restoring of rights and prison re-entry and adoption and some other initiatives. I think if I leave and people think the campground is a little better four years later, then we would have been a success."
We also asked Gov. McDonnell what he plans to do after leaving the governor's mansion.
He says he'd like to continue public service, but at this time doesn't know what that will be.
