MARION, Va. (WJHL) — On Thursday afternoon, Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, visited Marion to engage with local small business owners about the potential advantages her campaign could offer them.

The gathering took place at the General Francis Marion Hotel located on East Main Street.

Joining Earle-Sears at the event was Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith.

A significant portion of Earle-Sears’ discussion centered on the prospects of investing in nuclear projects in Southwest Virginia. Back in July, the Virginia Department of Energy revealed its initiative to install a nuclear reactor in the area, with Wise County being the most likely location.

Earle-Sears emphasized that nuclear energy has the potential to create jobs in the region and serve as a catalyst for the state’s economic growth.

“Our goal is for you to thrive in Southwest Virginia,” she expressed. “Your success translates to Virginia’s success. If this program excels, we envision Southwest Virginia as a pivotal energy hub. This is where energy will originate. You’ll witness unprecedented job growth, and we’re putting in the effort to ensure it materializes. It must happen.”

Earle-Sears said her primary goal as governor is to lower taxes and eliminate both the car and gas taxes for Virginians.

“We have given you $9 billion of your own tax money back,” she said. “When the government takes your money, we’re picking who’s going to win and who’s going to lose and we’d create another program that there are already ten of. Half of them aren’t working right. That’s not the best use of your money. You spend it here. Businesses keep going because you’re going to buy here. Somebody’s going to be able to hire more people because you bought here. Then they will buy something over here at the bakery and because you bought at the bakery, then they hire somebody else.”

Earle-Sears touched briefly on the rise in housing prices, saying the best way to tackle them would be through zoning reform.

Earle-Sears said, if elected, she would like to establish a governor’s office in Southwest Virginia to stay in touch with those in the region. She said direct communication with the government is vital to a thriving Commonwealth.

“The only way I know to govern is to serve,” she said. “That’s why I want to keep hearing from you. I want to hear what’s ailing you. I want to know what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong. If we make sure we come back and ask you, ‘What are we doing right? What are we doing wrong?’ and we understand this thing called customer service, I think we’ll be on the right track.”

With just 12 days until Election Day, Earle-Sears’ opponent Abigail Spanberger leads in the polls by four points; however, Congressman Morgan Griffith said polls don’t always accurately predict an election outcome and expressed continued confidence in Earle-Sears.

“I worked with her in the Virginia House of Delegates way back when and served with her there,” he said. “She was a great delegate, and she doesn’t take any guff. She’s got a spine. She’s a leader, and she will be a great governor of Virginia.”

Election Day is Nov. 4.