For Release: Sept. 15, 2006
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: jtmartin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
Statement of Attorney General Bob McDonnell on Cecil Field Referendum Ruling
“This morning, a Florida Circuit Court blocked the proposed inclusion on the November ballot of a referendum question that, if passed, would have directed Jacksonville to turn over Cecil Field to the Department of Defense in order to comply with BRAC requirements for relocating the East Coast Master Jet Base from Oceana to Jacksonville. This decision is a victory for the Navy and for Virginia, particularly the communities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. While there is overwhelming support in the Commonwealth for retaining the Master Jet Base at Oceana, there is no such consensus in Florida. I will continue to be a determined advocate for the retention of the Master Jet Base at Oceana, and will take all appropriate legal steps to ensure that the facility remains in Virginia. This facility’s location in Virginia is vital for the nation’s security, and contributes greatly to the state’s economy.”
