The gubernatorial election is ten months away, and the newest candidate to the race is stepping up his campaigning.

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe was in Harrisonburg Thursday morning to official announce his candidacy.

While at a town hall meeting, he discussed several topics including ways to fix the state budget. He wants to attract larger companies to the state, which he say will create jobs. He plans to create at least 10,000 jobs in his first year in office.

"I've created jobs my whole life," says McAuliffe. "I'm going to tell them why Virginia is the best place to do business. It's got a low tax base, and a business friendly climate. It's got the ocean, it's got the mountains, it's got great diversity."

The economy and green energy were also topics discussed.

McAuliffe explains, "If I can get all of my green initiatives passed through the legislature, 10,000 jobs is a drop in the bucket of what we can do."

He continued by saying that wind energy development could mean big bucks for the state.

"You literally could build a wind farm off the coast, 50 miles, the size of Virginia Beach, and you could literally light up 200,000 homes with that," says McAuliffe.

Wind turbines have been a hot-topic in the Valley, getting mixed reviews. However, McAuliffe says the Valley could benefit from them financially without putting them in our communities.

"There is a need for wind blades, turbines and towers all over the nation. Let's have the manufacturing plant here. I'm not saying we have to put them up, to be honest with you ,wind in Virginia is not great. It's not what you would call a wind state," says McAuliffe.

The former DNC chairman is facing two other Democratic candidates: state Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Brian Moran. He's also facing Republican Attorney General Bob McDonnell.