Issues
Since June 15, I’ve knocked on over 4,000 doors in the 67th District. Thousands of voters have spoken to me at length and shared their specific concerns with the direction of our state government. You’ve also been kind enough to hear my thoughts on this subject and the issues I list below. I thank you for that.
The following are my beliefs regarding the political issues affecting most of us on a daily basis. While other politicians may couch their language in soft, floral, fuzzy tones which are meant to provide them some political cover when challenged, the voters in our district know that I reject that philosophy.
As your Delegate, you will often hear me speak of tough choices and difficult decisions. But that is the job for which you are hiring me –to make the tough choices and the difficult decisions.
I promise that you will always know where I stand and I ask that you stand with me. After 4,000 doors the following issues have, unsurprisingly, been raised most often: Transportation, Education and Social Issues. I’ll address them, initially. Over time I trust that our conversations will continue and you can return here to read more about the concerns you’ve raised and my approach to solving those problems.
TRANSPORTATION
To say that transportation in Northern Virginia is a serious problem is to make the understatement of this election year. I believe this problem impacts family life unfairly. We should be enjoying a normal dinner hour and leisure time with our children and neighbors. That extra time is invaluable, precious and already limited. In this respect, I believe traffic is a tax on family life.
However, an approach that requires borrowing into the future only ensures that our children will pay tomorrow for what we use today. I believe this is unacceptable and unfair to the next generation.
My priorities:
- Fight for our families and win Northern Virginia’s fair share of state highway funds. Overwhelmingly, the voters I’ve met in our district have asked that when I vote in the House of Delegates, I vote as a Northern Virginian first. I promise to do just that. To receive my support, I will insist that any legislation designed to address transportation needs ensures that Fairfax and Loudoun County will receive a greater allocation of state revenues due to our extraordinary needs and the rightful place we occupy as the economic engine of the Commonwealth. I will also insist that we prioritize the allocation of these funds to maintain our existing roads, reduce congestion and encourage alternative means of transportation. Most importantly, I will not support any legislation that borrows decades into the future, forcing our children to pay the taxes of higher interest rates that accompany such reckless borrowing.
- Telecommuting tax credit – Many of our district’s residents would prefer to spend more time with their children but still keep gainful employment. I’ve heard you. I will fight to expand incentives and outreach to companies and small businesses that allow employees to work from eligible worksites, including their home. This will reduce gridlock and strengthen families.
- Expand Rapid Transit– You’ve been told for quite some time that Metro and Public Transportation would improve and expand to meet the needs of Western Fairfax and Loudoun County. I will make every effort to work with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transport to pursue additional state funds to add new buses to meet growing demand. Further, I will fight for the extension of Metro’s Orange Line to Centreville. For too long, politicians have simply supported this in theory. More parking spaces at the Vienna Metro are not even a temporary solution. The demand for Metro access in Western Fairfax is strong and Metro brings jobs. I believe there is no excuse for delaying this project’s initiation any longer.
EDUCATION
Strengthening freedom requires a solid education that nurtures our young and instills an appreciation in them for this great country and the opportunities that await them. To do this, we must recognize where we need to improve our efforts. Our leaders tell us Fairfax County’s public schools are some of the best in the Nation. But over the past few years, according to one major national ranking, both Chantilly High School and Westfield High School have steadily been outpaced. I’ve heard your concerns and am also troubled by this trend:
While our student’s achievement in test scores and graduation rates reflect our commitment to educating the next generation of the Commonwealth, clearly we could be doing better. In order to reverse the trend of these national rankings, we must re-double our efforts to retain and recruit the best qualified teachers who can respond to the growing needs of our students.
- Recruiting and retaining teachers- Parents in the 67th District clearly agree that we have the best and brightest teaching our children. To ensure we continue to recruit and retain these educators, the financial incentives must match the living standards of our location. The voters I’ve spoken to have considered the costs of living in Northern Virginia and agree with me that educators should be better paid and provided the resources from both state and local government they need to succeed. .
- Class size- Parents have asked that their children receive the attention necessary to thrive in the classroom. I strongly advocate a reduction in class size. This will provide our students with more attention to their needs while expanding opportunities and increasing scores on Virginia’s Standard of Learning exams.
- Preschool- Parents of pre-school children know that learning doesn’t start in Kindergarten. I will vote in support of the needs of our preschool children and require all pre-school teachers be qualified to teach early childhood development classes. Many of the voters I’ve spoken to didn’t know that Fairfax County has 2,000 children on the subsidized child care wait list. I believe the state must address this discrepancy. We need to include better funding for the Virginia Preschool Initiative and Head Start.
- Wasteful spending- Teachers need the support of their administrators and staff. I, like many of you, favor the cutting of red tape, which will allow our educators to concentrate on our children and not a bureaucracy. Many of us also favor a disciplinary process that recognizes that when our children are interrogated by police officers on school grounds the school’s priority should be to protect the child’s best interests and ensure their constitutional rights are not abridged. Parents should be notified prior to any such interrogations and their demands regarding the ceasing of any such tactics should be scrupulously honored.
CHOICE
I believe that a woman’s right to determine her reproductive choices should be a hallmark of a country and a Commonwealth that values freedom and individual rights. I believe that a woman’s decision is between herself, her doctor, and her God. Since 2009, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and my opponent have worked together on legislation designed to callously remove this freedom. By voting for me, you will send a responsible, reasonable and thoughtful representative to Richmond who will stand up to the Cuccinelli-radical-right-wing agenda in support of freedom.
These are the most pressing issues I’ve heard about while on your porch steps. Of course, many other concerns exist and I promise to update this page continually as we engage each other in our neighborhoods. Your opinions matter greatly to me and a respectful, thoughtful dialogue will only strengthen our ability to resolve the problems facing our Commonwealth. Thank you.