Summary

VA House District 27

District Map (PDF)

Roxann Robinson

Current Position: State Delegate for VA House District 27 since 2010
Affiliation: Republican

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 27

For more information, see Roxann Robinson’s post.

Dr. Roxann Robinson is a highly respected optometrist and small business owner. For 30 years she owned and operated her optometric practice here in Chesterfield County. During that time she grew the practice from two employees to nine. A firm believer in helping others, Roxann is actively involved in many programs that improve our community’s quality of life. She has served as the Clinical Director of Opening Eyes, a program that provides vision exams to Special Olympic athletes. As a part of the Chesterfield business community, Dr. Robinson works with locals schools to insure that underprivileged children have the proper eyesight in order to see and learn. Roxann has served on the Board of Directors at the Manchester Family YMCA and is a member of her local Rotary club. Roxann and Michael Lind, her husband, have called Chesterfield home for 34 years.

Honors

• Owner of successful small business for over 30 years
• Past President: Virginia Optometric Association
• Past President: Virginia Academy of Optometry
• Clinical Director of Opening Eyes, a program that provides vision exams to Special Olympics participants
• Virginia Optometrist of the Year (2000)
• Appointed by Governor Gilmore to the Virginia Board of Optometry
• Has testified in front of the General Assembly regarding Optometric issues

“For 34 years I have been a self-employed optometrist. Chesterfield has been home since 1983. I have seen our community flourish during those years and have enjoyed the exceptional quality of life we experience in Chesterfield County. I understand the challenges facing our community and I will work diligently to preserve our quality of life. As a small healthcare business owner, I am well aware of how government red tape, regulations, and taxes are obstacles to business creation and expansion. I believe that creating new jobs, re-invigorating our workforce and giving the next generation the tools they need to be economically independent must be the top priority for the General Assembly. As your Delegate for the past seven years, I support ethics reforms and believe that we need transparency at every level of our government. We’ve made motions in the right direction, but I believe in continuing these reforms to protect your voice and ensure that the people’s work is done.

Larry Barnett

Current Position: Mental Health Support Services
Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 27

For more information, see Larry Barnett’s post.

Larry has a commitment to Chesterfield County that runs deep and has served our residents for three decades. As a leader with Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services, he developed and implemented innovative, caring, and effective programs for those affected by mental illness. He developed a reputation as a skilled collaborator and problem-solver who got things done. He was a key player in various projects that improved access to mental health and substance abuse services. These projects involved partnerships with schools, hospitals, advocacy groups, and law enforcement and other first responders.

With a proven record of improving the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents, Larry decided to continue his public service to Chesterfield by running for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 27th District. In 2017, he ran a spirited, grassroots campaign and finished surprisingly close as a first-time candidate, shocking many by coming within 128 votes of winning.

Larry’s hard work and intelligence, coupled with his open, collaborative, and caring spirit, showed voters that he was someone who would effectively represent them in the General Assembly. In 2019, he is bringing his talent and enthusiasm to bear as he runs again to represent the citizens of Chesterfield County.

Larry’s Coast Guard family provided him with a strong example of service. His family, like many in the military, moved around the US before planting roots in Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University before earning a master’s degree in Rehabilitative Counseling from VCU. He is a licensed professional counselor.

Larry and his wife Pat live in Midlothian. Their daughter Eileen attended Chesterfield public schools and now lives in Charlottesville.

Issues

Civil Rights

Roxann Robinson

Delegate Robinson promotes women’s issues and interests by supporting opportunities to which women can avail themselves. She created a resolution that made May Women’s Maternal Mental Health Month to help raise awareness for the psychological effects pregnancy, labor, and early childhood can have on a mother. Additionally, she supports reforms to protect young women on college campuses to ensure that places of learning aren’t hindered by concerns of sexual assault. She believes in balancing the rights of the victims and ensuring public safety at the institution

Larry Barnett

Equality

Throughout my career, I have worked with individuals from all walks of life, while listening to the issues that are important to our community. These experiences have strengthened my belief in equal treatment for all people, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, income level, or religious belief. Everyone in Virginia should have the opportunity to live, work, and fully participate in society without the fear of discrimination. I am a staunch supporter of the ERA and want to see the gender wage gap closed. My pledge to fight for equality for everyone has earned me the endorsements of the Virginia Chapter of the National Organization of Women and the LGBT Democrats of Virginia.

Economy

Roxann Robinson

Delegate Robinson believes that tax increases contribute to further hardship for taxpayers and should not be used as a one-step, fast solution. As your Delegate, she will work to limit government spending to reduce taxes on Virginia families and small businesses. She prioritizes a balanced budget and believes that it is more important to use funds appropriately rather than raising taxes.

Economic Opportunity

Having been a small business owner for thirty years, Delegate Robinson has a unique understanding of the day-to-day challenges faced by small business owners. Because of this, she does not support legislation that stifles hard-working business owners and instead promotes legislation that helps to expand small business. She knows that these family-owned businesses are the backbone to the economy in our community in Chesterfield.

Larry Barnett

Economic Development

I believe in the dignity of work and building an economy where all people have an equal opportunity to succeed. Virginia has low unemployment and is one of the best states in which to do business in the nation. Let’s keep it that way by making sure we have affordable housing, good job opportunities, and a healthy workforce. Local businesses are vital and contribute a great deal to our community. A well-trained and educated workforce will ensure that established businesses and new, innovative ventures will continue to expand and thrive, sustaining our local economy.

Education

Roxann Robinson

Education Reform

As a member of the Education Committee, Delegate Robinson is committed to ensuring that Chesterfield County’s public schools remains among the best in the Commonwealth. She believes that local school boards, not bureaucrats in Richmond, should be making decisions about their local schools. During the last two years, she has introduced legislation to repeal the Labor Day School Start Date law, commonly known as the Kings Dominion Law. The legislation, if passed, would allow local school districts the ability to choose when students go back to class. This past year she was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to serve on the SOL Innovation Committee which reviews and makes recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to improve Virginia’s SOLs. With her support, the General Assembly voted to reduce the number of SOL tests from 28 to 17.

Larry Barnett

I am a steadfast supporter of public schools and believe investing in our children is the best way to prepare for a better future. This starts with universal early childhood education. Most families want excellent public schools and hope their children have an equal opportunity to obtain a first-rate education. To recruit and retain top-notch teachers who can provide this education, we need to pay them well – at least at the national average. To maintain high quality schools, we need to lower student/teacher ratios and empower teachers to have greater classroom autonomy, while reducing the focus on standardized testing. A strong, vibrant public education system attracts families to Chesterfield, ensuring the future viability of our community, and helps to power our local economy with well-educated young people. My firm support for public education has earned me an endorsement from the Virginia Education Association.

Better Government

Roxann Robinson

Ethics Reform

Delegate Robinson supports honest and transparent government at every level. She voted for a $100 annual limit on all gifts to lawmakers, and the creation of a bipartisan body to advise lawmakers on ethical issues. Though these are steps in the right direction, she intends to support future efforts to increase government transparency accountability.

Democracy

Larry Barnett

Gerrymandering

Currently, elected representatives can choose their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives. I am a supporter of OneVirginia2021, a group that is working to create fair political boundaries in Virginia. I support an independent commission as the best alternative for providing voters with districts that are compact, contiguous, and fairly drawn.

Campaign Finance

I believe campaign finance regulations in Virginia need to be significantly improved. Our democratic process will be better served if candidates and representatives are prohibited from accepting campaign funds from corporate PACs. In addition, we can protect against undue influence on campaigns by capping individual donations at $10,000. Most importantly, I believe candidates and representatives should never be allowed to use campaign funds for personal use.

Environment

Larry Barnett

I have been endorsed by the Sierra Club for my position on safeguarding our clean air and water and protecting the environment for future generations. I will work tirelessly to protect and preserve Virginia’s valuable natural resources. I fully support the development of innovative, sustainable, and renewable energy and technology sources, such as solar and wind, that will enable Virginia to move toward a better future. I have pledged to not accept funds from Dominion or Appalachian Power to avoid the appearance of undue influence and focus on serving the people I represent.

Safety

Larry Barnett

Gun Violence Prevention

As a healthcare professional, I see gun violence as an epidemic and one of our top public health crises. I support common sense efforts to effectively reduce gun violence. This includes universal background checks whenever firearms are purchased and emergency protective orders that enable family members to temporarily remove firearms from loved ones during a crisis. I have been endorsed by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Public Safety

I believe people want to live in a safe community with well-trained police officers who respond with compassion and respect when there is an emergency. As the Chesterfield County Crisis Intervention Training Coordinator for many years, I helped plan, develop, and implement a cross-departmental initiative that equipped police officers, sheriffs, fire-fighters, 911 dispatch officers, and other emergency personnel with the skills to safely de-escalate and defuse situations when people are in crisis. My work has made me an even stronger proponent of our local law enforcement.

Summary

VA House District 66

District Map (PDF)

Kirkland Cox

Current Position: State Delegate for VA House District 66
Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 66

For more information, see Kirkland Cox’s post.

Kirk Cox was first elected from the 66th District to the House of Delegates in 1989. The 66th House District includes all of Colonial Heights and parts of Chesterfield. Kirk is proud to represent the very district where he grew up and graduated from High School. Following his graduation from Colonial Heights High School, he graduated from James Madison University where he holds a B.S. in both Political Science and General Social Science.

On January 10, 2018, Kirk was unanimously elected as Speaker of the House by the members of the House of Delegates. Upon being sworn in, Kirk became the first Speaker in state history from Colonial Heights, the first Speaker to represent a portion of Chesterfield County since the 1800s, and the first Speaker whose profession was that of a public school teacher.

Despite serving as Speaker of the House, Kirk’s priority has always been his hometown district. As Delegate Kirk is honored to represent many of the same students he taught in the classroom during a teaching career that spanned three decades. During the majority of his career, he would serve in Richmond during the day and work on teaching lesson plans at night. As a government teacher, Kirk always believed students learned best by being able to see first hand the workings of their government. Many times, Kirk would welcome his students to the Capitol so they could see first-hand representative democracy in action.

Kirk’s history as a teacher gives him a unique aspect about the job teachers perform everyday. That is why Kirk has fought to make sure teacher’s receive the pay they deserve, supporting 4 pay raises for teachers in the past 6 years, including a 5% raise in 2019.

Kirk works tirelessly to make Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, and all of Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family. In addition to championing a quality public education system, Kirk is also dedicated to improving veteran services, supporting citizens with disabilities, increasing economic development opportunities, and creating jobs.

Most important to Kirk is listening to what ideas and concerns are on the minds of the constituents he represents. He credits many of his major legislative successes to the suggestions made by constituents who he meets while knocking on doors in their community.

Just in 2019, Kirk championed legislation to lift the age cap on Autism related healthcare coverage, make our schools some of the safest in the nation, protect the unborn, take care of our veterans and their families, and provide tax relief to hard working middle class families.

Kirk lives in Colonial Heights with his wife, Julie. Colonial Heights is where they met while in High School, and later where they raised their four sons—Lane, Carter, Blake, and Cameron. The Coxes are members of The Heights Baptist Church where he serves as a Deacon. Kirk is active in the Colonial Heights community and previously coached youth baseball for 14 seasons.

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Current Position: Real Estate
Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 66

For more information, see Sheila Bynum-Coleman’s post.

Sheila is a proud lifelong resident of Chesterfield County. She is a #MomOnAMission to bring true representation to the people of District 66.

Sheila Bynum-Coleman is a native of Chesterfield County where she attended Monacan High School. Sheila received her B.A. from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sheila is a mother of five children, all of whom have attended Chesterfield Public Schools. A successful small business owner and community advocate, Sheila first got involved in politics once her delegate decided it wasn’t worth his time to discuss her child with special needs. Since then, she has made it her mission to advocate for improved school services for children with learning disabilities.

Sheila has also dealt with one of a parent’s worst nightmares: her daughter was shot in 2016. While she thankfully survived, Sheila is determined to ensure that as few families as possible in our community experience the trauma and grief of having a loved one affected by senseless gun violence.

But in many ways, Sheila is a Chesterfield success story. She has a background in real estate and construction, maintaining several successful small businesses. She was also appointed by former Governor Terry McAuliffe as the first African American woman to the Board of Contractors.

Sheila spends much of her free time teaching classes for first time home buyers, leading entrepreneurial development workshops, and coaching businesses on fiscal management. Sheila helps numerous organizations such as Veterans Helping Veterans, which supports our veterans in the Richmond Area.

Issues

Economy

Kirkland Cox

Creating Virginia Jobs

Kirk understands the vital importance of helping businesses create new jobs. As a Delegate, he works to help bring both new businesses and new jobs to the Commonwealth. In 2016, Kirk successfully carried legislation creating the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board (GO Virginia). This business-driven initiative facilitates greater collaboration between the business community, higher education, and local governments. By aligning the needs of the three segments, we will encourage the creation of good-paying jobs in high demand fields, and make economic development dollars go further. Overall, Kirk understands that the General Assembly must support legislation that will improve economic growth, create private sector jobs, and significantly decrease burdensome regulations on our small businesses.

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Virginia’s minimum wage has remained at $7.25 for years, despite the escalating cost of living — it’s literally a poverty wage for working single mothers. Juggling several jobs is not uncommon, in an effort to make ends meet. Sheila believes that if someone works 40 hours a week, they should be able to provide for their families, and she will work towards that goal

Education

Kirkland Cox

Promoting a World Class Education

As a retired public school teacher with 30 years of in-classroom experience and the father of four public school graduates, Kirk believes that a world-class education system is critical to growing Virginia’s economy. Kirk’s vision for K-12 education is rooted in increased accountability and encouraging innovation in the classroom. He supported increased funding targeted to classrooms—not school bureaucracy – and co-patroned legislation adding more school choice options and reducing the number of SOL tests. Kirk led the effort to fund teacher pay raises in the state budget in 2014 and 2017. Additionally, the state’s adopted budget sent 35% of lottery funds, or $191 million, back to local school divisions with no strings attached.

Increasing Access and Affordability to Higher Education

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Civil Rights

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Women’s Rights

Women’s rights are under attack in this country, and Virginia is no exception. It is crucial to win more seats in our state legislature. Bills affecting a woman’s right to choose will be on the ballot next year, and we must protect a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions.

Additionally, the Equal Rights Amendment needs only one more state to ratify it — another reason why we need to flip VA blue this November.

LGBTQ Rights

Sheila is strong support of LGBTQ rights here in Virginia. Equality is equality. Period. She believes that no one should be discriminated against because of their identity—especially in the workplace or at home. While the Republican leadership killed off a bill that enjoyed bipartisan support to ban discrimination, flipping VA blue will help move this issue forward.

Health Care

Kirkland Cox

Fighting the Heroin and Prescription Drug Crisis

The ongoing heroin and prescription drug crisis impacts families from all walks of life in all corners of our Commonwealth. In the House of Delegates, Kirk supported common sense legislation aimed at cracking down on pill mills and doctors that over prescribe. Kirk has observed the effects of heroin use first hand by visiting inmates in the Heroin Addiction and Recovery Program (HARP) started by Sheriff Karl Leonard at Chesterfield County Jail. During the 2017 session, Kirk successfully passed legislation to create a statewide pilot program for addiction recovery programs, modeled off HARP. Kirk will continue fighting the heroin and prescription drug crisis and support legislation meant to keep Virginians safe.

2019 Session – Healthcare
HB2247 Optometry, Board of; adds requirements for members. (Robinson-R-27) Adds to the requirements for the five licensed optometrist members of the Board of Optometry that they be individuals who at the time of appointment (i) have met all requirements for practice as an optometrist and are qualified to engage in the full scope of the practice of optometry and (ii) are actively engaged in the delivery of clinical care to patients for an average of at least 20 hours per week.
Status: Passed the House 98-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1970 Telemedicine services; payment and coverage of services. (Kilgore-R-1) Requires insurers, corporations, or health maintenance organizations to cover medically necessary remote patient monitoring services as part of their coverage of telemedicine services to the full extent that these services are available.
Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2260 Health insurance; catastrophic health plans. (Robinson-R-27) Authorizes health carriers to offer catastrophic plans on the individual market and to offer such plans to all individuals.
Status: Passed the House 51-Y, 48-N. Passed the Senate 27-Y, 11-N.

HB2538 Balance billing; emergency and elective services. (Ware-R-65) Requires a facility where a covered person receives scheduled elective services to post the required notice or inform the covered person of the required notice at the time of pre-admission or pre-registration.
Status: Passed the House 9-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2559 Electronic transmission of certain prescriptions; exceptions. (Pillion-R-4) Provides certain exceptions, effective July 1, 2020, to the requirement that any prescription for a controlled substance that contains an opioid be issued as an electronic prescription.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2639 Health care shared savings; incentive programs. (Byron-R-22) Requires health carriers to establish a comparable health care service incentive program under which savings are shared with a covered person who elects to receive a covered health care service from a lower-cost provider. Incentive payments are not required for savings of $25 or less.
Status:Passed the House 97-Y, 1-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1971 Health professions and facilities; adverse action in another jurisdiction. (Stolle-R-87) Provides that the mandatory suspension of a license, certificate, or registration of a health professional by the Director of the Department of Health Professions is not required when the license, certificate, or registration of a health professional is revoked, suspended, or surrendered in another jurisdiction based on disciplinary action or mandatory suspension in the Commonwealth.
Status: Passed by the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by the Governor.

HB1917 DOC; Director to establish health care continuous quality improvement committee. (Stolle-R-87) Requires the Director of the Department of Corrections to establish a health care continuous quality improvement committee, consisting of the Director and specified health care professionals employed by the Department.
Status: Passed the House 98-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y,0 -N.

HB2558 Medicaid recipients; treatment involving opioids or opioid replacements, payment. (Pillion-R-4) Prohibits health care providers licensed by the Board of Medicine from requesting or requiring a patient who is a recipient of medical assistance services pursuant to the state plan for medical assistance to pay out-of-pocket costs associated with the provision of service involving (i) the prescription of an opioid for the management of pain or (ii) the prescription of buprenorphine-containing products, methadone, or other opioid replacements approved for the treatment of opioid addiction by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medication-assisted treatment of opioid addiction.
Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1640 Health carriers; services provided by nurse practitioners. (Ransone-R-99) Requires health insurers and health services plan providers whose policies or contracts cover services that may be legally performed by licensed nurse practitioners to provide equal coverage for such services when rendered by a licensed nurse practitioner. The bill contains an enactment that exempts the measure from the requirement that the Health Insurance Reform Commission review any legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider. The bill has a delayed effective date of October 1, 2019.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2318 Naloxone; possession and administration by school nurses and local health department employees. (McGuire-R-56) Possession and administration of naloxone; school nurses; local health department employees. Adds school nurses, local health department employees that are assigned to a public school pursuant to an agreement between the local health department and school board, and other school board employees or individuals contracted by a school board to provide school health services, to the list of individuals who may possess and administer naloxone or other opioid antagonist, provided that they have completed a training program.
Status: Passed the House 95-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1952 Patient care team; podiatrists and physician assistants. (Campbell-R-6) Establishes the definition of “patient care team podiatrist” and amends the definition of “physician assistant.” The bill modifies the supervision requirements for physician assistants by establishing a patient care team model.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y 0-N. Passed Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by the Governor.

HB2126 Accident and sickness insurance; step therapy protocols. (Davis-R-84) Requires carriers issuing health benefit plans to utilize certain clinical review criteria to establish step therapy protocols. The measure establishes clinical review criteria used to establish such protocols and requires carriers to establish a process by which a patient or provider may seek a step therapy override exception determination.
Status:Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1682 Dental services; contracts between carriers and providers, PPO network arrangement, etc. (Ware – R – 65) Establishes limits on the ability of a health insurer or other person to sell or otherwise grant access, as provided in a dentist’s or oral surgeon’s provider contract, to a third-party carrier. Access as provided in a provider contract refers to the right to have dental services provided by the participating provider to the enrollees of the third-party carrier in accordance with the terms of a provider contract. The measure provides that such access may be granted only if it is expressly permitted by the provider contract and notice is given to the affected participating providers.
Status: Passed the House 98-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2169 Physician assistants; licensure by endorsement. (Thomas-R-28) Physician assistants; licensure by endorsement. Authorizes the Board of Medicine to issue a license by endorsement to an applicant for licensure as a physician assistant who (i) is the spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Commonwealth, (ii) holds current certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and (iii) holds a license as a physician assistant that is in good standing, or that is eligible for reinstatement if lapsed, under the laws of another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States possession or territory.
Status: Passed the House 96-Y, 0-N. Passed Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

Veterans

Kirkland Cox

Helping Our Veterans

A strong supporter of the military, veterans, and their families, Kirk has introduced over 120 pieces of legislation designed to make life easier for active duty military, veterans, and their families. Kirk worked tirelessly to fund the establishment of a veterans’ care center in Richmond and subsequent buildings and expansions in Salem, Prince William, and Hampton Roads. His efforts led to funding for the expansion of the Virginia War Memorial and its Paul & Phyllis Galanti Education Center. Kirk introduced legislation establishing the Wounded Warrior Program (now the Virginia Veteran & Family Support program) in Virginia to better assist service members with TBI and PTSD, as well as their families. To ensure veterans receive their earned benefits, he has fought to increase the number of authorized veterans’ claim officers and to invest in the development of the automated claims system that will lessen the time a claim takes.

Better Government

Kirkland Cox

Reducing Unnecessary Government Spending

Kirk believes strongly that government should focus on the core functions of government and must live within its means. Nowhere is this more evident than when he is working on the state budget. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a Budget Conferee, Kirk advocates for a balanced, responsible budget that does not raise taxes or fees on hardworking Virginians. Kirk believes in leading by example, and that means cutting spending within the legislature itself. Since 2010, the legislative branch returned over $19 million in savings to the state’s general fund. By focusing on passing conservative, responsible, and balanced budgets, Kirk’s leadership has placed Virginia in a position to move forward.

Safety

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Gun Violence

We need common sense gun laws, including universal background checks, and surveys confirm that most voters support such legislation. Sheila’s daughter was shot while attending a house party. Fortunately, her daughter survived, but this experience has made Sheila a vocal champion for gun safety laws in the commonwealth

Criminal Justice Reform

The criminal justice system is inherently unjust and is not doing the job for which it was intended. The system leads to the incarceration of far too many, particularly for drug crimes. People of every race use illegal drugs at similar rates, yet African-Americans are far more likely to be imprisoned than whites. African-Americans are 3-4 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes and six to ten times more likely to be imprisoned. Additionally, our legislature has shown no interest in helping inmates successfully reintegrate into our communities and productively contribute to society. Nor are they interested in restoring the constitutional right to vote to felons who have done their time.

Summary

VA House District 68

District Map (PDF)

Dawn Adams

Current Position: State Delegate for VA House District 68 since 2018
Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 68

For more information, see Dawn Adams’s post.

Garrison Coward

Current Position: Chief Operating Officer of BizCents
Affiliation: Republican

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 68

For more information, see Garrison Coward’s post.

Garrison R. Coward, is a native of Richmond, Virginia (born at St. Mary’s Hospital), and a proud product of Henrico County’s Short Pump Middle School and J.R. Tucker High School.  He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College ‘12, with a degree in Economics; The George Washington University ‘17, with a Master’s degree in Political Management; and is currently seeking his MBA from The George Washington University’s School of Business.

Garrison is the Chief Operating Officer of BizCents, a local data analytics firm.  He served as a political advisor to Congressman Rob Wittman, and as Campaign Manager from 2015-2018.  He is the Executive Director of the Conservative Professionals Network, which aims to engage a new generation of center-right thinkers on public-policy matters.  Prior to joining Congressman Wittman, Garrison served as Political Director and Deputy Director of Minority Engagement for the Republican Party of Virginia.

In 2016, he was elected a Delegate to the RNC Convention from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.

Garrison enjoys reading, travelling, and playing basketball.  He serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors at the Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation, the YMCA of Greater Richmond Millennial Initiative, and on the Board of Directors of the Richmond-based company BizCents. Garrison is a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of the Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union.

Issues

Economy

Dawn Adams

In Virginia, we are fortunate to have a relatively low unemployment rate. Yet,there is still work to be done to create more jobs that enrich individuals, families, and communities.  The growth, incentivization, and development of small business are a few ways to create more jobs. We need Dawn’s demonstrated ability to work across the aisle to develop other workforce solutions that will also reduce the demands for more healthcare workers, rebuild our crumbling transportation and educational infrastructure, install state-wide broadband, and operationalize energy alternatives to meet our persistent dependence on carbon fuel through solar and wind power installation.

Garrison Coward

Health Care

Dawn Adams

Garrison Coward

Virginia should focus on providing better and more affordable healthcare for everyone.
We should make it easier for:

• Doctors and patients to be in control of their own healthcare decisions based on their needs, budgets, and wants
• Examine prescription drug pricing policies
• People with preexisting conditions to obtain and maintain coverage
• Young people to stay on parent’s plans
• More access to care through new technologies such as telemedicine
• Recovery programs to seek and obtain funding to treat addiction

Education

Dawn Adams

All kids deserve a good education. Education is the foundation from which children can dream and young people can aspire to be the person they were meant to become. Strong public school education creates strong adults. Teachers and the supportive infrastructure to address the increasing demands and pressures impacting our youth today are critical to their success or failure as students. Additionally high school graduates deserve affordable options for post-secondary school and when qualified, guaranteed admission to Virginia State schools. We need Dawn’s academic insight and ideas to make this a reality. Dawn will continue to fight for the cost-effective solutions that will maximize every opportunity for our children.

Garrison Coward

Good quality of life starts with a good education. Children deserve the right to a quality education regardless of their zip code, period.

In Virginia we need to:

• Protect our teachers by ensuring competitive pay
• Empower parents by giving them additional viable options for their children’s education like public charters
• Allow students to explore career fields in middle school to pique career interest earlier in order to prepare for future career and educational choices
• Remove politics from our schools and focus on our children’s  education

Better Government

Dawn Adams

Virginia is a Balanced Budget state. This means that it is required by law that we balance the budget, and not because any one party has decided to be more financially responsible. The real question regarding the budget is how are we spending the money and collecting the revenue to prepare for the Commonwealths priorities? Dawn gets it, and her peers within the General Assembly know it. She is well aware of the General Assembly’s responsibility to be good stewards of our State’s funds and has submitted several pieces of legislation toward that end.

Garrison Coward

Government Accountability
Virginia should be run like a business.  Voters should be seen as the Board of Directors and politicians our employees.

As such:

• Politicians should be held accountable and to the same standards as everyone else
• The government should operate as efficiently and effectively as possible
• We should examine ways to control conflicts of interest

Environment

Dawn Adams

Virginia is home to the pristine splendor of our mountains, green forests, expansive ocean, and beautiful array of lakes, streams, and rivers. In our District (68th), the James River runs right through our backyards. We can do more to keep this scenic resource clean and open for recreation and ensure that the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways are safe and protected for generations to come.  As a member of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, Dawn understands thatprotecting these resources makes sense for our children, families, and Virginia.

Safety

Garrison Coward

We need to make sure that our communities stay safe. Henrico, Richmond, and Chesterfield have law enforcement and first responders that are second to none.

We need to do our part by:

• Addressing road safety by ensuring that resources are being used to help with roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure issues that have caused tragedies especially in places like Midlothian, the West End, Fan and Monument District(s)
• Providing law enforcement officers with the resources to curb street crime
• Encourage a meaningful community dialogue surrounding criminal justice reform

Summary

VA House District 72

District Map (PDF) 

GayDonna Vandergriff

Current Position: Business and nonprofits
Affiliation: Republican

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 72

For more information, see GayDonna Vandergriff’s post.

GayDonna is an educator, community leader, and mother who will take common sense Henrico values to the General Assembly.

Born and raised in Virginia, GayDonna Vandergriff is a first-generation college graduate and learned early on the power of public education to change someone’s life. GayDonna has been married to John, her sweetheart since 4th grade, for 27 years. Their two daughters, Abby and Shelby, are both graduates of Glen Allen High School and are Virginia Tech Hokies.

Keeping Henrico Strong
GayDonna has invested over twenty years encouraging knowledge and strong education through her service promoting literacy as Chairman of the Henrico Library Advisory Board and President of the Friends of the Glen Allen Library. She currently serves the broader community as the Brookland District Representative on the Henrico Area Mental Health and Development Services Board. GayDonna has further invested in Henrico’s next generation of leaders by serving as a substitute teacher at Glen Allen Elementary School, teaching university classes, and serving on multiple PTA boards in Henrico County Public Schools. Now, GayDonna wants to continue her service to the citizens of Henrico as your Delegate for State House District 72.

Smart Solutions for Henrico
GayDonna’s MBA and experience in business and nonprofits has equipped her with the necessary skills to negotiate competing needs in a way that will provide for the common good of Henrico citizens.  Her commitment to the needs of the people of Henrico ensures she will prioritize common sense solutions within our means, demanding the best use of our tax dollars, and leading with smarter, more efficient solutions to our challenges.

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Current Position: State Delegate for VA House District 72 since 2018
Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 72

For more information, see Schuyler VanValkenburg’s post.

Issues

Civil Rights

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Equality
Virginia should be a bold symbol of the American value of egalitarianism.  Every person, regardless of religion, sexuality, gender, or race should have the same rights, opportunities, and social status as everyone else.  Period. I have and will push back against anti-LGBTQ legislation from bathroom bills to protections for conversion therapy. I also stand with criminal justice reformers – for example, I was part of the effort to raise the cap on felony crimes in Virginia and reduce the number of minor crimes (like stealing an iPod) being prosecuted as felonies. Virginia has a long way to go one women’s rights, too – I voted for the Equal Rights Amendment and spoke in its defense in one of the speeches I was most proud to make on the floor all year in 2019. I was also a vote against gender-discriminatory products like imposing taxes on necessities like femine hygenie products. Virginia still needs to make progress to close the wage gap and fight against gender discrimination in the workplace.

GayDonna Vandergriff

Religious Freedom Matters
Religious liberty is one of the cornerstones of our founding and our laws dictate a separation of church and state. My faith is extremely important to me and I believe in openness and tolerance for others to worship as they choose.

Economy

Schuyler VanValkenburg

I believe in creating an economic environment that creates opportunity for all. In the past two years, I have sponsored and worked on legislation that would give Virginians more opportunities to engage in apprenticeship programs and job training, eliminate the use of non-compete clauses to restrict the opportunities of low-income workers, and prevent people from losing professional licenses for unpaid student debt.  Virginia’s prosperity is remarkable – we have some of the lowest unemployment and highest income to cost of living rates in the nation – but we must make sure it is accessible to everyone. The more people participate in our commonwealth’s economy, the better off we are.

GayDonna Vandergriff

My roots are humble. My father left school after seventh grade because his parents literally couldn’t afford to buy him shoes. Still, he persevered with pride and hard work. He had a blue-collar job to deliver bread to the grocery stores. Everyone knew my dad as the Rainbo bread man. His name is Charles and he wore it proudly on a patch sewn to his work shirts which my mom stood and ironed every Sunday for 40 years. His job taught my sisters and I the value of hard work and it kept the importance of community as a daily part of our lives. Sadly, though, those jobs and others started disappearing and families like mine were out of work and eventually out of options. Businesses closed and my generation had to leave to find work.

A priority of the state government must be to create an environment that supports business growth in the Commonwealth. We should start with limiting regulations and supporting policies that create the best possible economic environment for Virginia. My MBA and business experience will be a true asset. I have taught business courses at the college level at Strayer University, I have 6 years of retail experience, and I have advised small businesses for over a decade. This knowledge is truly needed at the General Assembly.

Education

Schuyler VanValkenburg

I am one of the few teachers in the General Assembly, and my thirteen year career in teaching has shown me first hand the need for adequate support for our school systems from the state.  This is particularly true when it comes to student safety, and I served on a special commission for student safety in the wake of the Parkland shootings which made significant bipartisan progress.  One such area that was particularly valueable was an increase in the budget for school counseling staff and the implementation of a 1:250 counselor:student ratio, which I was proud to fight specifically for in the 2019 session of the legislature.  I also was part of a bipartisan move to give schools more control over their own calendars and remove the influence of special interest tourism industry lobbies from our school calendars.

But there is still so much more to do to improve our state’s education system.  Virginia remains one of the worst states in the nation for college affordability, our schools are funded almost 10% less per student by the state now than they were in 2008, leaving localities holding the bag, and our SOL testing system is a burden on schools, students, and parents.  As an educator and parent, improving Virginian’s access to educational opportunity from pre-school to trade school as the basis for prosperity and equality is my greatest passion.

GayDonna Vandergrif

Public Education Matters
My education is 100% public education kindergarten through MBA. My daughters are both 100% public educated at Henrico County Public Schools and Virginia Tech. My husband’s education is also 100% public. If not for public education, my family would have no education.

Personally, I have experienced Virginia’s public education system as a student, parent, classroom volunteer, PTA President, and substitute teacher. I am proud to have served the Henrico County Public Schools community through numerous positions for 15 years. As a parent advocate and PTA leader, I am most proud of my efforts to have Henrico invest in its older school facilities. My work led to the renovation of Brookland Middle School and much needed repairs and improvements at Henrico’s other older schools. The benefits of this work are still being seen today with the decision to build new schools to replace Tucker High School and Highland Springs High Schools.

I am also a tireless advocate for reducing classroom sizes and replacing trailers with permanent classrooms. Twice recognized as an HCPS PTA volunteer of the year, Brookland Middle School and Hungary Creek Middle School, I also served on the Parent Advisory Committee at Glen Allen High School. I understand what support our Henrico schools need from the Commonwealth.

Thankfully, more discussions are being had about public education funding. Our K-12 teachers absolutely need a raise. Our schools absolutely need increased funding. However, money alone isn’t enough to address the problems inside our classrooms. We have to focus on teaching not testing. We have to focus on the greater needs of the classroom as a whole for all of our students, teachers, and parents. We can and we must do this.

Higher Education Matters

I worked my way through school. First, starting at Mountain Empire Community College, then UVA-Wise and finally graduating from an Historically Black College and University—West Virginia State. After my husband and I moved to Henrico for his job, I went back to school at night while raising our daughters and earned my MBA from VCU. In one generation, through hard work and determination, my family made it from a seventh-grade education to an MBA and now to a candidate for the House of Delegates.

In total, it took me 15 years to earn my college degrees and I am still paying my students loans 17 years later. One of the things I worry about the most is that a young person of very modest means, like I was, can no longer do what I did. It gets harder and harder to work to put oneself through college. This reality is one which Virginia must face. Thankfully, conversations have begun in Virginia. Actions are needed to restore state funding to pre-recession levels. Still, we must also act to ensure these dollars are spent wisely. As your delegate, I will support approaches of affordability for Virginia residents with a return to core academics rather than expensive non-academic services.

Technical Education Matters

One of the issues contributing to the student loan crisis is the belief that all of our children need a college education to be successful. This is simply not true. There are many paths forward. My father-in-law is a master electrician who provided well for his family without a college degree. Educating students early about alternatives to college and working with local businesses to modify curriculums will better prepare our students to make better fitting career choices. The quickest way to reduce the student loan debt burden is to help students understand that not all paths forward require a college degree.

Literacy and Libraries Matter

One of the key ways I closed the economic gap in my own journey was through the free resources available at my local library. As a child, I was an avid reader and learned so much about other people and opportunities. As an adult, I have given back to the library community and literacy by serving as an appointee to the Henrico County Library Advisory Board.

I am proud to have advocated for the expansion of Henrico’s library system. During my tenure on the Library Advisory Board and while serving as Chair, I advocated for the construction of the Tuckahoe, Twin Hickory, Varina, Libbie Mill and Fairfield Libraries along with the renovation of the Gayton Library and the expansion of the Glen Allen Library. As the President of the Friends of the Glen Allen Library, I have worked tirelessly to raise funds through book sales to support the Summer Reading program and the All Henrico Reads initiative, both of which provide for the greater public benefit of literacy.

Health Care

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Virginia has achieved one of the most important goals I fought for in my first campaign for office: an expansion of our Medicaid program, with federal subsidy, to more than 200,000 additional low-income Virginians.  Health is the basis of everything – without affordable healthcare, a good job and educational opportunities are often out of reach – and so expanding Medicaid was a crucial milestone.

There are new challenges, though.  Virginia continues to wrestle with its opioid epidemic, and I am a strong advocate of adopting a public-health approach to our drug problems rather than a primarily criminal one.  Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the nation, and their health needs are special – we must make sure Virginia can pick up some of the care and attention our state’s veterans need and which the national V.A. doesn’t always provide.  Finally, the gap in healthcare between the rural and poor parts of our community and the wealthier ones is still staggering, and health infrastructure investment and concentrated programs must supplement Medicaid expansion in those areas of the state.

GayDonna Vandergrif

The debate about healthcare in this country has focused too much on who supplies what type of health insurance and not enough on the well-being of the patient. The well-being for all Virginians should always be our top priority. This starts with addressing rising costs of treatment and prescriptions while maintaining coverage for pre-existing conditions. We must also protect our system of quality care which provides the latest and best treatments in the world.

We need to continue to find free market solutions to our challenges that keep patients in control of their healthcare decisions. Medical spending accounts, buying insurance based on needs, lowering the barriers to introduce new drugs, safety nets for pre-existing conditions and minimizing the frivolous lawsuits that drive costs up for medical treatments are among the things I would support.

Infrastructure

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Virginia’s state government can do more to help its counties and cities build infrastructure, fund crucial projects, and strengthen local programs on the ground.  I’ll work to ensure that the Richmond metropolitan region has the funding and communication necessary to promote our economy. From revitalizing Lakeside Avenue to fixing Sadler Road traffic by working with local planning authorities to mass transit planning like the GRTC pulse, shared growth and prosperity is key to Henrico and the region’s future

Democracy and Civic Engagement

Schuyler VanValkenburg

As a teacher, I have seen the transformative power of knowledge and democratic engagement.  But Virginia’s laws as they currently stand don’t give our citizens enough ways to engage their government effectively.   I was proud to help start the process of gerrymandering reform by voting for the first stage of an independent redistricting commission amendment in 2019, but that commission will need additional stages and implementing legislation which we must follow through on by doing thing s like banning the use of partisan data in the commission process, for example.

We need to make voter registration more accessible, reform and extend voting times and precinct efficiency, and make absentee and early voting easier.  Many populations with burdens on their time and ability to get to physical polling places, from college students to the elderly to those with high-travel jobs, are badly punished by Virginia’s current inflexible systems of voting.

Better Government

GayDonna Vandergrif

Smart Financial Decisions Matter
State government should be a good steward of your tax dollars and not take a single dollar out of your paycheck that isn’t absolutely necessary. Just as with your own family budget, decisions about state spending need to be analyzed using a cost to benefit ratio. As our delegate, I will question if your dollars are being wisely spent. I know how hard you work to earn them. I will work just as hard to make sure you get to keep them.

My husband and I started our family with a household budget at the poverty level. We learned how to stretch a dollar and how to do without. By law, Virginia is required to have a balanced budget. There are no credit cards and no loans. We must accept that government cannot and should not provide all things. Choices must be made to yield the greatest good from the dollars spent. The ability to prioritize and spend efficiently is a must. Those are skills my personal journey has sharpened.

Environment

GayDonna Vandergrif

Being from the mountains of Virginia, I never had to look far to see the natural beauty this state enjoys. My childhood was spent outdoors enjoying the mountains and rivers. We were taught that each of us has a personal obligation to protect the environment. My grandfather was a farmer and the family grew much of what we ate. I truly understand the need for sound environmental policies. As your delegate, I will advocate for Virginia’s land, water, and air.

Veterans

GayDonna Vandergrif

Summary

VA House District 73

District Map (PDF)

Rodney Willett

Current Position: Vice President, Impact Makers
Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 73

For more information, see Rodney Willett’s post.

RODNEY’S VIRGINIA ROOTS
A Virginia native who grew up in a family of teachers, Rodney has dedicated his career to public service. Rodney attended Virginia’s oldest university – The College of William and Mary – where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees, and where he was instrumental in founding the Pulley Family Endowment, which supports public service work by students.

As an attorney, Rodney represented local governments in Virginia, where he learned firsthand what good governance can look like and the positive impact it can bring to working families. He was also instrumental in establishing and expanding free legal assistance programs while running his practice.

CREATING CHANGE
In the late 90’s, Rodney saw the potential for technology to transform government, and created Virginia Interactive, where he led a public/private partnership with the Commonwealth to move information and citizen/business services online, helping put Virginia at the forefront of the online revolution.

Rodney has continued this work with his current company, Impact Makers. Impact Makers’ “all profits to charity” model has led the company to contribute nearly $3 million in financial and pro bono support to nonprofits that help families facing health care, education and housing issues.

Rodney is running for the House of Delegates because he wants to put his exceptional experience to work advocating for the interests of everyone in his home district, the 73rd.

LEADING WITH EXPERIENCE
Rodney lives in Henrico with his wife, Lydia, an attorney and fellow W&M graduate. They have three children – a middle school teacher, a college student at UVA, and a high school student.

Rodney chairs the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance and champions its early learning through arts program for kids. He also serves on the board of Rx Partnership, which provides free or low-cost prescription medication fulfillment to uninsured Virginians. As a member of Virginia’s Children’s Health Insurance Advisory Board, Rodney has fought to endure the continuation of life-saving healthcare coverage for kids.

Rodney’s work has had a positive impact on all Virginians. It’s time to put that experience to work for Henrico.

Mary Margaret Kastelberg

Current Position: Retired, Business Executive
Affiliation: Republican

Candidate: 2019 State Delegate VA House District 73

For more information, see Mary Margaret Kastelberg’s post.

Mary Margaret Kastelberg was born on the Fourth of July in 1963, in Richmond, Virginia to Bill and Dorothy Smithers, an attorney and former school teacher. As the third of four children, she grew up in an active household in Henrico. Her family was involved in St. Mary’s parish, often volunteering at bingo nights, spaghetti suppers and basketball games.

Mary Margaret graduated as valedictorian from St. Catherine’s School in Richmond in 1981, and headed to Princeton University that fall.

While at Princeton, Mary Margaret had a full schedule of studies, sports, work and interest groups. Having never before “rowed”, with grit and sheer determination she worked her way into the “first boat” of the Freshman Crew. She later joined the rugby team where she finished her senior year as captain. In addition to making time for sports, Mary Margaret worked in food services and the Alumni Council all four years before graduating in 1985.

After college, Mary Margaret headed directly to the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business where she graduated in 1987, with an MBA concentrating in Finance.

Following UVA, she accepted a position at Ryland Acceptance Corporation as a financial analyst in Richmond. She worked in various roles during her tenure and eventually left the company as a Senior Vice President. Her financial experience led her to accept a position at a small and growing investment banking firm in Richmond, Ewing Monroe & Co., where she expanded her knowledge of finance and capital structures as well as business management.

Though she had always been active in alumni activities, in 1989 Mary Margaret began what would become an expanding list of community outreach by first partnering with Richmond’s Big Brother Big Sister Program.

Mary Margaret (Smithers) married Eugene Kastelberg at Richmond’s Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in 1995. In four years, the family doubled with the arrival of Bridget in 1997 and of Gene III 1999.

Mary Margaret stepped back from the corporate world and balanced working part-time and the demands of caring for family, both young and old.​

Like many moms, she could be found volunteering at her children’s school, coaching soccer games and volunteering at St. Bridget Church.

Mary Margaret joined the board of Commonwealth Catholic Charities in 2006, serving as the chair from November 2015-March 2018. She was drawn to the mission of the organization to serve the most vulnerable in our community, regardless of faith. The entire family has supported the Little Sisters of the Poor over many decades and especially looks forward to prepping for and working at the annual French Food Festival.

After years of car-pool, football and softball games, and many recitals, Mary Margaret and Gene are excited to have two Hokies in the house. They continue to work in their respective fields (business and medicine), but look forward to visits to Blacksburg.

Issues

Economy

Rodney Willett

Henrico and the Greater Richmond area are engines for economic development.  Rodney wants to preserve and grow that engine by applying smart policies that help eliminate red tape and minimize bureaucracy for businesses. His expertise in using technology to help streamline government will be put to work creating good jobs in Henrico and developing retraining programs for workers who need new job skills. Rodney also believes in equal pay for equal work, and will work to raise the minimum wage so Virginia workers can support their families.

Mary Margaret Kastelberg

Improve Quality of Life
Henrico is one of the best places to live in Virginia, and Mary Margaret believes there are opportunities to continue improving the quality of life for our citizens. To accomplish this, Mary Margaret believes:

1. Henrico must remain “open for business” and sustain an environment that is welcoming to entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes. This business-friendly environment will spur job opportunities across all fields.

2. State and local leaders must work together to manage growth and ensure proper planning continues in Henrico. Mary Margaret will work with leaders across the aisle to manage growth and ensure common concerns such as school overcrowding and transportation safety are addressed as we continue to grow.

3. Our children should never feel unsafe in our community whether on the playground or online. As a mother of two, Mary Margaret is committed to ensuring our law enforcement agencies are given all of the tools that they need to protect families.

Education

Rodney Willett

Rodney believes strongly in public education and will advocate for more and better funding for schools, including support for sufficient counseling resources, and hiring the best and brightest teachers by paying them fair wages. Studies have shown that children who receive early childhood education are more likely to succeed later in life. Early investments result in the biggest impact. Rodney supports universal Pre-K enrollment for all Virginia kids. Investing in education isn’t just the smart thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.

Mary Margaret Kastelberg

Improve Henrico Schools
Henrico County schools are one of our region’s greatest resources, and our state universities are consistently ranked among the best in the nation.  Mary Margaret is committed to working with local schools, colleges and businesses so students graduate from high school and either enter the workforce skills-ready or continue their education without accumulating crippling student debt.

To keep our schools strong, we need to invest in recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers. Our assessments of students, teachers, and schools should be relevant and measure progress against appropriate benchmarks. Mary Margaret will look at opportunities for schools to partner with non-profit organizations to support students in a variety of areas including mentoring and reading.

A cookie-cutter approach to education does not work. Mary Margaret recognizes that different students have different needs and having an array of educational options enhances our ability to meet those needs.

In addition, Mary Margaret feels we must avoid adding more burdensome mandates, which often result in unintended and undesirable consequences. Trusting local school districts with greater discretion in scheduling and staffing, with appropriate oversight, can relieve budget pressures while maintaining adherence to approved and uniform standards.

Mary Margaret believes that by bringing educators, families, businesses and community groups together, we can create the best outcomes for students.

Health Care

Rodney Willett

AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
Nothing hurts a family more than a loved one experiencing a healthcare nightmare – and not being able to pay the bill. Rodney believes every Virginian deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare that covers pre-existing and chronic conditions. Medicaid expansion was a good start, but still too many Virginians lack reliable health care at reasonable costs. Prescription drugs must be affordable: No one should ever have to choose between a meal and medication. But that’s not all – Rodney is also advocating that Virginia put more funding into mental health care and addiction treatment, to help keep the most disadvantaged Virginians from falling through the cracks.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
Rodney is proud to be on the board of Rx Partnership, which has helped more than 12,000 uninsured Virginians obtain 60,000 needed prescriptions in the past 12 months alone. Rodney believes that no one should ever have to choose between a meal and medicine. His own experiences with his aging parents and their steep monthly medication costs have led him to be active on this issue. Public/private partnerships hold the key to solving this pervasive problem, and Rodney is an expert at establishing those initiatives.

WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE
Rodney trusts women. He believes they must have the ability to make their own decisions, in consultation with their doctors, about their bodies. He supports a woman’s right to choose and access to affordable contraception. He will fight to ensure that Republicans do not roll back these vital protections and make it harder for women to get the healthcare they need.

Mary Margaret Kastelberg

Safety

Rodney Willett

Guns
Almost all of us remember where we were when we heard about the Virginia Tech shooting. Too many preventable gun-related tragedies have unfolded in our Commonwealth. Common sense gun safety measures are not a political issue, they’re a public health issue. Establishing universal background checks is a proven way to keep guns away from violent criminals and potential terrorists. Rodney will advocate for legislation that keeps guns from domestic abusers, protecting our families. Rodney will support red flag laws so that those who present an immediate danger to themselves or others can have firearms temporarily removed. Rodney will fight for bipartisan gun safety laws in the House of Delegates. He will not settle for continued inaction.

Mary Margaret Kastelberg

Our children should never feel unsafe in our community whether on the playground or online. As a mother of two, Mary Margaret is committed to ensuring our law enforcement agencies are given all of the tools that they need to protect families.

Civil Rights

Rodney Willett

Businesses around the country know they can invest in Virginia because we have successfully fought back efforts to codify discrimination. If we want to continue attracting companies that bring good-paying jobs and good corporate partnerships, we need laws that protect the rights of all our citizens. Rodney’s core principle is that ALL Virginians deserve equal opportunity, justice and fairness, no matter their skin color, ethnicity, faith, country of origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. He will actively fight prejudice, bigotry and discrimination, which includes advocating for passing the ERA to give women long overdue constitutional protections.

Environment

Rodney Willett

Rodney believes climate change is real. As a coastal state, Virginia is threatened by rising sea levels, which will ruin communities, homes and livelihoods while menacing our military installations. Severe and dangerous weather events are becoming more common and more dangerous. Rodney will work in the General Assembly to take concrete steps to move to renewable energy sources.  As an outdoorsman and hiker, Rodney also values our unique public lands and iconic waterways, such as Shenandoah National Park, and he will ensure they are protected from harmful development.