District Description: County of Chesterfield (part)
Current Delegate: Roxann Robinson since 2010 (R)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

“Another rematch from 2017. Barnett, a licensed counselor, came within 124 votes of beating Robinson, an optometrist who has represented the district since 2010. Democrats say they’re enthusiastic about his chances this year. As in Hugo’s case, Republicans note that if Barnett couldn’t off Robinson during a historic, anti-Trump wave, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to do it this year, when turnout is muted with no statewide candidates anchoring the top of the ticket.”

Summary

District Description: County of Chesterfield (part)
Current Delegate: Roxann Robinson since 2010 (R)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

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.

VA House 66 – 2019

District Description: County of Chesterfield (part); City of Colonial Heights
Current Delegate: Kirk Cox since 1990 (R)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

“Cox, the Republican speaker of the House, saw his district shift under the court-ordered redistricting plan from a seat in which Republicans had a 25.5 point advantage to a seat in which Democrats now hold a 6.5 point advantage (again, as calculated based on 2012 presidential election results). But a win for Democrats is far from a sure thing. Cox is well known from years of representing the area and has access to a massive $788,000 fundraising haul, which in typical years he’d use to boost other Republicans in tight races but is already tapping into to blanket the airwaves with television ads.”

Summary

District Description: County of Chesterfield (part); City of Colonial Heights
Current Delegate: Kirk Cox since 1990 (R)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

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.

2019 Session – Small Business

HB2440 Intangible personal property; classification and exemption of certain business property. (Campbell, R.-R-24) Classifies as intangible property, and exempts from taxation, personal property that is employed in a trade or business, has an original cost of less than $25, and is not classified as machinery and tools, merchants’ capital, or short-term rental property. Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 1-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. HB2197 Summary judgment; limited use of discovery depositions and affidavits. (Gilbert-R-15) Allows for the limited use of discovery depositions and affidavits in support of or in opposition to a motion for summary judgment, provided that the only parties to the action are business entities and the amount at issue is $50,000 or more.
Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate (25-Y, 15-N). Signed into law by Governor.

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.

2019 Session – Education & School Safety

HB1729 Guidance counselors; changes name to school counselors, staff time. (Landes-R-25) School counselors; nomenclature; staff time. Changes the name of guidance counselors to school counselors and requires each school counselor employed by a school board in a public elementary or secondary school to spend at least 80 percent of his staff time during normal school hours in the direct counseling of individual students or groups of students.
Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by Governor.

HB2018 Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide; Bd of Education shall review and revise. (Peace-R-97) Board of Education; Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide. Requires the Board of Education to review and revise, in consultation with certain stakeholders and no later than December 1, 2019, its Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide to expand the opportunities available for students to earn credit for graduation through high-quality work-based learning experiences such as job shadowing, mentorships, internships, and externships.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by Governor.

HB2014 Family First Prevention Services Act; statutory alignment. (Peace-R-97) Family First Prevention Services Act; statutory alignment. Aligns the Code of Virginia with the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018. The bill contains an emergency clause for provisions of the bill relating to background checks for employees of, volunteers at, and contractors providing services to juveniles at children’s residential facilities.
Status: Passed the House 93-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1930 Concussions in student-athletes; guidelines, policies, and procedures shall be biennially updated. (Richard P. Bell-R-20) Concussions in student-athletes; guidelines, policies, and procedures. Requires (i) the Board of Education to collaborate with various stakeholders to biennially update its guidelines on policies to inform and educate coaches, student-athletes, and student-athletes’ parents or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions, criteria for removal from and return to play, risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to play, and the effects of concussions on student-athletes’ academic performance and (ii) each local school division to biennially update its policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes.
Status:Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by Governor.

HB1734 Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; threat assessment, case management tool. (Marshall -R-14) Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; threat assessment; case management tool. Requires the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety to develop a case management tool for use by public elementary and secondary school threat assessment teams and requires such threat assessment teams to use such tool to collect and report to the Center quantitative data on its activities.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2449 Scholastic records; disclosure of directory information. (Wilt-R-2) Scholastic records; disclosure of directory information. Provides that a school or institution of higher education may disclose certain directory information of a student to certain internal persons for educational purposes or internal business if the student has not opted out of such disclosure. Under current law, such disclosures require written consent. The bill also provides an exception for state and federal law requirements from the prohibition of such disclosures.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

Increasing Access and Affordability to Higher Education

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Teachers in Virginia face significant challenges. They are underpaid, as salaries have remained stagnant while living costs continue to soar. The current legislature has not adequately funded our schools, and the result is crumbling buildings and overcrowded classrooms. Excellent public education is crucial to ensure our graduates can meet the needs of Virginia’s businesses and to enhance property values in our state.

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.

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.

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.

2019 Session – Veterans

HB1623 Military families; relocation to the Commonwealth; student registration. (Cole-R-88) Permits any student whose parent has received orders to relocate to a duty station in the Commonwealth to register for courses and other academic programs and participate in the lottery process for charter schools and college partnership laboratory schools in the school division in which such student will reside at the same time and in the same manner as students who reside in the local school division. The bill requires each such student to provide to the school board proof of residency in the local school division no later than 10 days after his parent establishes such residency.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1636 Trespass; unmanned aircraft system; military airfield or military helicopter landing zone; penalty. (Knight-R-81) Provides that any person who knowingly and intentionally causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace within one mile of the boundary of any military airfield or military helicopter landing zone in the Commonwealth, for any reason, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Status: Passed the House 98-Y, 0-N, 1-A. Passed the Senate 39-Y, 1-N.

HB1655 Real property tax exemption for disabled veterans; surviving spouse’s ability to change residence. (Miyares-R-82)Enacts as law an amendment to subdivision (a) of Section 6-A of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia that was adopted by the voters on November 6, 2018, which applies the real property tax exemption for surviving spouse of a disabled veteran to such spouse’s principal place of residence regardless of whether spouse moves to a different residence.
Status: Passed the House 94-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by Governor.

HB1832 Special license plate; Navy and Marine Corps Medal. (Leftwich-R-78) Creates a special license plate for persons awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal or for unremarried surviving spouses of such persons.
Status: Passed the House 96-Y, 0-N. Passed by the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by Governor.

HB2551 Commercial driver’s licenses; military service members. (Thomas-R-28) Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to waive certain knowledge and skills tests required for obtaining a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license or a commercial driver’s license endorsement for certain current or former military service members, as authorized by federal law.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed by the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by Governor.

HB2632 Veterans Services, Board of; increases membership and clarifies scope of responsibilities. (Helsel-R-91) Increases the membership of the Board of Veterans Services by adding an additional member of the House of Delegates, an additional member of the Senate of Virginia, an additional non-legislative citizen member, and an additional ex officio member, the Chairman of the Virginia War Memorial Foundation. The bill also clarifies the scope of responsibility of the Board to include policy recommendations related to the mission of the Virginia War Memorial. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2020.
Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

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.

2019 Session – Gov Spending

HB2653 Higher educational institutions, public, institutional partnership performance agreements. (Cox–R–66) Permits any public institution of higher education to propose in conjunction with the six-year plan process, and the General Assembly to adopt by reference in the general appropriation act, an institutional partnership performance agreement that advances the objectives of the Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 by aligning the strategies, activities, and investments of the institution, the Commonwealth, and any identified partners concerning (i) college access, affordability, cost predictability, and employment pathways for undergraduate Virginia students and (ii) strategic talent development and other high-priority economic initiatives of the Commonwealth. The bill contains provisions relating to mandatory and permissive contents of, the approval process for, and the legal effect of any such agreement. Status: Passed the House 94-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1920 New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund and Program; grant priority. (Stolle-R-83) Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in awarding grants pursuant to the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program, to give priority to institutions that offer noncredit workforce training programs in high-demand fields in which employer demand is currently unmet by the available workforce. Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 39-Y, 0-N.

HB1729 School counselors; nomenclature; staff time. (Landes-R-25) Changes the name of guidance counselors to school counselors and requires each school counselor employed by a school board in a public elementary or secondary school to spend at least 80 percent of his staff time during normal school hours in the direct counseling of individual students or groups of students. Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N. Signed into law by the Governor.

HB2192 Public school buildings and facilities; modernization. (Rush-R-7) Provides that it is the legislative intent that public school buildings and facilities be designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to generate more electricity than consumed, and allows local school boards to enter into leases with private developers to achieve that goal. The bill also provides that private developers that contract with local school boards to modernize public school buildings and facilities may receive financing from the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority. Status: Passed the House 96-Y, 1-N. Passed Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1737 School crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans; development and review.(Wright-R-61)Requires each school board to include the chief law-enforcement officer, the fire chief, the chief of the emergency medical services agency, the executive director of the relevant regional emergency medical services council, and the emergency management official of the locality, or their designees, in the development and review of school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans. Under current law, the school board is required to provide copies of such plans to the chief law-enforcement officer, the fire chief, the chief of the emergency medical services agency, and the emergency management official of the locality but is not required to include such first responders in the development and review of such plans. Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Senate 40-Y ,0-N. Signed into law by the Governor.

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. The bill defines remote patient monitoring services as the delivery of home health services using telecommunications technology to enhance the delivery of home health care, including monitoring of clinical patient data such as weight, blood pressure, pulse, pulse oximetry, blood glucose, and other condition-specific data; medication adherence monitoring; and interactive video conferencing with or without digital image upload. The bill requires the Board of Medical Assistance Services to include in the state plan for medical assistance services a provision for the payment of medical assistance for medically necessary health care services provided through telemedicine services.Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB1611 Virginia College Savings Plan; prepaid tuition contracts; pricing reserves. (Landes-R-25)Provides that in the event that the ratio of the assets of the Virginia College Savings Plan (the Plan) to the obligations of the Plan exceeds 105 percent, the pricing reserve, which the bill defines as the percentage by which the sum of advanced payments to be made pursuant to each prepaid tuition contract of the Plan exceeds the amount estimated to be required to provide tuition at the fixed, guaranteed level that is specified in such prepaid tuition contract, shall not exceed five percent. The bill provides that in the event that the ratio of the assets of the Plan to the obligations of the Plan does not meet or exceed 105 percent, the pricing reserve may exceed five percent but shall not exceed 10 percent.Status: Passed the House 94-Y, 5-N. Passed the Senate with substitute 40-Y, 0-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. The bill also requires such a facility to inform the covered person or his legal representative of the names of all provider groups providing health care services at the facility, that consultation with the covered person’s managed care plan is recommended to determine if the provider groups providing health care services at the facility are in-network providers, and that the covered person may be financially responsible for health care services performed by a provider that is not an in-network provider, in addition to any cost-sharing requirements.Status: Passed the House 99-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2577 Health Insurance; coverage for autism spectrum disorder. (Thomas-R-28)Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in individuals of any age. Currently, such coverage is required to be provided for individuals from age two through age 10. Status: Passed the House 97-Y, 1-N 1-A. Passed the Senate 39-Y, 0-N.

HB1655 Real property tax exemption for disabled veterans; surviving spouse’s ability to change residence. (Miyares-R-82)Enacts as statutory law an amendment to subdivision (a) of Section 6-A of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia that was adopted by the voters on November 6, 2018, which applies the real property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran to such spouse’s principal place of residence regardless of whether such spouse moves to a different residence. The provisions of the bill would apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2019. The bill makes technical corrections related to the real property tax exemptions for surviving spouses of members of the armed forces killed in action and surviving spouses of certain persons killed in the line of duty.Status: Passed the House 94-Y, 0-N. Passed the Senate 40-Y 0-N. Signed into law by the Governor.

HB2528 Felony homicide; certain drug offenses, penalty. (Hugo-R-40)Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person’s death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. Status: Passed the House 69-Y, 30-N. Passed Senate 40-Y, 0-N.

HB2719 Health insurance; small employers. (Pillion-R-4)Revises the definition of “small employer” for purposes of group health insurance policies to provide that an individual who performs any service for remuneration under a contract of hire for (i) a corporation in which he is a shareholder or an immediate family member of a shareholder, or (ii) a limited liability company in which he is a member, regardless of the number of members of the limited liability company, shall be deemed to be an employee of the corporation or the limited liability company. The measure provides that a health insurance issuer shall not be required to issue more than one group health plan for each employer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service for a business entity, without regard to the number of shareholders or members of such business entity.Status: Passed the House (99-Y 0-N). Passed the Senate 40-Y, 0-N.HB2529 Income tax, state; conformity of taxation system. (Hugo-R-40)Advances conformity of the Commonwealth’s tax code with the federal tax code to December 31, 2018, effective starting in taxable year 2018. Starting in taxable year 2019, the bill deconforms from the provisions of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that limit the deduction for state and local taxes and that suspend the overall limit on itemized deductions. The bill establishes income tax subtractions starting in taxable year 2018 for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) and for one-fifth of the amount of business interest that is disallowed as a deduction from federal income tax. The bill increases the standard deduction to $4,500 for single individuals and $9,000 for married persons filing jointly for taxable years 2019 through 2025. Under current law, the standard deduction is $3,000 for single individuals and $6,000 for married couples filing jointly. The bill provides for a refund, not to exceed a taxpayer’s tax liability of up to $110 for individuals and $220 for married persons filing a joint return. The refund will be issued in October 2019 and will be available only for a taxpayer filing a final return by July 2019. The refunds will be reduced and prorated if the additional revenues generated by the TCJA are insufficient to fully fund the refunds. The bill establishes the Taxpayer Relief Fund (the Fund). For fiscal years 2019 through 2025, any additional revenues attributable to the TCJA, beyond those necessary to fund the provisions of the bill, would accrue to the Fund. The bill directs the General Assembly to appropriate money from the Fund to enact permanent or temporary tax reform measures. Status: Passed the House 95-Y, 4-N. Passed Senate with substitute 35-Y, 5-N. Signed into law by the Governor.

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.

VA House 68 – 2109

District Description: Counties of Chesterfield (part) and Henrico (part); City of Richmond (part)
Current Delegate: Dawn Adams since 2018 (D)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

“Adams beat longtime delegate Manoli Loupassi in 2017. This year she faces Coward, a political consultant and the second of two African-American candidates the party has recruited this year. Republicans say they doubt Adams, a nurse practitioner, has been helped by an unusual lawsuit filed by her former legislative aide alleging hacking.”

Summary

District Description: Counties of Chesterfield (part) and Henrico (part); City of Richmond (part)
Current Delegate: Dawn Adams since 2018 (D)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

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.

Dr. Dawn M. Adams has been an advocate for healthy communities for over 30 years. After receiving her Bachelors of Nursing degree from James Madison University, Dawn positioned herself in the center of Virginia’s healthcare system as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN). As an RN, Dawn saw first-hand how our state’s most vulnerable citizens continually fell through the cracks as a result of limited healthcare access and coverage.

In 1989, Dawn returned to school to earn her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and soon became a Nurse Practitioner. From there, she went on to earn her Doctorate in Nursing from Old Dominion University, where she now serves as an adjunct professor. Dawn’s research focused on identifying barriers to healthcare access for all people across the economic spectrum. For her research, she won the ODU Nursing Scholar award. As she studied and worked intimately in medicine, it became abundantly clear to her that the right to affordable public education and access to adequate healthcare are inextricably linked—both are necessary as well as critical to building a healthy, successful community.

Prior to beginning her career in education, Dawn worked alongside a nurse lobbyist. This afforded her the opportunity to engage in community stakeholder meetings concerning Medicaid expansion, lobby as an advocate for healthcare access, and attend the 2014 General Assembly (GA) session. This experience led Dawn to author a proposal for a Health Policy Fellowship for nurses. This fellowship is currently available to nurses who attend graduate programs within Virginia.

While at the GA, Dawn was approached by the Assistant Commissioner for Virginia Department for Behavioral Health & Developmental Services. He prompted Dawn to utilize her education and experience to solve the problem of inadequate community-based care. Due to Dawn’s success in this field, she served as the Director of the Office of Integrated Health. In this role, she managed a multi-million-dollar state budget and built strong relationships with state and local agencies to implement local community programs and construct public policy for individuals with developmental disabilities. She has also began work to partner primary care service providers with mental health services.

Dawn’s effort to help our community extends beyond her continuous work in healthcare. Her numerous experiences, which include being the first participant in the Virginia Nurse Advocate Health Policy Fellowship, creating beneficial relationships with Virginia’s elected representatives, and developing public policy in her work as a civil servant, have helped her to identify the troubling disconnect between political maneuvering and our government’s obligation to serve the people. This is what fueled her desire to run for office.

Despite all odds, being outspent 5 to 1, on November, 7, 2017, nearly 20,000 voters in the 68th District cast their vote to bring Dawn into the General Assembly, giving her the highest voter turnout of any Democratic Candidate running against an incumbent.

Dawn is honored to take the lessons she’s learned as a nurse practitioner, administrator, educator, and community leader to represent her community as Delegate of Virginia’s House District 68 and is proud to represent the people of the city of Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico counties.

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

The Greater-Richmond Area is home to many small and medium-sized businesses that are the backbone of our local, state, and national economies.

Virginia needs economic policies that:

Protect our businesses from higher and unnecessary taxes and regulations. Mandates such as repealing right-to-work laws, plastic bag taxes, and burdensome food and beverage regulations simply don’t work
Protect families by ensuring their take-home pay is protected from taxes that hinder their ability to save or invest in their futures
Encourage growth by incentivizing businesses to come, stay, and grow within our communities

Health Care

Dawn Adams

Affordable healthcare coverage for all just makes sense. We can provide lower cost care to ensure all citizens receive the preventative medical, dental, and eye care that will keep them healthy, while addressing the opioid crisis, provide more comprehensive mental healthcare, and reducing the costs associated with chronic illness. At the same time, we must be prepared to take on the challenges of the epidemic of dementia, escalating needs of our aging population, the high cost of prescription drugs, and respond nimbly to the ever-changing policy demands from the federal government. We need Dawn’s three decades of diverse healthcare experience and ideas to develop affordable solutions to issues.

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

VA House 72 – 2019

District Description: County of Henrico (part)
Current Delegate: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg since 2018 (D)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

“VanValkenburg, a teacher, was the first Democrat to even run for this seat in 10 years when he won in 2017 with just under 53 percent of the vote. Though the district has gotten consistently bluer each year, Republicans say they see an opening for Vandergriff, who unsuccessfully ran for school board and serves on a variety of community boards. For now, the money is on VanValkenburg’s side, who had raised $205,000 at last report, nearly twice as much as Vandergriff.”

Summary

District Description: County of Henrico (part)
Current Delegate: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg since 2018 (D)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

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.

As A Legislator
Since Schuyer won election in 2017, he has been hard at work creating legislation to help Virginia and Henrico County. For example, in his first session, he sponsored and passed a bill to prevent people from losing their state professional licensure due to student debt problems – a cruel policy which Virginia had allowed for too long. After all, if you take someone’s license to work, how will they pay the debt for which you took the license? In the wake of the Parkland shootings, he was one of a few delegates chosen to serve on a select committee for school safety, so he held community input sessions and met with parent activists and school safety experts to work on a set of recommendations to the General Assembly. He made sure the final recommendations were not just about physical infrastructure but also student mental and emotional health, and about school-community relations, to address not just tragic shootings but school violence more generally. He helped to pass Medicaid expansion, which enabled more 9,500 people in Henrico county access to affordable, quality healthcare coverage in its first few months of operation alone. In his second session, Delegate VanValkenburg led the charge to get a higher standard for school counseling in the state budget, ensuring that schools will have the resources to reach a ratio of one counselor for every two hundred and fifty students. Delegate VanValkenburg has been proud to fight for equality of opportunity, quality education, and inclusiveness – and his record speaks to his commitment to those ideas.

Personal Story and Background

Schuyler VanValkenburg grew up thirty minutes north of Albany, NY, in the small city of Johnstown, nicknamed the “Glove City” for its leather tanning mills in the 19th century. He watched as the city’s economy continually suffered when factory jobs left for overseas factories. Early on, his family impressed on him the importance education would have in this changing world and he fell in love with history thanks to some very talented educators.

After high school, he enrolled at the University of Richmond in 2001. His family’s insistence on bettering himself through education pushed him to excel in the history department and complete teacher licensure programs while he was there. During his undergraduate studies, he also met his wife. After college, they started a family and he began his teaching career in Henrico County Public Schools. He has been a teacher for twelve years, first at Short Pump Middle School, and now at Glen Allen High School.

During his teaching career, Schuyler went back to school to earn his Masters degree in American History at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2008, with a focus on women’s history. He also won National Board Certification and became the We the People constitutional competition coach at Glen Allen High School.

Schuyler VanValkenburg’s experience growing up in small industrial town, attending the University of Richmond, and teaching in Henrico County, have all invigorated him in the fight to make Virginia a national leader in education in order to expand opportunity for all Virginians. He knows firsthand the immeasurable impact a high quality education can have, and is committed to ensuring that for every child across the commonwealth. He also knows how important it is provide equitable access and opportunities for every citizen – both by ensuring a democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counted and by increasing job growth and access to economic opportunity. Finally, Schuyler believes in an inclusive society, and believes that Virginia has no place for discriminatory laws and policies which and that threaten the constitutional right to equal protection.

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

The men and women of our military deserve our deepest gratitude. We should thank them for their service and always support them and their families. Without these great men and women, we would not be able to enjoy the benefits that come from living in a free and independent country. This is a very personal issue for me as my father is a disabled Army veteran and he lives with me. Being my father’s caregiver, I take him to the VA frequently for his healthcare. I understand the challenges. I want to ensure all veterans and their families have easy access to the benefits they have earned. I will always advocate for our service families.

VA House 73 – 2019

District Description: County of Henrico (part)
Current Delegate: Debra Rodman since 2018 (D)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

“Another district Democrats flipped in 2017 where the winner, in this case Debra Rodman, opted to run for Senate rather than reelection. Willett, an attorney, and Kastleberg, an investment banker, are both making their first runs for office. Of the seats Republican’s hope to win back from Democrats this year, Northam’s margins in 2017 were thinnest here, with 53 percent of the vote. Combined with the fact that Democrats won’t have the advantage of running an incumbent,that has Republicans sounding confident.”

Summary

District Description: County of Henrico (part)
Current Delegate: Debra Rodman since 2018 (D)

According to Ned Oliver of Virginia Mercury:

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

Increase Access to Quality Healthcare
For many Henrico families, having access to affordable and top-quality healthcare is difficult or unattainable. Other Henrico families may have coverage, but they face rising costs each year.

Mary Margaret believes we need to preserve what is working in our healthcare system, while also pushing for policies that expand access and reduce costs without requiring a complete government takeover of our health insurance system.

We can do this, and Mary Margaret’s guiding principles on healthcare are:

1. Protect patients with preexisting conditions.

2. Support measures to increase access to care, while working to reduce costs to patients and taxpayers. Medicaid is the fastest growing item in the Virginia Budget, and for individuals, the cost of prescription drugs is skyrocketing. Mary Margaret is focused on finding innovative ways to address these and other cost issues.

3. Oppose “Single Payer,” “Medicare for All,” or any other complete government takeover of healthcare proposals for Virginia as it will result in the inevitable elimination of private insurance coverage, restrict access to the doctor of your choice, and weaken the top-quality healthcare available in Henrico.

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.

Roxann Robinson

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

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.

Summary

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

About

Source: Campaign page

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

Experience

Work Experience

Optometrist
2019 to present

Education

B.S., Visual Science; O.D.
Illinois College of Optometry, IL
2019 to present
B.S., Biology,
Fairmont State College, WV
1978 to present

Awards

Virginia Optometrist of the Year (2000)
Illinois College of Optometry, Alumna of the Year (2007)

Personal

Birth Year: 1956
Place of Birth: Weirton, WV
Gender: Female
Race(s): Caucasian
Religion: Methodist
Spouse: Michael Earl Lind

Membership & Affiliation

Virginia Optometric Association
irginia Academy of Optometry
Manchester Family YMCA (board of directors)
Virginia Board of Optometry (former member)
James River Rotary

Contact

Legislative Assistant: Martha Crosby
Administrative Assistant During Session: Martha Anderson

Email:

Government – DelRRobinson@house.virginia.gov

Offices

Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
900 E. Main St,
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 698-1027

District Office
P.O. Box 4627
Midlothian, VA 23112
Phone: (804) 698-1027

Web

Government Page, Campaign Site

Politics

Source: Wikipedia

On March 24, 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell appointed the 27th district incumbent, Republican Samuel A. Nixon, as Virginia’s Chief Information Officer. Robinson became the Republican nominee to succeed Nixon. She defeated Democrat William Brown, a county planning commissioner, in a special election on June 15, receiving 72% of the vote. Robinson was unopposed for reelection in 2011 and 2013.In 2017, Robinson was opposed by Democrat Larry Barnett. The race was too close to call on election night, but Barnett conceded two days later, and Robinson won re-election by an estimated margin of 124 votes. In the 2018 Legislative Session, Robinson was appointed to chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee.

Recent Elections

2019 State Delegate

Roxann L. Robinson (R)	15,290	50.25%
Larry V. Barnett (D)	15,101	49.63%
Write-In (Write-in)	37	0.12%
TOTAL	30,428

2017 State Delegate

Roxann Robinson (R)	14,461	50.2%
Larry Vincent Barnett (D)	14,333	49.7%
Write In (Write-in)	38	0.1%
TOTAL	28,832

2015 State Delegate

Roxann Robinson (R)	10,551	58.5%
Martin Mooradian, Jr (D)	7,472	41.4%
Write In (Write-in)	25	0.1%
TOTAL	18,048

2013 State Delegate

Roxann Robinson (R)	17,612	92.4%
Write In (Write-in)	1,439	7.6%
TOTAL	19,051

Finances

ROBINSON, ROXANN L has run in 5 races for public office, winning 4 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $650,327.

Source: Follow the Money

Committees

Science and Technology (Chair)
Education
Appropriations
Health, Welfare and Institutions

Subcommittees

All Subcommittees
Appropriations – Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology Subcommittee
Appropriations – Higher Education Subcommittee
Appropriations – Transportation Subcommittee
Education – Subcommittee #2
Education – Subcommittee #3
Health, Welfare and Institutions – Subcommittee #1

Appointments

Other Commission & Committee Appointments
Administrative Rules, Joint Commission on
Appropriations – Higher Education Subcommittee
Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology Subcommittee
House Appropriations
House Education
House Health Welfare and Institutions
House Science & Technology
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders (PANS) Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANDAS), Advisory Council on
School Leadership & Student Outcomes
School Readiness Committee
Sexual and Domestic Violence, Advisory Committee on
Standards of Learning Innovation Committee
Workforce Development, Virginia Board of

Voting Record

See: Vote Smart

New Legislation

Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Issues

Governance

Ethics Reform

Civil Rights

Women’s Issues

Economy

Taxation

Economic Opportunity

Education

Education Reform

Larry Barnett

Current Position: Mental Health Support Services
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

Summary

Current Position: Mental Health Support Services
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

About

Source: Campaign page

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

Web

Campaign Site, Twitter, Facebook

Twitter

Tweets by barnett4del

Issues

Civil Rights

Equality

Democracy

Gerrymandering

Campaign Finance

Economy

Economic Development

Education

Education

Environment

Health Care

Healthcare

I support expanding affordable access to essential healthcare for all Virginians. One in four people is directly affected by mental illness and addiction, issues that touch many of our lives. I have devoted my life to public service in the mental health field and will advocate for community-based mental health and substance abuse services throughout the Commonwealth. My professional background affords me the expertise to effectively address problems such as the opioid epidemic, mental health crises, and treating addiction within our criminal justice system.

Safety

Gun Violence Prevention

Public Safety

Buddy Fowler

Current Position: State Delegate for District 55 since 2014
Affiliation: Republican

Buddy Fowler serves on the General Laws Committee where he chairs a Subcommittee. He also serves on the Privileges and Elections Committee where he is a member of the Election Law and Constitutional Amendment Subcommittees. Finally, Buddy serves on the Finance Committee (where he keeps taxes low!).

After graduating Mary Washington University with a degree in History, Buddy became a small business owner, and served as an aide to Delegates Frank Hargrove and John Cox.

Summary

Current Position: State Delegate for District 55 since 2014
Affiliation: Republican

After graduating Mary Washington University with a degree in History, Buddy became a small business owner, and served as an aide to Delegates Frank Hargrove and John Cox.

About

Source: Campaign page

Hyland “Buddy” Fowler Jr. is honored to represent Virginia’s 55th House district. The 55th is comprised of approximately 80,000 people in parts of Hanover, Caroline, and Spotsylvania counties.

Buddy serves on the General Laws Committee where he chairs a Subcommittee. He also serves on the Privileges and Elections Committee where he is a member of the Election Law and Constitutional Amendment Subcommittees. Finally, Buddy serves on the Finance Committee (where he keeps taxes low!).

After graduating Mary Washington University with a degree in History, Buddy became a small business owner, and served as an aide to Delegates Frank Hargrove and John Cox.

A lifelong resident of Virginia, Buddy and his wife, Patsy, reside in Hanover County where they raised their three children. He is a member of Slash Christian Church, volunteers with Boy Scout Troop 700, and is an Ashland Little League Coach.

https://vimeo.com/387858100

Experience

Volunteer Experience

Member
2019 to present
Slash Christian Church
Ashland Clay Springs Ruritan
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 700
Sons of the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson Chapter
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Hanover Dragoons Camp #827
Hanover County Historical Society
National Wild Turkey Federation, Lee Davis Longbeards
Ducks Unlimited, Hanover Chapter

Education

B.A., History
Mary Washington College
1995 to present

Personal

Birth Year: 1955
Place of Birth: Richmond, VA
Gender: Male
Race(s): Caucasian
Religion: Disciples of Christ
Spouse: Patsy Lynn Traylor (Pat)
Children: Laura Lee Pike, Zachary, and Martha

Contact

Legislative Assistant: Dale Hargrove Alderman
Administrative Assistant: Kathy Glazebrook

Email:

Government – DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov

Offices

Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
900 E. Main St,
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 698-1055

District Office
10321 Washington Highway
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Phone: (804) 305-8867

Web

Government Page, Campaign Site, Facebook

Politics

Recent Elections

2019 State Delegate

H. F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr. (R)	17,356	60.06%
Morgan K. Goodman (D)	11,508	39.82%
Write-In (Write-in)	36	0.12%
TOTAL	28,900

2017 State Delegate

Buddy Fowler (R)	10,870	59.9%
Morgan Kathleen Goodman (D)	12,056	39.9%
Write In (Write-in)	70	0.2%
TOTAL	22,996

2015 State Delegate

Buddy Fowler (R)	10,870	60.3%
Antoinette Lee Radler (D)	7,118	39.5%
Write In (Write-in)	38	0.2%
TOTAL	18,026

2013 State Delegate

Buddy Fowler (R)	15,334	56.8%
Antoinette Lee Radler (D)	10,123	37.5%
Write In (Write-in)	54	0.2%
TOTAL	25,511

Finances

FOWLER JR, H F (BUDDY) has run in 4 races for public office, winning 3 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $350,249.

Source: Follow the Money

Committees

Privileges and Elections
Finance
General Laws

Appointments

Other Commission & Committee Appointments
Block Grants
Enslaved African Americans in Virginia, Task Force to Assist in Identification of the History of Formerly
House Elections Subcommittee
House Finance
House General Laws
House General Laws Subcommittee #4
House Privileges and Elections
Reapportionment Joint Committee
Volunteer Firefighter’s and Rescue Squad Worker’s Service Award Fund Board
War Memorial Board, Virginia

Voting Record

See: Vote Smart

New Legislation

Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Issues

Governance

Ethics

During the 2015 General Assembly session, we passed House Bill 2070. When combined with the meaningful steps the General Assembly took last year, this legislation significantly strengthens Virginia’s ethics, transparency and disclosure laws. These changes will increase transparency, hold elected officials accountable, and help restore trust in government. HB 2070 made the following changes:  adopted a $100 aggregate annual gift cap,  created an ethics advisory commission,  required lawmakers to seek pre-approval for travel,  doubled the frequency of reporting,  required all disclosure be filed online for easy review by the public,  required legislators to report gifts to family members,  and implemented mandatory ethics training. My opponent criticizes me for accepting what she believes is a flawed Ethics bill. Apparently, my opponent was not informed that the “Ethics” legislation represented a bipartisan effort that included the leadership of both the House Republican and Democratic Caucuses! Due to both parties “being at the table”, HB 2070 passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 92-0, and State Senate by a vote of 38-0!

Economy

The House of Delegates remains laser-focused on improving Virginia’s economy. During the 2015 General Assembly, we passed legislation to attract innovative new companies to Virginia (HB1662, Uber & Lyft). The General Assembly also passed HB1360, which provides entrepreneur’s access to a new financial capital source called “Crowdfunding”. The General Assembly also fought to protect Virginia’s status as a right-to-work state with the first passage of a Constitutional amendment, (HJ490). This amendment will have to pass again in the 2016 General Assembly and then the people will ultimately decide the amendments fate in a referendum. I was proud to be a co-patron of the Right-to-Work constitutional amendment. I will continue to support our entrepreneurs, as well as pro-economic growth policies. I will oppose legislation that hinders the free enterprise system and retards employment. Finally, for my commitment and support for these important issues over the last 2 years, I have received recognition from two important organizations. I am honored to have earned an A+ Rating from the VA Chamber of Commerce on issues important to Virginia businesses, and a 100% rating from the National Federation of Independent Business for my support of issues confronting small business.

Education

Patsy and I are proud that our three children all graduated from Hanover County Public Schools. A good education is critical for future success. Whether you are college bound, or seeking a credential in Career and Technical Education, a high school diploma is the first step towards securing future prosperity. Many important public education reforms have been enacted since I first took office in January of 2014. These reforms, which I supported, are intended to improve the quality of classroom instruction, reform the Standards of Learning tests and Standards of Accreditation, and also to provide local school divisions with increased budgeting flexibility so as to provide local School Boards with the ability to fund their most important priorities. I also believe that the teacher is the most important ingredient in education and for that reason the overwhelming majority of education funding must be centered in the classroom. I believe the General Assembly should have a benchmark of requiring 70% of every education “dollar” be spent on classroom instruction. I have supported funding the state’s share of a pay increase for public school teachers, and just as important, I have supporting fully funding the Virginia Retirement System. Education Reforms – K-12 Public Education is the largest part of the State Budget. However, the General Assembly is not simply throwing money at education. Over the last 3 years, the General Assembly has passed numerous reforms to the Standards of Learning and Accreditation! During my first term in the General Assembly, I supported reforming the Standards of Learning by reducing the number of tests, by changing the SOLs to reflect actual learning, and also co-patroned legislation to eliminate the A-F grading system for school accreditation. I also supported the creation of the first Governor’s School for Career and Technical Education, which began this summer in Hanover County! In 2016, I supported HB895 will overhaul the current “standard” and “advanced” diplomas and verified units of credits and develop new graduation standards in consultation with stakeholders. The new standards will emphasize critical and creative thinking and the establishment of multiple paths toward college and career readiness including internships, externships and credentialing. I also supported HB525 which requires the State Board of Education to review current SOL testing and make recommendation on number of tests, subject matter, and questions composition. Finally, I supported the creation of “Virtual” Schools (HB8), which would have provided students with the opportunity to take courses not offered in their local school division through online public schools. Unfortunately, Governor McAuliffe “vetoed” this innovative idea. In the future, I will continue to push for additional SOL reforms, and innovative ways to not only teach our children, but also provide for greater educational choices for families. Higher Education – There is no question that the cost of a college education is becoming less affordable every year. For this reason, making college more affordable has been a priority, and I supported several bills to do that, including legislation to cap unreasonable mandatory student fees, encourage colleges to offer affordable “flat-fee” degrees and make it easier for families to find the information they need about college costs. In 2015, the budget included funding to open up 2,100 more in-state enrollment slots and transfer slots for Virginia families and $10.1 million more for student financial aid. I also supported HB2320 which requires the State Council of Higher Education to establish a more affordable, $4,000 per year online degree program for Virginia students. I will continue to support innovative solutions like these in order to keep a college degree within the reach of Virginia students.

Environment

One of my top priorities as a lifelong outdoor enthusiast will be to work to support efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. I believe it is important to continue current efforts at modernizing local sewage treatment plants, and to provide adequate funding for the “Cost Sharing” program that assists farmers in the implementation of agricultural “best management practices”. These BMPs are intended to reduce the agricultural runoff into our streams and rivers. It is my belief that environmental regulations must be based on 3 important principles including: regulations must be based on sound science; must produce results that are measurable; and must be affordable and workable. The best intended environmental regulations are useless if they are too costly or complex to implement. Bio-solids – Sewage bio-solids and industrial bio-solids is a very important issue. During the 2015 General Assembly, I introduced legislation and ultimately was chief co-patron to legislation that imposed a fee on the application of industrial biosolids similar to the fee already paid for applying sewage bio-solids. The revenue provides a revenue source which local governments can access to pay for local environmental monitoring. In addition, I introduced legislation calling for an environmental “study” of the bio-solid program, and ultimately co-patroned another “study” resolution (HJ506) which was much more comprehensive. I am extremely proud of the fact that my efforts on this issue gained the support of both the Sierra Club and the Virginia Conservation Network. During the 2016 General Assembly, I was a co-patron of HJ506 which required a study of the shortterm and long-term effects of the storage and land application of industrial wastes and treated sewage sludge (biosolids) on public health, residential wells, and surface and ground water. Ultimately, the General Assembly passed HJ120 which is a 2 year study that directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to analyze scientific literature on the health effects of biosolids and industrial residuals, and to evaluate the feasibility of requiring municipal utilities that are currently permitted to generate “Class B” material to upgrade their facilities to generate “Class A” material, and undertake other analyses. I voted in favor of HJ120.

Health Care

Medicaid expansion – Clearly, the number one health care issue facing the Virginia General Assembly will be whether, or not, to expand Virginia’s Medicaid program. I am opposed to expanding Medicaid, not because Medicaid expansion is part of Obamacare and not because this is a Republican vs Democrat issue. When you boil the Medicaid expansion issue down, it is simply a math problem. Here are some numbers to ponder: ¸ Over the last 30 years, the cost of VA’s Medicaid program has increased by 1600% and is currently increasing at about 8% annually. Just maintaining the current Medicaid program will cost VA taxpayers an additional $2 billion over the next 8 years. ¸ VA already has approximately 940,000 people on Medicaid. That means 1 out of every 8.5 Virginians is on Medicaid already! ¸ The cost of the Medicaid program has been increasing so fast that for every new dollar that comes into the state’s treasury, 40 cents will have to go to Medicaid. In other words, Medicaid is beginning to “crowd out” other programs such as Education, Public Safety, Mental Health, Transportation, etc. ¸ While the Federal Government “promises” to pay 90% of the “expansion” in perpetuity, the Feds are already $20 trillion in debt and are proposing to reduce funding for Medicaid. This will leave states like Virginia holding the bag. If the Feds reduce the “Expansion” match to 50% like the existing Medicaid program, the cost to Virginians will be an additional $1 billion per year. We simply cannot afford that type of expense. ¸ There are years of research that have documented significant fraud within the program and the problems all states are having servicing Medicaid patients. It would be irresponsible to send good money after bad. ¸ Finally, none of the federal funds cover the extensive administrative costs, state or local. In Hanover County alone, the administrative costs are estimated to be approximately $250,000 annually.

Morgan Goodman

Current Position: Pollution Prevention Specialist, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

Summary

Current Position: Pollution Prevention Specialist, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

About

Source: Campaign page

I am a lifelong resident of Virginia and have lived in Hanover County for the past 6 years with my husband and two children. We moved to Hanover County because we liked being close to Richmond but still living in an area with a rural feel.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology and a Master’s Degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy. I have spent my career working to protect the environment at the state and federal government, and in the non-profit sector.

I am running for office because I believe we need legislators that listen more than they talk. I believe there is a disconnect between what the people of this district want and need and what is actually getting accomplished in Richmond. I want to bring the voices of my constituents to the General Assembly so that it isn’t just corporations that get to say what laws are made in Virginia.

I am running for office because we need a General Assembly that spends their time improving our schools instead of constantly asking them to do more with less. We need a General Assembly that spends their time finding ways to improve our environment instead of finding ways to reduce the protections that keep us safe. I understand that to truly represent the people of the 55th District we need a legislator that will listen and bring people together.

Experience

Work Experience

Environmental Policy
Her professional experience includes working at the state and federal government levels and working for nonprofits.

Education

BS
Roger Williams University
2000 to 2004
Marine Biology and Political Science
MA
The George Washington University
2004 to 2006
Environmental and Natural Resource Policy

Offices

Campaign Office
P.O. Box 1433, Ashland VA 23005

Web

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Twitter

Tweets by MorganGoodmanVA

Politics

Finances

GOODMAN, MORGAN K has run in 1 race for public office, winning 0 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $77,626.

Source: Follow the Money

Issues

Education

Resources and Competitive salaries for Teachers

I am a product of Virginia’s public schools and I believe that we have some of the best public schools in the Country, but we cannot continue to ask them to do more with less resources. We need to ensure our teachers can earn competitive salaries. Parents deserve access to quality pre-k opportunities to start kids off right. Quality education is fundamental to a quality workforce.

Environment

Environmental sustainability

I have been passionate about protecting the environment from an early age. My love of nature has brought me to where I am today and we need to do more to address environmental sustainability in the General Assembly. Virginia needs to embrace renewable energy in order to create more jobs in this growing industry and slow the impacts of climate change. I have seen first hand how government and businesses can work together for a healthier environment and I will bring that experience to the General Assembly.

Infrastructure

Internet access

I will work to address the lack of internet access in the 55th District. Not only does this lack of access affect our students that are unable to complete homework assignments without the internet, but it is also affecting small businesses that cannot stay in the district without reliable internet access.

James Edmunds

Current Position: State Delegate for District 60 since 2010
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): Halifax County Board of Supervisors from 1999 – 2009

Owner and Manager of: Non-Typical Outdoors (a supplier of seed for animal food plots) Halifax

Operator of the Halifax County Fair

Third generation farmer, raising cattle, grain and timber on family farm. Married to the former Jennifer Wilkerson and the father of two children, Paul (18) and Caroline (14). Attends First Presbyterian Church in South Boston where he has served as Deacon and Elder.

Summary

Current Position: State Delegate for District 60 since 2010
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): Halifax County Board of Supervisors from 1999 – 2009

Owner and Manager of: Non-Typical Outdoors (a supplier of seed for animal food plots) Halifax

Operator of the Halifax County Fair

About

Source: Campaign page

Owner and Manager of: Non-Typical Outdoors (a supplier of seed for animal food plots) Halifax

Operator of the Halifax County Fair

Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates as the 60th District representative in 2009 and is now serving his fifth term.

Member of the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
Chairman of the Natural Resources Sub-Committee
Member of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee
Member of the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee

Appointed by Speaker William Howell to the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission

Member of the Southside Economic Development Committee
Member of the Agribusiness Committee

Legislative Awards:

Named a Distinguished Advocate for Virginia Business by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Virginia Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus

co-chairman with Senator Emmett Hanger

Served 10 years on the Halifax County Board of Supervisors:

Chairman, Recreation Committee
Chairman, Fair Committee
Member, Finance Committee
Member, Policy and Personnel Committee
Member, Agriculture Committee

Protector of environment:

Recipient of Virginia League of Conservation Voters 2013 Legislative Leadership Award in “recognition of dedicated leadership in supporting and protecting the natural resources of the Commonwealth of Virginia”
National Remington and Progressive Farmer Farm Pond Management Award
Izaak Walton League Conservationist of the Year Award
Wild Turkey Federation Conservationist of the Year Award
Halifax County Sportsman’s Club Conservationist of the Year Award

Civic involvement:

Member of Halifax Education Foundation Board of Trustees
Member of National Wild Turkey Federation
Former member of Halifax County Rotary Club

Experience

Work Experience

Owner and Manager
Non-Typical Outdoors
2019 to present
a supplier of seed for animal food plots in Halifax

Education

B.S., Business Administration,
Averett University
1996 to present

Awards

National Remington and Progressive Farmer, Farm Pond Management Award (2019)
zaak Walton League, Conservationist of the Year (2019)
Halifax County Sportsman’s Club, Conservationist of the Year (2019)
National Wild Turkey Federation, Conservationist of the Year, Wild Turkey Woodlands Award (2004), Hunting Heritage Landowner Program Award (2006) (2019)
Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Legislative Leadership Award (2013)

Personal

Birth Year: 1970
Place of Birth: South Boston, VA
Gender: Male
Race(s): Caucasian
Religion: Presbyterian
Spouse: Jennifer Leigh Wilkerson
Children: Paul and Carolin

Membership & Affiliation

First Presbyterian Church (former deacon and elder)
NRA
National Wild Turkey Federation
American Tree Farm System
Halifax County Rotary
Virginia Board of Forestry
Halifax County Public Schools Education Foundation
Southern Virginia Higher Education Center

Contact

Legislative Assistant: Shelia Bradley
Administrative Assistant During Session: Sharon Wiltshire

Email:

Government – DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov

Offices

Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
900 E. Main St,
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 698-1060

District Office
P.O. Box 1115
Halifax, VA 24558

Phone: (434) 476-0077

Web

Government Page, Campaign Site

Politics

Source: Wikipedia

Edmunds was elected to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors from the 5th district in 1999, and became vice chair a year later. He was reelected without opposition in 2003 and 2007.In 2009, Clarke Hogan, Virginia House of Delegates member from the 60th district, announced he would not run for a fifth term. Edmunds received the Republican nomination and was elected unopposed.

Recent Elections

2019 State Delegate

James Edmunds (R)	14,461	66.21%
Janie S. Zimmerman (D)	7,351	33.66%
Write In (Write-in)	29	0.13%
TOTAL	21,841

2017 State Delegate

James Edmunds (R)	13,330	61.98%
Jamaal Maalik Johnston (D)	8,177	37.95%
Write In (Write-in)	41	0.19%
TOTAL	21,548

2015 State Delegate

James Edmunds (R)	10,768	99.2%
Write In (Write-in)	92	0.8%
TOTAL	10,860

2013 State Delegate

James Edmunds (R)	12,806	64.2%
Jasper Louis Hendricks, III (D)	7,105	35.6%
Write In (Write-in)	35	0.2%
TOTAL	19,946

Finances

EDMUNDS II, JAMES E has run in 5 races for public office, winning 5 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $371,695.

Source: Follow the Money

Committees

Militia, Police and Public Safety
Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Health, Welfare and Institutions

Subcommittees

Chair: Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Subcommittee #2
Health, Welfare and Institutions – Subcommittee #2

Appointments

Other Commission & Committee Appointments
Henrietta Lacks Commission
House Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources
House Health Welfare and Institutions
House Militia Police and Public Safety
Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee, Virginia
Roanoke River Bi-State Commission, Virginia Delegation of the
Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Board of Trustees
Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission

Voting Record

See: Vote Smart

New Legislation

Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Issues

Source: Campaign page

James Edmunds knows what issues affect Southside the most. He is a strong voice for our district in Richmond, helping to solve the problems we face in our area, as well as to preserve the freedoms — like our gun & hunting rights, and traditional values, etc. — we currently hold dear.

Economy

Recruit new industry, protect our small businesses, and keep taxes low.

Education

Get Southside schools on par with, or better than, the rest of the Commonwealth.

Environment

Conservation

Three things: Clean Air, Clean Water & Open Spaces.

Health Care

Make sure seniors on fixed incomes don’t have to choose between purchasing medication or their next meal.

Safety

Stand up for our Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments, and make sure our police get the resources they need.

Agriculture

Promote sustainable agriculture so we never become dependent on foreign food sources, and protect Southside’s family farms

Janie Zimmerman

Current Position: Teacher
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

My mission is to speak up for Rural Virginia where there hasn’t been a strong voice in the past. Living in Charlotte County has shown me the specific needs of a rural area such as Southern Virginia.

Summary

Current Position: Teacher
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

About

Source: Campaign page

I’m Janie Zimmerman, and I am running for House of Delegates District 60. If you live in Charlotte, Prince Edward, Halifax, or the SE part of Campbell County, I’m your candidate!

I was born at Andrews Air Force Base while my dad was serving in the Vietnam War, so I wholly support and understand veterans, their families, and the challenges they face. My mom grew up in a rural part of the Texas panhandle, and now I return to my Southern roots by living in rural Virginia.

I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember, and have been a teacher for almost 30 years. My favorite kids to teach are the alternative students that other schools have most likely forgotten. I am currently a teacher at a juvenile detention center in Prince Edward County. I am excited to work with these students because it is so rewarding to watch them blossom with just a little care and attention. When these troubled students succeed, they really succeed. When rural Virginia gets the attention it deserves, it can really succeed as well. Just as I speak up for my students, a vote for me will be a vote to speak up for the unique needs of Rural Virginia.

Web

Campaign Site, Twitter, Facebook

Twitter

Tweets by JaniezVa60

Issues

Source: Campaign page

Education Funding:
Janie is a Special Education Teacher at the Juvenile Detention Center in Farmville, Virginia. She believes that all of her students are amazing and deserve a childhood just like their peers, but they have made mistakes because they have been given opportunities to make poor choices. These have resulted in them being involved in the juvenile justice system. With after school programs available, many students could discover their passions instead of the “school to prison pipeline”, where students who struggle with managing their behavior are sent for punishment (and often incarceration) rather than having their needs assessed and addressed. These children need education, not prison.

Many will remember a time when kids could play a sport for free, spend time after school in Drama, Band, and Choir, stay after school to participate in any number of clubs, or work in a vocational class. Most of that doesn’t happen in present day schools. Some of that doesn’t happen in any school, especially in rural areas. When students don’t have activities to keep them busy after school, they are left with too much time to fill. That alone may increase the likelihood they will make poor choices. Every school needs money in all counties to provide fair and equal education and benefits for all students and teachers in the Commonwealth.

Rural Broadband:
Rural Virginia cannot thrive without access to the rest of the world through high-speed internet. Students, job seekers, businesses, and families deserve the ability to do homework, apply for jobs, run their businesses, and enjoy simple connections with friends and family across the globe just like the rest of Virginia. Broadband access is essential for educational and economic growth. Relocating established businesses to our district can not happen without addressing the issue of internet access. There are rural broadband plans being developed across the country. There is no reason why the implementation of rural broadband access can’t be approached in the same way the Rural Electrification Programs were in the 1930s. Help Janie make broadband a reality for all Virginians no matter where they live.

Equal Rights Amendment:
Janie knows we need to make sure the the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is finally ratified. We cannot give up on women’s rights to be seen as EQUAL to men. When Virginia ratifies the ERA, it will become the 38th state to ratify the ERA, pushing the amendment over the three-fourths requirement to become part of the U.S. Constitution. Turning Virginia Blue will help all women across the nation, not just in Virginia.

Healthcare:
Janie believes healthcare is a basic human right. We need to work to increase access to all healthcare providers in rural areas. This is especially urgent in the area of mental health and women’s reproductive services. Everyone has a right to choose the services they need for their helthcare and to have it close to home. Funding for Community Health Centers can make this happen. With health centers closer to small towns and rural areas, it will be easier for people to take care of medical needs when they happen instead of waiting until problems get much worse and they are forced to drive a distance to reach the nearest emergency room.

Virginia’s Climate Crisis:
Janie fully endorses the plan for a Green New Deal Virginia. The plan will work to create thousands of jobs while simultaneously addressing the issue of the climate crisis and restoring Virginia’s environment. The plan also outlines investments in local-scale agriculture in communities across Virginia ensuring that rural areas will benefit from economic growth as well as being ensured access to clean air and water.

Thomas Wright

Current Position: State Delegate for District 61 since 2001
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): Chair, Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors from 1993 – 2000

Wright was born in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Victoria High School in 1966, and received a B.A. degree in political science from Old Dominion University in 1970.Wright was elected to the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors in 1993 and 1997. He served as chairman 1995–1997.State Senator Richard J. Holland died on April 16, 2000. He was succeeded in office by 61st district Delegate Frank Ruff, who won a special election on November 7, 2000. Wright received the Republican nomination to replace Ruff, and won the seat in another special election on December 19.

Summary

Current Position: State Delegate for District 61 since 2001
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): Chair, Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors from 1993 – 2000

About

Source: Wikipedia

From Government page

Membership & Affiliation: Victoria Christian Church (trustee, elder)
Victoria High School Preservation Foundation (board of directors)
Lunenburg County Crime Solvers Association (charter member)
Lunenburg County Rotary
Victoria Chamber of Commerce (former member)
Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce
South Hill Chamber of Commerce
Regional Economic Development Advisory Council
Workforce Investment Board
Fort Pickett Local Reuse Authority
Southside Business and Education Commission
Crossroads Community Services Board (former member)
Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission
State Water Commission (chairman)
Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Council
Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission (vice chairman)
Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Awards Committee
Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission

Experience

Work Experience

Grocer
2019 to present

Education

B.A. political science
Old Dominion University
1970 to present

Personal

Birth Year: 1948
Place of Birth: Richmond, VA
Gender: Male
Race(s): Caucasian
Religion: Christian
Spouse: Frances Rose Abernathy
Children: Thomas C., III and Briggs

Contact

Legislative Assistant: Nancy L. Snead
Administrative Assistant During Session: Harriet Frank

Email:

Government – DelTWright@house.virginia.gov

Offices

Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
900 E. Main St,
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 698-1061

District Office
1415 8th Street
Victoria, VA 23974

Phone: (434) 696-3061

Web

Government Page

Politics

Recent Elections

2019 State Delegate

Thomas Wright (R)	15,474	66.77%
Trudy Bell Berry (D)	7,667	33.08%
Write In (Write-in)	33
TOTAL	23,174

2017 State Delegate

Thomas Wright (R)	17,507	97.23%
Write In (Write-in)	501	2.77%
TOTAL	18,008

2015 State Delegate

Thomas Wright (R)	12,413	71.3%
Gregory Lance Marston (D)	4,987	28.6%
Write In (Write-in)	20	0.1%
TOTAL	17,420

Trudy Berry

Current Position: Secretary of the Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

Summary

Current Position: Secretary of the Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

About

Source: Campaign page

I was born in Lansing, MI, and raised in Lansing, the small town of Dimondale, MI, and Los Angeles, CA. My late father, a Michigan native of Scots-Irish descent, and my mother, of Japanese ancestry, met when he was in the Navy and stationed in Hawaii. My mother was born and raised on Oahu and was eight years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Her father and brothers spent the war years in an internment camp in Arizona.

While studying at Holt Senior High School, in Holt, MI, I worked at a fast food restaurant and an office and school supply warehouse and was inducted into the National Honor Society and received the John & Elizabeth Whitely Business Award. After graduation, I joined the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and earned an Honor Graduate Certificate upon completion of the Administrative Specialist Course and then went on to complete the Legal Services Specialist Course. When my USAF enlistment ended, I accompanied my Air Force husband to the Philippines where I worked as a Civil Service employee at JUSMAG (Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group), in the USAF Legal Office at Clark Air Base, and for the State Department in the USAID Inspector General’s Office. Upon returning stateside to MD, I worked for a DOD Contractor in northern VA, but after a reduction in force I moved to VA, first to Williamsburg in 1990, then Yorktown in 1991, and finally settled in Green Bay in Lunenburg County in 1998.

During my time in the USAF, in the Philippines, and later in Virginia, I enrolled in college courses whenever and wherever I could. In 2001, I earned a BS in Sociology with a Concentration in Criminal Justice from Longwood University in Farmville, VA, graduating Magna cum Laude, receiving two Citizen Leader Awards and induction into three Honor Societies. In 2002, I earned a Certificate in Social Policy and Administration, also from Longwood University.

As a mother of five children, with one son currently serving in the U.S. Army who has deployed twice to Afghanistan, and a grandmother of thirteen, I have always tried to stay active in both family and community affairs. This has included volunteering at church, with the kids’ summer swim team, for a Little League team, and serving as a Cub Scout and Brownie Girl Scout Leader. I joined the Friends of the Victoria (VA) Public Library in 2011 and have served as Secretary since 2015 and also served as Secretary of the Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce from 2014 to 2018, stepping down from that role to concentrate on my campaign for Delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. I am also an active member of the Lunenburg County Democratic Committee.

My service and justice oriented nature has guided me along life’s path. I wish to be of service to a wider community and have put that desire into action as a candidate for House District 61.

Contact

Email:

Campaign – info@trudyberry.com

Offices

Campaign Office
PO BOX 184
VIctoria, VA 23974-0184

Web

Campaign Site, Twitter, Facebook

Twitter

Tweets by VaDistrict61

Issues

Source: Campaign page

Healthcare
The mid-term elections are over, open enrollment has closed, and the cost of healthcare is on the rise. In 2019, insurance premiums are increasing, co-pays are increasing, and the cost of prescription drugs is increasing. We need to continue to work to lower healthcare costs and increase access to affordable healthcare.

We need to stop the opioid crises and include cannabis products on our list of acceptable medical treatment.

We need to let people choose their own doctors, hospitals, and treatment.

Environment
Our environment is being destroyed by energy and waste disposal companies with the express permission of our elected officials. Unsafe pipelines are being erected and landfills are unnecessarily being constructed and expanded throughout our state. Our land, air, and water are being polluted while these companies make money and make campaign contributions to our elected officials, while individual donations and efforts pay to clean up their mess

Education
Leave No Child Behind is a misnomer when we teach a large group of students in the same classroom who are at different levels of learning, do not allow children to enter kindergarten based on age rather than knowledge and ability, and do not challenge students to keep them interested in learning.

We need to decrease class sizes and provide instruction at the same level in each class. That means grouping students in below average, average, and above average classrooms. This allows students to get the instruction and attention they need to excel to the next level.

We need to allow children to enter kindergarten if they turn 5 on or before the first day of school — no matter when school starts (August or September) — and test those who turn 5 up to December 31 and allow them to enter kindergarten if they are academically ready.

We need to offer more skilled labor training classes in middle and high schools to allow students to discover their interests and passions and enhance their skills so they can enter a career path that will sustain their independence.

Economy
We need to encourage broadband and cell phone companies to provide communications to all Virginia residents. This means every household in rural Virginia should have access to the Internet and cell phone service, not just those living in cities and towns and not just in schools and government offices.

Communications access will encourage companies to set up their businesses in our small towns and countryside and provide jobs in our rural communities.

We need to support our local schools, colleges, and universities in providing a skilled workforce for these companies and encourage current business owners to offer internships, apprecenteships, and on-the-job training.

We need a living wage, equal pay for equal work, and paid benefits for every employee regardless of the number of hours worked per week. Employers can pro-rate vacation and sick days.

We need job security that unions and the abolishment of At Will policies will provide to a skilled workforce. Right to Work policies do not prohibit the establishment of unions, they merely state that a union cannot require that an employer refuse to hire someone who does not want to join an established company union and a newly established company union cannot require that an employer fire an employee who does not want to join the union. In other words: joining a union is optional and getting or keeping a job is not dependent on union membership.

We need to establish a fair income tax rate and abolish usury credit card interest rates.

The bottom line is that employed workers and living wages increase the tax base and decrease the need for government assistance.

Lindsey Dougherty

Current Position: Analyst for Chesterfield County
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

Summary

Current Position: Analyst for Chesterfield County
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

About

Source: Campaign page

Lindsey Dougherty has made the public sector her life’s work. She believes the lives of Virginians can be improved through strategic investments in the local economy and will work to build up our communities through new opportunities. In Lindsey’s professional career she has worked extensively with at-risk youth in Juvenile Justice, partnering with community organizations that built both life and job skills. She has worked with state and local governments to increase access to better health through recreation and art. Lindsey currently works in the Budget and Management Department as an analyst for Chesterfield County, providing fiscal oversight and working with community facing departments on their operating, capital improvement plan, and long term budgets.

Lindsey is originally from Knoxville, TN. After completing her BA at the University of Tennessee, she and her husband moved to the Raleigh area in North Carolina to complete their respective graduate programs. Lindsey has a Master’s in Public Administration from North Carolina State University. She moved to Virginia in 2017, with her husband and two children, to pursue new job opportunities and set down roots in the community. She has been an active volunteer with many meaningful organizations and wants to engage with her neighbors in House District 62 as a candidate with ‘every-day, real world experience’, sometimes working multiple jobs at a time to make ends meet, while also attending school full-time, and raising a family. In Lindsey, you will have someone champion your goals and turn them into action at the state level, improving the lives of all 82,000 constituents in the district.

Lindsey believes that communities do better when everyone is safe, healthy, and is engaged with their neighbors. She is excited to get to work, to meet with you and your families, building a community everyone is engaged in. Lindsey’s goals for this campaign are to improve the local and state economies, increase access to all types of jobs, enhance the health and well-being of our citizens, create access and affordability to all types of education, all while increasing civic engagement so that everyone in the district has a voice and is heard.

Web

Campaign Site, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Twitter

Tweets by DoughertyForDel

Issues

Source: Campaign page

Lindsey is focusing her campaign on areas that will build up our diverse communities in Chesterfield, Hopewell, and Prince George, while directly improving the lives of our neighbors that live here.

EDUCATION

Offer free community college classes AND trade school programs to in-state students.
Streamline course credit acceptance across the state college and university system to minimize costs to families.
Reduce barriers to families with special needs children in public schools, allowing access to comprehensive services sooner.
Universal Pre-K programs available to all 3 and 4 year old children.

ECONOMY & JOBS

Improve pay for Virginia teachers and school support staff; raising starting and experienced pay levels to above the average for mid-Atlantic states.
Raise the state minimum wage to better support all Virginia families.
Assist families struggling with care-giving costs for children and/or seniors through subsidy programs while also improving options for families that need flexible care schedules.
Promote affordable housing initiatives.
Review and strengthen financial consumer protections.

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Improve access to quality and affordable mental healthcare; including substance abuse and addiction programs.
Expand access to emergency beds for acute mental health crisis patients.
Work to transition military personnel and their families, from active duty roles to veteran roles in the community.
Implement commonsense gun safety solutions that reduce gun violence across our communities.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & CIVIL RIGHTS

Move the commonwealth forward with new criminal justice reform legislation, including the decriminalization of marijuana.
Implement in-person early voting schedules for general elections.
Pass the Equal Right’s Amendment (ERA).
Advocate for women’s right to improved healthcare outcomes and protect all reproductive rights.
Environmental policies that increase use of renewable energies, bolster protections and water quality to the tributaries of the Chesapeake, and commit to education programs that will reduce waste and increase recycling rates/compliance.

Carrie Coyner

Current Position: State Delegate for District 62
Affiliation: Republican

As a parent, I want the best for my children and yours – safe, nurturing schools; highly qualified teachers; and equal opportunities for every child. As a small business owner, I want graduates who are prepared for the workforce with strong values, critical thinking skills, and a drive to work hard. I want high quality, good paying jobs for our families.

Summary

Current Position: State Delegate for District 62
Affiliation: Republican

About

Source: Campaign page

Carrie was elected to the Chesterfield County School Board in November 2011 and has passionately served her community for eight years. She is the owner and founder of RudyCoyner, Attorneys at Law, located in Chesterfield where she has practiced business and real estate law for almost 15 years. Carrie holds bachelor’s degrees in Spanish language and U.S. government from the University of Virginia and a juris doctorate from the University of Richmond, School of Law.

Carrie has served on the Board of Management for the Chester YMCA, Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee for Chesterfield County, Board of Directors for the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce, Elizabeth Scott Elementary School PTA Board, and currently serves as the children’s choir director and adult Sunday school teacher at Chester United Methodist Church. Carrie and her husband Matt, have three children who are all students in Chesterfield County Public Schools.

SEVEN YEARS OF REAL RESULTS FOR FAMILIES

State-wide speaker on education and housing issues
Constant voice for equity in our schools
Chair, School Safety Task Force Working Group 4, Student Support Services
Leader in community revitalization projects
Smaller class sizes
More elective choices for students
Improved safety in our schools
Wellness initiatives in elementary schools
After school learning centers in our community
Expanded backpack food ministries
Supported upgrades to the auditorium sound system, parking lot lighting and baseball stadium at Thomas Dale High School
Led efforts in renaming Carver College & Career Academy
Increased English as a Second Language teachers in our schools
New construction – Enon Elementary & Harrowgate Elementary Schools
Increased musical instruments in our schools

Web

Campaign Site

Politics

Recent Elections

2019 State Delegate

Carrie Emerson Coyner (R)	13,182	55.10%
Lindsey M. Dougherty (D)	10,701	44.73%
Write-In (Write-in)	40	0.17%
TOTAL	23,923

SESSION UPDATE

It is an honor to have all of my bills pass the House of Delegates this session:

I am also proud to support the following legislation:

Budget Amendments that I have introduced:

Legislative Resources & How-Tos

Participating in the Legislative Session

How to read a bill:

COVID-19 UPDATES

Vaccinating Virginia

THANK YOU

Summary

Summary

VA House District 27

Roxann Robinson

Honors

Larry Barnett

Issues

Civil Rights

Economy

Education

Better Government

Democracy

Environment

Safety

Summary

VA House District 66

Kirkland Cox

Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Issues

Economy

2019 Session – Small Business

Education

2019 Session – Education & School Safety

Civil Rights

Health Care

Veterans

2019 Session – Veterans

Better Government

2019 Session – Gov Spending

Safety

Summary

VA House District 68

Dawn Adams

Garrison Coward

Issues

Economy

Health Care

Education

Better Government

Environment

Safety

Summary

VA House District 72

GayDonna Vandergriff

Schuyler VanValkenburg

Issues

Civil Rights

Economy

Education

Health Care

Infrastructure

Democracy and Civic Engagement

Better Government

Environment

Veterans

Summary

VA House District 73

Rodney Willett

Mary Margaret Kastelberg

Issues

Economy

Education

Health Care

Safety

Civil Rights

Environment

Summary

About

Honors

Experience