Roslyn Tyler 2

Roslyn Tyler

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Tyler's Bill Expands High Speed Internet to Rural Areas
Campaign Website, Independent Messenger – March 12, 2021

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Broadband Advisory and Chairperson of the House of Appropriation Compensation /Government Committee, sponsored House Bill 2304 that passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Broadband Advisory and Chairperson of the House of Appropriation Compensation /Government Committee, sponsored House Bill 2304 that passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.

The purpose of HB 2304 is to allow electric utility companies such as Dominion Energy to provide high speed internet services to unserved communities and bridge the digital divide in the Commonwealth. Virginia ‘s invested owned utilities are already building broadband networks within their existing grids. This program will allow them to build more capacity than they need strictly for the grid and lease that capacity to ISPs to serve unserved Virginians.

This pilot project has been successful in serving other counties with over 538 miles of fiber optic deployment and over 11,100 home, businesses and community anchors connected with thousands more in the pipeline. The House Bill 2304 will become law when signed by Governor Ralph Northam prior to July 1, 2021.

Broadband expansion/High Speed internet has been one of Delegate Tyler’s priorities and the Covid-19 pandemic has proven the necessity of reliable internet services for education, businesses, agriculture and economic development. The House of Appropriation in the 2021-2022 budget included $100 million dollars for funding localities through competitive grants.

Four Emporia-Greensville officials endorse McAuliffe for governor
Owen FitzGerald – February 19, 2021 (Short)

Four officials representing the City of Emporia and Greensville County communities have endorsed former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, in his campaign for a second term in November.

Del. Roslyn Tyler, D-75, endorsed McAuliffe, along with Greensville County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Brown, Board Vice Chairman Belinda Astrop, and Board member Tony Conwell.

“After this pandemic, our Commonwealth needs a leader who will act holistically to make sure all Virginians benefit in our recovery,” Astrop said in a press release. “From losing jobs to facing the risk of eviction, Virginians need big solutions and a forward-looking vision that won’t tinker around the edges. We need a bold leader like Terry McAuliffe.”

 

State reform of Governor’s Schools blocked; local boards act
Matthew Barakat – February 23, 2021 (Short)

A push to increase the numbers of Black and Hispanic students at Virginia’s selective “Governor’s Schools” by changing admissions policies has failed, despite the support of Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. Roslyn Tyler, singled out Saslaw and Petersen for blocking it, but said in a statement that she considers the effort a success “because it allowed students, alumni, teachers, administrators, elected official and other stakeholders to have a public conversation on racial biasness, inclusion and lack of diversity at the governor schools.”

She said she is confident that the Northam administration will push for reforms even without the legislation.

House of Delegates presents proclamation to Jackson-Feild
January 21, 2021 (Short)

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The House of Delegates of the 244th Virginia General Assembly adopted and passed House Resolution 95 calling attention to and noting the 165th anniversary of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services.

In a country not just 250 years old, the 165th anniversary of anything is an event to be celebrated. It is an especially remarkable achievement when you consider that only18 of our 50 states had been admitted to the union, important inventions such as the telephone, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, vaccinations, etc. had yet to be invented, and events that shaped our nation and world had yet to occur.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler recently presented Tod Balsbaugh, VP of Advancement, the proclamation at her office in Emporia. Jackson-Feild is grateful to the General Assembly for this document and for helping to provide essential mental health services to children with severe mental illness.

Current Position: State Delegate for District 75 since 2006
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2021 State Delegate
Former Position(s): Sussex County Board of Supervisors from 1984 – 1995

Roslyn Tyler was first elected Delegate for the 75th District in 2005. The 75th District includes all of the Cities of Emporia and Franklin and all of  Brunswick and Greensville counties and parts of Dinwiddie, Lunenberg, Southampton, Sussex, Surrey, and Isle of Wight Counties. Delegate Tyler is Chair of the House Education Committee and is a member of the Appropriations and Public Safety committees.

H. Otto Wachsmann Jr.

Otto Wachsmann

Current Position: Pharmacist
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

Roslyn Tyler 2Roslyn Tyler

Current Position: State Delegate for District 75 since 2006
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2021 State Delegate
Former Position(s): Sussex County Board of Supervisors from 1984 – 1995

Roslyn Tyler was first elected Delegate for the 75th District in 2005. The 75th District includes all of the Cities of Emporia and Franklin and all of  Brunswick and Greensville counties and parts of Dinwiddie, Lunenberg, Southampton, Sussex, Surrey, and Isle of Wight Counties. Delegate Tyler is Chair of the House Education Committee and is a member of the Appropriations and Public Safety committees.

i
Tyler's Bill Expands High Speed Internet to Rural Areas
Campaign Website, Independent Messenger – March 12, 2021

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Broadband Advisory and Chairperson of the House of Appropriation Compensation /Government Committee, sponsored House Bill 2304 that passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Broadband Advisory and Chairperson of the House of Appropriation Compensation /Government Committee, sponsored House Bill 2304 that passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.

The purpose of HB 2304 is to allow electric utility companies such as Dominion Energy to provide high speed internet services to unserved communities and bridge the digital divide in the Commonwealth. Virginia ‘s invested owned utilities are already building broadband networks within their existing grids. This program will allow them to build more capacity than they need strictly for the grid and lease that capacity to ISPs to serve unserved Virginians.

This pilot project has been successful in serving other counties with over 538 miles of fiber optic deployment and over 11,100 home, businesses and community anchors connected with thousands more in the pipeline. The House Bill 2304 will become law when signed by Governor Ralph Northam prior to July 1, 2021.

Broadband expansion/High Speed internet has been one of Delegate Tyler’s priorities and the Covid-19 pandemic has proven the necessity of reliable internet services for education, businesses, agriculture and economic development. The House of Appropriation in the 2021-2022 budget included $100 million dollars for funding localities through competitive grants.

Four Emporia-Greensville officials endorse McAuliffe for governor
Owen FitzGerald – February 19, 2021 (Short)

Four officials representing the City of Emporia and Greensville County communities have endorsed former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, in his campaign for a second term in November.

Del. Roslyn Tyler, D-75, endorsed McAuliffe, along with Greensville County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Brown, Board Vice Chairman Belinda Astrop, and Board member Tony Conwell.

“After this pandemic, our Commonwealth needs a leader who will act holistically to make sure all Virginians benefit in our recovery,” Astrop said in a press release. “From losing jobs to facing the risk of eviction, Virginians need big solutions and a forward-looking vision that won’t tinker around the edges. We need a bold leader like Terry McAuliffe.”

 

State reform of Governor’s Schools blocked; local boards act
Matthew Barakat – February 23, 2021 (Short)

A push to increase the numbers of Black and Hispanic students at Virginia’s selective “Governor’s Schools” by changing admissions policies has failed, despite the support of Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. Roslyn Tyler, singled out Saslaw and Petersen for blocking it, but said in a statement that she considers the effort a success “because it allowed students, alumni, teachers, administrators, elected official and other stakeholders to have a public conversation on racial biasness, inclusion and lack of diversity at the governor schools.”

She said she is confident that the Northam administration will push for reforms even without the legislation.

House of Delegates presents proclamation to Jackson-Feild
January 21, 2021 (Short)

-

The House of Delegates of the 244th Virginia General Assembly adopted and passed House Resolution 95 calling attention to and noting the 165th anniversary of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services.

In a country not just 250 years old, the 165th anniversary of anything is an event to be celebrated. It is an especially remarkable achievement when you consider that only18 of our 50 states had been admitted to the union, important inventions such as the telephone, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, vaccinations, etc. had yet to be invented, and events that shaped our nation and world had yet to occur.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler recently presented Tod Balsbaugh, VP of Advancement, the proclamation at her office in Emporia. Jackson-Feild is grateful to the General Assembly for this document and for helping to provide essential mental health services to children with severe mental illness.

Top News

i
Tyler’s Bill Expands High Speed Internet to Rural Areas
Campaign Website, Independent Messenger – March 12, 2021

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Broadband Advisory and Chairperson of the House of Appropriation Compensation /Government Committee, sponsored House Bill 2304 that passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler, who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Broadband Advisory and Chairperson of the House of Appropriation Compensation /Government Committee, sponsored House Bill 2304 that passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support.

The purpose of HB 2304 is to allow electric utility companies such as Dominion Energy to provide high speed internet services to unserved communities and bridge the digital divide in the Commonwealth. Virginia ‘s invested owned utilities are already building broadband networks within their existing grids. This program will allow them to build more capacity than they need strictly for the grid and lease that capacity to ISPs to serve unserved Virginians.

This pilot project has been successful in serving other counties with over 538 miles of fiber optic deployment and over 11,100 home, businesses and community anchors connected with thousands more in the pipeline. The House Bill 2304 will become law when signed by Governor Ralph Northam prior to July 1, 2021.

Broadband expansion/High Speed internet has been one of Delegate Tyler’s priorities and the Covid-19 pandemic has proven the necessity of reliable internet services for education, businesses, agriculture and economic development. The House of Appropriation in the 2021-2022 budget included $100 million dollars for funding localities through competitive grants.

Four Emporia-Greensville officials endorse McAuliffe for governor
Owen FitzGerald – February 19, 2021 (Short)

Four officials representing the City of Emporia and Greensville County communities have endorsed former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, in his campaign for a second term in November.

Del. Roslyn Tyler, D-75, endorsed McAuliffe, along with Greensville County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Brown, Board Vice Chairman Belinda Astrop, and Board member Tony Conwell.

“After this pandemic, our Commonwealth needs a leader who will act holistically to make sure all Virginians benefit in our recovery,” Astrop said in a press release. “From losing jobs to facing the risk of eviction, Virginians need big solutions and a forward-looking vision that won’t tinker around the edges. We need a bold leader like Terry McAuliffe.”

 

State reform of Governor’s Schools blocked; local boards act
Matthew Barakat – February 23, 2021 (Short)

A push to increase the numbers of Black and Hispanic students at Virginia’s selective “Governor’s Schools” by changing admissions policies has failed, despite the support of Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. Roslyn Tyler, singled out Saslaw and Petersen for blocking it, but said in a statement that she considers the effort a success “because it allowed students, alumni, teachers, administrators, elected official and other stakeholders to have a public conversation on racial biasness, inclusion and lack of diversity at the governor schools.”

She said she is confident that the Northam administration will push for reforms even without the legislation.

House of Delegates presents proclamation to Jackson-Feild
January 21, 2021 (Short)

-

The House of Delegates of the 244th Virginia General Assembly adopted and passed House Resolution 95 calling attention to and noting the 165th anniversary of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services.

In a country not just 250 years old, the 165th anniversary of anything is an event to be celebrated. It is an especially remarkable achievement when you consider that only18 of our 50 states had been admitted to the union, important inventions such as the telephone, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, vaccinations, etc. had yet to be invented, and events that shaped our nation and world had yet to occur.

Delegate Roslyn Tyler recently presented Tod Balsbaugh, VP of Advancement, the proclamation at her office in Emporia. Jackson-Feild is grateful to the General Assembly for this document and for helping to provide essential mental health services to children with severe mental illness.

Summary

Current Position: State Delegate for District 75 since 2006
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2021 State Delegate
Former Position(s): Sussex County Board of Supervisors from 1984 – 1995

Roslyn Tyler was first elected Delegate for the 75th District in 2005. The 75th District includes all of the Cities of Emporia and Franklin and all of  Brunswick and Greensville counties and parts of Dinwiddie, Lunenberg, Southampton, Sussex, Surrey, and Isle of Wight Counties. Delegate Tyler is Chair of the House Education Committee and is a member of the Appropriations and Public Safety committees.

About

Roslyn Tyler

Source: Campaign page

Delegate Roslyn Cain “Roz” Tyler, House of Delegates Representative of the 75th District, was elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2005. The 75th District includes all of the City of Emporia, all of Brunswick County, all of Greensville County and parts of Dinwiddie County, Lunenberg County, Southampton County, Sussex County, Surry County, Isle of Wight County, and the City of Franklin

Virginia General Assembly

As the elected representative of Virginia’s 75th District, Delegate Tyler serves on several committees which allow her to advocate for her Legislative Priorities which affect the District.  She has been appointed to serve on the following committees in the 2019 Virginia General Assembly:

  • House Committee of Appropriations

Subcommittees:

Capitol Outlay

Public Safety

  • Education

    Subcommittee:

Subcommittee #1

  • Militia. Police and Public Safety

     Subcommittee:

Subcommittee #1

View current and past session legislation >

Family

 

Delegate Tyler was born on July 18, 1961 to Johnny and Gladys Cain in Emporia, Virginia.  She resides in Jarratt, Virginia in Sussex County with her husband, Rufus Tyler, Sr.  She has four children: Rufus Jr., Ronecia, Rosche, Rameka and two grandchildren, Makenzie and Karter.

Education

  • Greensville County High School
  • B.S. Biology – Virginia State University
  • B.S. Physical Therapy – Old Dominion University
  • M.S. Education – Virginia State University
  • Advanced Studies – Virginia Commonwealth University

Employment

Clinical Coordinator of Physical Therapy at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center.

Honors/Activities

  • “Hard Rock Award” from Virginia Education Association
  • Grade A Award – Virginia Chamber of Commerce
  • Emporia – Greensville Rotary Club
  • Virginia Physical Therapist Association
  • Organizer of the 75th District Gospel Choir
  • Head Start Advisory Comittee
  • Smart Beginnings Board of Directors
  • Former Board Member of John Tyler Community College
  • Former Chair of Sussex County Board of Supervisors

Experience

Work Experience

  • Clinical Coordinator
    Rehabilitative Services, Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center

Education

  • B.S., Biology, 1982; M.Ed., Education, 1995
    Virginia State University
  • B.S., Physical Therapy
    Old Dominion University
    1986 to present

  • Virginia Commonwealth University

Awards

League of Conservation Voters, Conservation Legislative Hero
Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Distinguished Advocate for Virginia Business
Virginia Loggers Association, President’s Award
Virginia Education Association, Solid as a Rock Award
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Outstanding Achievement
Delta Sigma Theta, Inc, Outstanding Public Service
Greensville and Emporia Economic Development Partnership, Economic Development Award

Personal

  • Birth Year: 1961
  • Place of Birth: Greensville County, VA
  • Gender: Female
  • Race(s): African American
  • Religion: Baptist
  • Spouse: Rufus Edmond Tyler, Sr.
  • Children: Rufus, Jr., Ronecia, Rosch�, and Rameka

Membership & Affiliation

Chapel Hill Baptist Church
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
American Physical Therapy Association
Virginia Physical Therapy Association
Head Start Health Advisory Board
Boys & Girls Club of Emporia/Greensville County (board of directors)
Emporia/Greensville County Rotary
John Tyler Community College (former board member)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission
Virginia Rural Center (board of directors)
Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (vice chairman, former chairman)

Contact

Legislative Assistant: Mary Beth Washington
Administrative Assistant During Session: Mari Wadsworth

Email:

Offices

Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
900 E. Main St,
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 698-1075

District Office
25359 Blue Star Highway
Jarratt, VA 23867
Phone: (434) 336-1710

Web

Campaign Site, Facebook, LinkedIn

Politics

Recent Elections

2019 State Delegate

Roslyn Tyler (D)12,34650.98%
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr (R)11,84048.89%
Write In (Write-in)300.12%
TOTAL24,216

Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Finances

TYLER, ROSLYN C has run in 7 races for public office, winning 7 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $774,959.

Source: Follow the Money

Committees

Committees

Militia, Police and Public Safety
Education
Appropriations

Subcommittees

Appropriations – General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee
Appropriations – Public Safety Subcommittee
Education – Subcommittee #1
Militia, Police and Public Safety – Subcommittee #1

Appointments

Voting Record

See: Vote Smart

New Legislation

Source: Virginia Legislative Information System

Issues

Economy

Jobs and Economic Development

Rural Virginia unemployment rate is much higher than other areas of Virginia. I supported legislation that would increase the minimum wage amount to 10 dollars and measures to help women seek equal pay for equal work.  I have been working hard to promote my district and counties’ industrial parks as shovel ready areas for economic development and job opportunities.

It was a pleasure to work with Secretary of Commerce Maurice Jones, who grew up in Kenbridge, Virginia and understood the challenges of rural Virginia under Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Administration. Additionally, Governor Ralph Northam continues to work to build Virginia’s economy. This is the reason I supported the decision to expand funding for the Governor’s Opportunity Fund which will help to bring new jobs and businesses to Virginia.

Education

A good quality education, regardless of a student’s zip code, has always been one of my priorities. I was the first child in my family to attend a university and earn a degree. I realized that growing up in an area with limited opportunities, education was the key to living a quality life and earning a decent salary to raise a family, I have served on the state education committee for 10 years.

I am focused on SOL reform to allow teachers to be creative in the classroom while promoting academic excellence. I will continue to support funding for early childhood education, pre-k to higher education, expand career and technical education opportunities, maintain affordability for higher education and competitive teacher salaries.

Health Care

Everyone deserves the right to have access to affordable and quality health care. Over 400,000 Virginians and working families do not have access to quality health, and the Commonwealth continues to lose 5 million dollars a day refusing to participate in the Federal affordable health care act.

As a health care provider, I realize that some families must make a choice between buying health care insurance and paying their rent or refilling their prescriptions. These are reasons I continue to support affordable health care coverage, affordable prescription drugs, assistance for family care givers and long term care.

 

Safety

Public Safety

With the closing of correctional Facilities and the layoffs of public safety staff in recent years, public safety was drastically affected and changed. This year’s legislators recognized the importance of retaining public safety officers and their valuable services and sacrifices on a daily basis to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth. Correctional officers and senior officers are two of the 19 state jobs with the highest turnover rate due to low salaries and hazardous work environment.

As a member of the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee, supporting and funding our law enforcement officers and correctional officers has been one of my priorities. The 75th District has more correctional facilities (Greensville, Sussex I and II, Deerfield, and Brunswick Private Facility) than any other district in the Commonwealth.

l was pleased to vote in favor of the budget that included a compensation package for our state police, deputy sheriffs and correctional officers. The budget allocates $6,939,908 million dollars which will provide a $1,000 increase in the starting salaries for correctional officers and 1.5% percent increase for state employees effective August 10, 2015.

I would like to thank all public safety officers including our state polices, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, correctional officers and emergency services for their dedication and commitment in making my district and the Commonwealth a safe place to raise our children and families.

In January 2018 I introduced HB 1418 for the Creation of Procedural Guarantee Act for Correction Officers which was passed by the House and Senate and approved by the Governor on April 4, 2018, effective July 1, 2018.  See Full Text and History of the Bill at LIS.virginia.gov >

 

Agriculture/Forest Industry

Over three- fourths (3/4) of the 75th District is rural, and agriculture and forestry is an economic engine.  In Virginia, Agriculture and Forestry is its largest industry.  The Industry has an economic impact of over 70 billion annually and provide more than 334,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.

For this reason, I continue to be a strong supporter and advocate for the Agriculture and Forestry Industry.  I have a 100% voting record in supporting Farm Bureau Legislative agenda.  Recently, I co-sponsored successful legislation (HR 987) which updated agriculture nuisance provisions of Virginia’s Right to Farm Act.  The Act’s prohibition nuisance lawsuits against farmers by protecting them against false claims of nuisance and unfair judgements.

Because of my profound commitment to the industry, Farm Bureau has continuously endorsed my candidacy for the House of Delegates.   Additionally, the Virginia Loggers Association (VLA) awarded me the President Award in recognition of my continuous support and Leadership of the Forestry Industry.

This year, Senator Frank Ruff and I carried VLA’s Flashing Amber Light Bill (46.2-1026(26) which authorizes the installation of flashing amber lights on vehicles used for hauling trees, logs or any forest products.

Hunting & Sportsman Rights

As a youth growing up in rural Greensville County, our family traditional included hunting and fishing.  It was a male sport until later in the 1970’s when women began to participate.  Some hunted for necessity whereby others utilized it for family fun sharing community values and fellowship at the various club.

Today, I still value hunting and sportsman activities.  Hunting and fishing contribute billions to US. Economy annually.  That’s why when HB1900 threatened hunting with dogs in Virginia, I led the bi-partisan fight which defeated HB1900 (48-47 vote) to protect hunting and continue our legacy.  Virginians can continue to count on me to protect hunting and sportsman rights in Richmond.

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H. Otto Wachsmann Jr.Otto Wachsmann

Current Position: Pharmacist
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

Summary

Current Position: Pharmacist
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2019 State Delegate

Overview: N/A

About

H. Otto Wachsmann Jr. 1

Source: Facebook

Otto Wachsmann is passionate about his sense of community and his strong desire to see his community move forward.  This value has been instilled in him from his early days spending as much time in the summer as he could on his grandfather’s farm, standing on a soda fountain stool so he could reach the keys on his father’s cash register at their family owned store, serving for sixteen years as a member of the Stony Creek Volunteer Fire Department, maintaining his efforts as a member of the Joyner Gray Yale Ruritan Club and his decades working as a pharmacist at Stony Creek Pharmacy.  

After graduating from high school, Otto attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg  for two years to fulfill his entrance requirements into the Medical College of Virginia-VCU School of Pharmacy where he earned his BS degree in Pharmacy in 1986.  Immediately following graduation, he started working as a staff pharmacist for Peoples Drug briefly in Richmond before being transferred closer to home at their Emporia, Virginia location.  It wasn’t long before he left corporate pharmacy and began a career working for a collection of independent pharmacies in Sussex, Petersburg, Prince George and Crewe, Virginia. ​

In 1989 Otto took a brief absence from community pharmacy and took a home office manager positions at the A. H. Robins Company in Richmond as their first Manager of Managed Health Care/Technical Information and later as their Manager of New Product Planning/Technical Information.  While those two roles only lasted for one year before the company was purchased by American Home Products, it provided him with an inside view of what has now developed into how prescription drug prices are created and further manipulated.​

After returning to his previous work with independent pharmacies, in 1996 Otto stepped out again and accepted the position as Director of Experiential Education at the newly created Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.  While pioneering this position, Otto travelled throughout the state and became quite aware of the concerns of many people in our rural areas including the opioid crisis which was just developing in Southwest Virginia at that time.  It was also during this time that he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Shenandoah University and served as President of the Virginia Pharmacists Association.

​

Although Otto found the Winchester region in Virginia quite appealing, in 2003 he returned home to the 75th District and purchased his father’s pharmacy that he still owns and continues to help those in our community with their prescription needs. He is quite fortunate to have some outstanding and friendly staff to assist with serving their patients who need and deserve assistance with understanding their healthcare needs.  It is this position, from behind and in front of the pharmacy counter that Otto has gained his sense of passion for his community.  As portions of our economy according to the experts seem to have improved the past few years, it is apparent in rural areas such as most of the 75th District this move to prosperity appears to have stalled.  While we hear of programs to help improve the economy from a statewide level, with very few exceptions, Otto has not seen those benefits translate well to those in our community.   Instead he sees many areas of decline for his patients and as a small business owner he watches as hardware stores, grocery stores and other pharmacies close leaving those in the community with a loss of valuable resources.  These reasons are what have prompted Otto to make a bid for the office of Delegate for the 75th District in Virginia.

Today Otto and his wife Judy have their roots in Sussex County to stay.  In addition to their pharmacy, he enjoys living in the house that he and Judy had built on that very same farm that Otto enjoyed spending so much time on with his grandfather.  They have two daughters, Katherine (Kate) and Kirsten that have recently moved off the farm and into their own.  Kate works at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center in Emporia as an X-ray/CT technician and their youngest daughter Kirsten is in graduate school at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.  When Judy isn’t maintaining her efforts with managing the dual enrollment high school student program at Paul D Community College in Franklin, VA in their free time, she and Otto enjoy their farmhouse with their chocolate Labrador Celexa who is probably at this very moment adding to her collection of sticks, rocks and weeds she keeps in the family room.

​

​

Web

Facebook, Campaign Site, Twitter

Twitter

Issues

Source: Campaign page

Increase Access to Quality Care

Too many families in Southside suffer from an incomplete healthcare system.  Access to quality care is limited, providers lack necessary resources, prescription drug costs are too high, and it’s nearly impossible to navigate the health insurance maze.  We need patient centered solutions that will allow those in our community to have access to the quality and affordable care they deserve, regardless of location.  We also need to protect patients with preexisting conditions and ensure they get the care they need.    

Additionally, we need to confront the opioid epidemic head on.  We are losing too many young, talented individuals to this tragic disease while wasting valuable resources which can be used elsewhere.  There has to be a better way.  We must find a solution.  We have to find a different  approach.

Bringing Jobs Back to Southside

We are told the economy is improving and unemployment is low, but it’s hard to see the effects of that in our region.  Over the years countless businesses have been forced to close taking good paying jobs with them.  We need to show that Southside is open for business and that starts with a favorable tax climate and eliminating burdensome regulations that hurt businesses.  Jobs are not a partisan issue.  We need to work with everyone, regardless of party, to make sure Southside is an attractive place to open a business.  We need to offer our local governments a hand in identifying and bringing new business into the region.  We need to discover how we can assist new small businesses to open and operate.  

Agriculture is critical to our economy. We need to ensure preservation of farmland, reduce unnecessary and unfounded regulation on farmers and the farming industry, and create a business climate where agriculture in all forms can thrive.

Quality Education for All Students

Our children deserve the best education from the best teachers.  We must make it a priority to keep great teachers in the classroom and that starts with making sure they are fairly compensated.  If we are going to attract jobs to our region then we need to prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow.  Finally, a cookie-cutter approach to education does not work.  Different students have different needs and we owe it to them and our teachers to have a flexible system that can accommodate these students and best prepare them for success.

Additionally, rural areas of the state like ours are being left behind as we struggle to try and keep our facilities from falling apart. It’s important to take steps forward to modernize and improve our crumbling school infrastructure. 

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