Issues

This election is ultimately about having the right priorities and putting Fairfax first. Here is what you can expect from me if I earn your vote:

TRANSPORTATION & CONGESTION

BRAC and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes: In spite of the pleas of our Congressional Delegation to hold off on the process, the Department of Defense has moved forward on locating 24,000 employees to Fort Belvoir, the GSA site and the Mark Center. We must focus immediately on easing congestion from BRAC by working hand in hand with state and local officials.

The HOT lanes were initially presented as a way to ease the expected increase in congestion. It must be our first priority that car poolers and slug line commuters are allowed to drive at adequate speeds on the HOT lanes. I will also work with other Northern Virginia elected officials from both parties and demand that the Virginia Department of Transportation reverse course and allow the corresponding increase in buses needed to ease congestion. This is how these lanes were first proposed to Northern Virginians.

This is an important first step in alleviating the expected onslaught of traffic on I-95.

Tax Incentives for Telecommuting: This hits home for me. My wife has a wonderful position at a company in Tyson’s Corner. But despite the flexibility allowed in her schedule, she faces a troubling commute like many of us. As a commonwealth, we should reward companies who harness modern technology that allows us to stay connected to our workplaces from home. This affords employees the opportunity to spend more time with family, which eases congestion and improves our air quality.

Infrastructure Improvement: Fixing our aging bridges and pot-hole pocked secondary roads is long overdue and addressing this challenge will help create jobs in Southern Fairfax County. These capital improvements are a legacy left to us by previous generation and if we do not tackle our crumbling infrastructure we will have wasted billions in tax payer dollars that has already been invested.

Metro: Without a dedicated source of funding for Metro, our community suffers from spiraling fares and outrageous parking fees for commuters leaving from Franconia-Springfield. I will work with both parties to create a dedicated stream of revenue to confront this challenge.
Partnership to Improve Funding: I will work in a bi-partisan fashion with representatives from the high population areas of Virginia in order to craft solutions to confront our mutual transportation challenges. Any discussion involving transportation funding should include addressing the needs of Virginia’s most congested areas.

EDUCATION

College and Graduate School Affordability: We need to stop saddling our future leaders with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan payments. We must stop the spiraling, out of control tuition increases that are putting a financial burden on Northern Virginia families. That’s why I’ll work to make the needed investments in our universities and community colleges to keep tuition affordable for Virginia students and their families.

Fairfax County Public Schools: It is crucial that we adequately fund our public schools and pay our educators competitive salaries to keep the best teachers here in Fairfax. As a community that prides itself on the high quality of education that our children deserve, we should expect their schools to meet those same standards. We cannot afford the $253 million in cuts my opponent voted for in the last state budget. Even in one of the wealthiest counties in America, too many of our children are going to school in trailers and buildings in need of renovations. I will work side by side with other Northern Virginia representatives to make sure we get our fair share of funding. Funding our public schools will be at the top of any discussion of the budget.

Community Colleges: I will focus on re-investing in Northern Virginia Community College and vocational schools. These institutions prepare our students for quality jobs in the modern economy.

Increased Access to Early Childhood Education: Jack is running for Delegate to provide his young daughters with even better opportunities than he had growing up in Southern Fairfax County, and to do the same for you and your family. Jack will work to adequately fund Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten and Full Day Kindergarten.

ECONOMY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Fiscal Responsibility: I will stand up to politicians in Richmond with the wrong priorities who put special interests, pet projects and the Tea Party agenda ahead of protecting our quality of life. I will lead the charge against wasteful spending coming out of the General Assembly. As your delegate, I will work to prevent a legislative culture that feels it is OK to cut $253 Million from school funding but allow Viagra to be covered in the state health plan.

Business Climate: I understand that maintaining competitive corporate tax rates is an important part of maintaining a strong business climate in Virginia. I also know that making sure we have a well-educated workforce and a transportation system that doesn’t leave us stuck in traffic for hours at a time is something that businesses look for when seeking a place to relocate.

Small Business Initiatives: As a small businessman, I understand the need to streamline regulations and bureaucratic red tape to promote small business growth. As your delegate, I will work with other legislators to review the laws, licenses and fees governing our small businesses and make sure they do not discourage owners from investment and hiring.

PROTECTING OUR SENIORS

Protecting Your Retirement Fund: Politicians in Richmond must end the practice of balancing the budget on the backs of retired state employees. Our teachers, firefighters, police and prosecutors deserve better. As your Delegate, I will fight against any political maneuvering that diverts funding meant for the Virginia Retirement System.

SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

As a sportsman and hunter, I support the second amendment. And as someone who understands the responsibility that comes with using firearms, I also support common sense measures to avoid senseless tragedies. My opponent voted to make it legal to carry concealed handguns in bars that serve alcohol. This is a reckless piece of public policy – alcohol and guns in a public setting do not mix. I will fight against such measures as your delegate.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

As a father and a husband, I want to ensure that my two daughters and wife always have access to safe and affordable health care. My opponent’s vote to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood – an organization that spends 97% of its budget on health services for women like preventing breast and cervical cancer – is nothing more than a cheap ploy that puts women’s lives at risk. As your delegate, I will fight to ensure that women have viable options when it comes to their well being.