1. How does Virginia’s transportation funding formula benefit Loudoun County and what, if anything, should be done to improve the current process?
While I was the Chief Co-Patron of HB2 (now known as “Smart Scale”) in 2014 and secured inclusion of the 6th Enactment Clause in that bill mandating that in Northern Virginia congestion relief be given the highest scoring weight of any of the six criteria in funding transportation projects, I am very disappointed in how Smart Scale funding decisions have been made during the Northam Administration. For example, during the most recent Smart Scale funding cycle, Loudoun County submitted ten solid congestion-relieving road projects and only received $1.29 Million for two intersection improvements on Rt. 50 while Arlington County received $53 Million for the Crystal City (aka: Amazon National Landing) Metro East Entrance that will do little for congestion relief in our region.
In my opinion, someone in the Northam Administration had a thumb on the “Smart Scale” to fund an economic development incentive promise. I think that is wrong and I will file curative legislation in 2020 to correct this and ensure that congestion relief is given the priority it deserves in future “Smart Scale” funding decisions for Northern Virginia projects.
2. How would you more effectively align the Commonwealth’s and the County’s sources of revenue with their respective service responsibilities?
In the early 20th Century, a decision was made that the state government would tax incomes and pay for road improvements and city and county governments would tax real estate values and pay for public schools. While this paradigm basically remains in place today, much has changed.
With the advent of Medicaid in 1965, Virginia took on a larger role in funding health care and today 31% of the Budget goes to health care with 34% going to education and only 12.5% of going to transportation. In Loudoun County, 67% of the adopted FY 2020 budget goes to fund our public schools. Despite these changes, the respective taxing powers held by the Commonwealth and the County have not really changed since the early 20th Century. I do not see an urgent need to change this existing paradigm and do not favor providing additional taxing powers to localities. I think the budget work by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors over the last few years has shown that an exceptional school system and superior public services can be provided using existing taxation powers. On the Commonwealth side, I would see tax reform measures considered and enacted during the upcoming biennial budget cycle.
3. With Virginia facing a teacher shortage crisis, what current or future measures will you support that will have an impact on this challenge?
Virginia should be able to attract the finest public school teachers in our nation. I am very pleased that the 2018 Biennial Budget provided a 5% increase in teacher salaries, but more needs to be done to ensure that the salaries offered to our teachers are commensurate for them to live, work, and prosper in those areas of Virginia, such as Loudoun, where housing costs, fuel prices, and the overall costs of living are higher. I would also like to better avenues for public school teachers to earn higher degrees in education that will allow them to earn more and better serve their students.
4. How can the Commonwealth become a more effective partner in addressing Loudoun’s housing affordability challenge?
The provision of housing is primarily a function of market conditions and local land use policies. I do not favor the Commonwealth either taking over local land use decision-making or forcing localities to meet certain quotas in affordable housing as has been proposed in other states. I think the Commonwealth should provide enhanced programmatic funding and loan programs through the Virginia Public Housing Authority and consider an expansion of tax credit programs to encourage the building of affordable and workforce housing in area of Virginia where housing affordability is acute.
5. Do you support Virginia’s Right To Work laws? Why or why not? If not, what superior solution would you propose?
Yes. I support Virginia’s Right to Work laws.
6. Please describe what best qualifies you to hold the office you’re seeking.
I have over 30 years of Loudoun County leadership experience in a multitude of business, civic, professional, and economic development organizations in Loudoun County. These experiences allowed me to be a highly effective member of the Virginia General Assembly for six years with many of my bills enacted into law. As the Managing Shareholder of a small law firm in Leesburg, I understand well small business issues in County. I also have many years of leadership in transportation advocacy for Loudoun County and currently serve on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority that has surpassed the Commonwealth Transportation Board in funding road improvements in our county. In sum, I think I am well-positioned for continued effective service to Loudoun County. Lastly, in these time of polarized an uncivil politics, I am proud that in my six years of service in the House of Delegates, I earned a reputation for civility and as a solution-oriented problem solver with a knack for bipartisanship.
Source: BizVotes Candidates Questionnaire
