Economic Strength and Fiscal Responsibility

As I travel around the 17^th District talking to voters about the issues that most

concern them and that most affect their lives, the number one priority is regaining our economic strength and finding our way back to prosperity. It’s imperative that we find creative solutions to help our small businesses grow and thrive once again. They are the backbone of a community and are where most jobs will be created – for this reason, we must find ways to encourage growth, empowering small business owners to create more and better jobs while growing and maintaining their local roots.

And like each and every one of our families, government has got to learn to live within its means. The solution to our economic challenges must be to learn to restrain spending and to not grow the government in good economic times. We need to restore a disciplined approach to a careful and restrained use of taxpayer dollars.

Public Education

Education is one of the great equalizers in our society, and it is the responsibility of those of us elected to public office to maintain a constant and consistent focus on the need to provide a sound, quality education to our children. Good, quality schools attract new businesses, create a skilled workforce, reduce the incidence of crime and generally improve the social fabric of our communities.

Virginia should work towards the long-term goal of providing for public university education for students in the Commonwealth that achieve high marks in high school. This will continue to cause Virginia to be the friendliest state in the country in which to do business, and will open opportunity and access to higher education. Though this is a long-term goal, it is one that other states have successfully accomplished, and Virginia should work towards this goal.

Transportation

Virginia faces a crisis when it comes to our transportation infrastructure. Clogged roads and dangerous highways not only reduce the quality of life of our residents but also have a significant negative impact on our ability to efficiently deliver goods and services and other forms of commerce. What is needed is decisive action – we can’t afford to continue to talk about the problem. Rather, we need leaders who will work in a bipartisan way to find solutions to the problem.

Public Safety

One of the most important roles of any government is providing safe and livable communities.  In order to do this, we must continue to support the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us. Even during times of budgetary crisis, our first responders must have the tools they need to safely and effectively do their jobs.

Independent Leadership

Solutions to some of the most pressing issues we face in the Roanoke Valley and across the Commonwealth do not belong to one political party or the other. In times of adversity, what is needed are strong, independent leaders that will work across party lines to support sound policies that improve the lives of our citizens. I will always support good ideas in the General Assembly, regardless of which party those ideas originated from. Too often, partisan bickering prevents progress. As your Delegate, I will represent your interests and not those of a political party.