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Moderates debate: Same answers, different approaches
The Leaque of Women Vorters hosted a debate Sept. 19 between two of the three candidates vying for the Virgnia Senate's 27th District seat.
Karen Schultz (D) and Donald Marro (I), both moderates, squared off at the Carver Senior Center in Purcellville for a four-part debate. They gave opening statements, answered questions from a panel comprised of local media, fielded questions from the audience and gave closing statements. About 50 people attended the debate.
Noticeably absent was Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel (R), who dropped out of the debate Monday afternoon because of a scheduling conflict.
Her absence was addressed more than once during the 90-minute event by the two candidates present, League of Women Voters representatives and one of the audience members.
“I'm sorry that Ms. Vogel didn't come,” said Lewis Leigh Jr., of Mt. Gilleon, before asking his question. “So, I'm going to vote for one of you.”
Leigh said he came out to meet the candidates and make his Nov. 6 decision.
“This is one of the very few elections that I don't know who I'm voting for,” he said.
Hot topics included immigration, transportation and the candidates' budget priorities.
Virginia is at a crossroads, said Schultz, about the tough decisions facing Virginians.
Both candidates said their first priority when elected and at the General Assembly in Richmond would be to establish relationships with other elected officials who share the same goals.
“In the first year, you'll be very lucky if you get to introduce any legislation at all,” Marro said. “The first year is an orientation and collaboration session.”
Schultz disagreed.
“I don't think there's time to wait,” she said in response to Marro's comment. “I would go to Richmond and start right away.”
Each candidate was allowed only one return response to the other candidate's answer, and Marro used his turn on this question.
“I have more relationships in Richmond than anyone in this room,” he said. “It takes time [to build relationships and get legislation approved].”
Transportation
The candidates agreed that recent legislation passed by the General Assembly didn't do enough to solve the state's transportation issues.
“It's a good bill in that they got it passed,” said Marro. “It's a bad bill because it doesn't do anything.”
His policy platform says that those who use the roads should have to pay for the roads.
“You have to pay for what you get,” and that could mean a gas tax or more or more expensive toll roads.
Schultz said the issue is solving our dependence on long-distance commutes.
“We are not getting out of this problem with paving,” she said.
Immigration
Immigration is a local problem but a federal issue, said the candidates, who both believe the federal government has failed to solve the immigration issues now facing many of Northern Virginia's localities.
“It's [an issue that's] been winked at and nodded at by the people who benefit from it” through business and political interests, Marro said.
“The immigration situation is incredibly complicated,” Schultz said, adding that the federal government has “messed up” and now the burden of enforcing immigration regulations has shifted to the localities that don't have the money to enforce the laws.
Dominion power line
Another issue facing Fauquier County, which is part of the 27th District, is Dominion Power's planned project of a power line, which would slice through the southern part of the county. The power line would touch Loudoun at its eastern end.
Dominion has proposed installing a 240-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line from southwestern Pennsylvania to Virginia.
Currently Dominion's application for the line is before the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
But it's opposed by most Fauquier residents in the 27th District.
“I'm against the power line,” Schultz said.
Marro was more specific.
“Why in the world do they want to ruin the world” with their power lines that are unsafe, he said.
“You don't need it. Cancel it.”
Budget priorities
“We are facing a huge budget shortfall,” Schultz said, including in safety departments like the police and fire departments, transportation needs and education.
Marro said a problem with Virginia's current budget is that is leaves unfunded mandates such as No Child Left Behind.
If the federal government wants these mandates, he said, it should have to help pay for them.
Gov. Tim Kaine (D) recently announced that because of the budget shortfall, there was a need for all state agencies to make budget cuts.
“A 5-percent reduction across the board hurts everybody,” Marro said.
Voters from the 27th District will decide on their choice of candidate Nov. 6 at the polls.
For more information on Karen Schultz, visit www.karenschultz.org
For more information on Donald Marro, visit http://www.marroforsenate.com.
For more information on Jill Holtzman Vogel, visit www.votejill.com.
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