Priorities
The issues highlighted here are those with which I am most familiar with and passionate about. I look forward to speaking with you, learning about the issues you have a passion for, and advocating for solutions as your Delegate.
Childcare Affordability
Three years ago, I chose to become a stay-at-home dad. Part of the reason why is because childcare is really expensive, and it just made more sense financially for our family. If we were to put both of our boys in daycare, it would cost more than our monthly mortgage payment. That's not affordable for anyone. I am the only candidate in this district that is advocating for more affordable childcare, because I understand what it's like to have to choose between having children and fully pursuing a career. Childcare, as it exists today, is a broken business model. It's expensive to families, pays poorly for workers, and is not very profitable for operators. I believe the solution will involve subsidies and a partnership between the government and the business community, both of which stand to benefit financially from stay-at-home parents like me coming back to the workforce.
Housing Affordability
Whether you're a renter who's looking to renew your lease, a first time homebuyer searching for the right place to settle down, or a homeowner watching your real estate tax bill increase again and again, housing is becoming less and less affordable. I know this personally, because I am the only candidate in this district who has had the experience of being a first time homebuyer in this decade. We know that owning a home is a crucial part of building wealth and being able to eventually retire on our own terms. We know that the economics of limited supply and high demand are driving costs up. To solve this crisis, we will need to focus on creative solutions for increasing our supply of housing in Virginia - including more allowing for accessory dwelling units, allowing religious organizations to build affordable housing on their land, and encouraging more multifamily development in areas near shopping and transit.
Strong Public Schools
Exceptional quality public education is an investment in our collective future. I am the only candidate in this race whose children will attend public schools during the upcoming term. I care deeply about our public schools because they'll be educating my own children until 2042. So I will be doing everything in my power to strengthen our public education system. It all starts with attracting and retaining high quality educators and support staff. We can do that by increasing teacher salaries to an average of $80,000 per year in Virginia by 2030, which would put us in the top 10 among states. And we need to mandate that all school boards in Virginia be elected by and accountable to the people, not appointed.
small business
Small businesses are the backbone of this country and if we want to succeed, we need to invest in them. I started my small business 12 years ago with no money, no office, and no prior experience as a business owner. I understand, quite literally, how to create a job - because I've personally done it more than a dozen times. I understand how to manage a team, how to develop, optimize, and implement a budget, and how to deliver results for clients. These skills will translate directly to my role as Delegate. And I will leverage that role, combined with my understanding of what it takes to start and run a business, to strengthen the small business community throughout the Commonwealth and provide more Virginians with the knowledge and skills they need to start and run their own small businesses.
Bold Climate Action
When it comes to climate and environmental policy, elected officials in the Commonwealth should be crafting legislation without influence from the fossil fuel industry. As such, I have pledged not to accept any campaign contributions from Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power. I am committed to investing in clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering a culture of respect for our planet - because it's the only one we've got. I am proud to have the endorsement of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund as our positions on addressing the climate crisis are so well aligned.
Healthcare affordability
When we're unhealthy, sick, or injured, the healthcare industry in the United States thrives financially. We need to move in the direction of a system that puts our health before corporate profits - a system that prioritizes wellness and care because it benefits from us being in good health. Above all, we should be able to seek medical care, if and when we need it, without ever having to worry about whether or not we can afford it.
Reproductive Rights
Michelle and I have navigated two pregnancies in the past 4 years, and we were so incredibly grateful to live in a state where women have the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health, without extreme restrictions imposed by the government. With the forthcoming constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights, we have an opportunity to make the Commonwealth a destination for millions of Americans looking for a place to settle down and raise a family. I will continue to defend those rights, because I understand just how important they are to women, to families, and to the future of Virginia.
Workers' Rights
The pendulum has swung too far in the direction of giant corporations. As a Virginian, you deserve a good job that pays a living wage. We need to put power back in the hands of the workers, and that begins with repealing Virginia's "Right to Work" law. Doing so would level the playing field and give unions, and by extension, workers, more power to negotiate for higher wages, more benefits, and better working conditions. I am proud to be the only candidate in this district that is prepared to vote to repeal "Right to Work" in Virginia, because I truly care about workers' rights.
Progressive Tax Reform
We currently have a system of taxation in which Virginians earning $17,000 per year and those earning more than $1 million or more per year pay the same exact state income tax rate. Politicians keep trying to push for more casinos and gambling to increase revenue, when the answer is much more simple. Make sure the wealthiest Virginians earning more than $1 million per year pay their fair share of taxes. Put the additional revenue generated into public education, paid family and medical leave, and other programs to help our neighbors who need it most.
Gun Violence
When my son started preschool this past fall, I was confronted with the fact that he will, at some time in the near future, need to participate in an active shooter drill. In that moment, the threat of gun violence, especially in schools, took on a whole new meaning to me. S___ just got real. As your delegate, I will seek to build on the progress we've made in Virginia in combating this epidemic, in hopes that some day, it will finally stop.
Get in Touch
Whether you live in my district or not, I would love to hear from you. Fill out the form below and let me know how I can be of service.
