With the election 2009 just two months away, The Connection has asked the candidates for the House of Delegates District 34, current delegate Margaret Vanderhye (D) and her challenger Barbara Comstock, the same set of questions. Here are their responses:



* (In order of priorities) what are the top three issues facing the 34th district?



VANDERHYE: The top three issues are transportation, the economy, and education, and they are interrelated.

COMSTOCK: The economy, transportation and education.



* What would you do to address those issues?



VANDERHYE: An adequate transportation infrastructure is essential to a vibrant economy. We must have legislators in Richmond who will vote for new dedicated, sufficient and sustainable transportation funding at the state and regional levels to deal with our severe transportation funding shortfalls. The tired diversions and gimmicks of the House Republican leadership are hurting Northern Virginia. We should revisit the recommendations of the 2005 Statewide Transportation Task Force and implement the best options, once the economy improves. All drivers should pay for our infrastructure, not just Virginians. 

Virginia must retain well-managed, business friendly policies such as our 2009 legislation to provide tax credits and university partnerships for bioscience companies. 

A strong economy depends on a commitment to education. We must educate our students to be first class thinkers, not just test takers, and prepare them to compete in a global economy. We need to reform our workforce training programs with more business and school partnerships. 

COMSTOCK: I’m a champion for Virginia’s job friendly environment, low taxation, low unionization, low regulation and right to work. I support a 10 percent tax cut for small businesses for a real stimulus. On transportation, I will support U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) and Del. Joe May’s (R-33) bipartisan commission to address our transportation funding crisis and get a better return on our transportation dollars. I also support environmentally safe offshore drilling with the royalties dedicated to transportation needs. Coming from a family of educators, I strongly support having more of our education dollars sent directly to the classroom for teacher salaries, books and computers, and I will promote having more in-state spots in Virginia state universities for our kids. 



* Why do you think voters should vote for you and not for your opponent?



VANDERHYE: I am the delegate for the 34th District. My success in the legislature is built on 25 years of leadership on state, regional and community issues, serving three Virginia governors and a U.S. president. I have worked across party lines to pass bills benefiting all Virginians, especially in energy, health care and green jobs. My opponent cannot match my record or my connections to our community. 

COMSTOCK: As a 25-year+ resident of McLean, and as a former senior aide to U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, I learned to have the courage to take on tough challenges on our priority issues, the vision to seek out innovative solutions, and a record in the public and private sector of producing results. I was immersed in Northern Virginia business, transportation, health care, federal employee and tax relief issues in Wolf’s office. We pushed for results such as the $500 child tax credit, marriage penalty relief, telework solutions, protecting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan, and HOV lanes from three to two passengers.



* If you could say one thing to voters, what would it be?



VANDERHYE: There is one question in this election: Whom do you trust to speak with your voice in Richmond? Because that’s what delegates do; voters "delegate" their trust to us to speak and vote on their behalf. You can trust me to be your advocate because we have worked together for our community for over two decades. I ask for your vote on Nov. 3. 

COMSTOCK: It has been a privilege to visit with you as I have knocked on thousands of doors all year. I have heard your concerns and I commit to you that no one will work harder to solve the challenges of our tough economy, our transportation crisis, our education needs and Northern Virginia constantly getting shortchanged by Richmond. Together we can take on and change Richmond. 



* Who are your political heroes/influences?



VANDERHYE: My professional role model is my former boss and mentor Brent Scowcroft, former National Security Advisor. My political role model is our former State Senator, the late Clive DuVal. Each, in his own way, was the kind of dedicated, attentive, self-effacing and principled public servant that I strive to be. 

COMSTOCK: U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, my model for what a representative should be. Jack Kemp and Tony Snow, who, like President Reagan, radiated optimism, and believed that people were the solution, not the problem. My Mom, Sally Burns, a teacher, who first spurred my interest in public service by pushing for educational excellence as the path to opportunity, advocating for the weakest in society, and always encouraging us to be involved.

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