The following is the third in my series of interviews with the five Democrats - Miles Grant, Patrick Hope, Alan Howze, Adam Parkhomenko, and Andres Tobar - running to replace Del. Al Eisenberg in the 47th House of Delegates district. This Q&A is with Patrick Hope. Thanks to Patrick for answering my questions, and I look forward to hearing back from the remaining candidates in the race (Note: Adam Parkhomenko's interview is available here; Miles Grant's is here).Q. Why, in your own words, have you decided to run for the Virginia House of Delegates from the 47th district at this time? What specific qualifications do you bring to the table?
I’m running to make Arlington and Virginia better places for everyone. As an Arlingtonian, I benefit every day from living in a community with a strong economy, great schools, some of the best public transportation options in the state, and an abiding commitment to environmental sustainability. During these challenging times, I’ll fight to protect what we have and search out new ways to improve our community. Where it makes sense, I’ll also work to extend the lessons we’ve learned to other parts of the state.
I’m also running to make sure that those who are underrepresented have an advocate in the General Assembly. Since my wife and I moved to Arlington a decade ago, I’ve been active on Arlington and regional Boards and Commissions dedicated to serving seniors, people with mental and physical disabilities, and the poor. We’ve succeeded in bringing millions of dollars to Arlington and the region to help those in need, but unfortunately we have much more to do. Even with all our efforts, Virginia persists in ranking 47th in the nation in funding for home and community based services that help some of our most needy citizens. We can and should do better. I am running to do just that.
Being an effective legislator requires knowing more than just the policy. You have to know how to work with others to build coalitions and grassroots support. Over the years, working on local, regional, and statewide issues, in government relations and as a lawyer, I’ve learned that to reach the best solutions, you have to know the politics, how to craft legislation, and when to reach across the aisle. Arlingtonians deserve a Delegate from the 47th District who has the legislative skills and vision to be effective from the first day. I have the experience to help make Virginia government work better for Arlingtonians and all Virginians.
Q. How would you describe your political philosophy - progressive, moderate, conservative, or - to paraphrase Jim Webb - "the old political labels no longer apply?"
I’m an unabashed progressive. I agree with our Commonwealth’s senior U.S. Senator who frequently notes that, “in the early days of our republic, President Andrew Jackson established an important principle of American-style democracy - that we should measure the health of our society not at its apex, but at its base; not with the numbers that come out of Wall Street, but with the living conditions that exist on Main Street.” This principle resonates as strongly today as ever. I believe deeply in the power of each individual to reach her or his fullest potential and in the ability of government to help make this happen. As a Delegate to the General Assembly, this will be my guiding principle
Q. What is your attitude regarding bipartisanship, aka "reaching across the aisle?" Is this a high priority for you, or are you more interested in pushing hard for what you believe over compromising with conservative Republicans in the House of Delegates?
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for Democrats to retake the majority in the General Assembly. If we do succeed, however, it is likely to be by a very small margin. While I believe that the Democratic Party offers better solutions for Virginians, there are too many people out of work, too many homes in foreclosure, too many schools struggling, and too much gridlock for anyone in Richmond to stop listening to ideas just because of their source. Frankly, I believe it would be foolish not to recognize that Virginia is divided politically. I also believe it will be critical to reach across party lines on certain issues to make progress. I’m committed to working with everyone, regardless of their political affiliation, to improve the lives of Virginians, but never at the expense of my core beliefs and values.
Q. If elected, what would your top three priorities be when you get to Richmond? Why these and not others?
My top priority will always be to push the state to do more to help those in need. Through its family assistance, health care, unemployment and other programs, state government already has the tools to respond to Virginians in times of crisis, but we must act with greater speed and determination. Given the economic downturn, the number of our fellow citizens who need help finding work, meeting their mortgage or rent payments, and even putting food on their tables has risen dramatically. Over the coming months, the Commonwealth should do everything it can to use federal stimulus dollars in existing and new programs to help people get back on their feet. However, if I am elected I won’t be satisfied with the state merely being a conduit for federal funds; I’ll fight to put Virginia on the offensive. For years, the state has saved money for a rainy day (technically, the Revenue Stabilization Fund). Well, that rainy day is here and now is the time to use it. Arlingtonians can count on me to work tirelessly to make sure Virginia government is doing whatever it can to help anyone in a time of need.
Another priority for me is education. I believe that Virginia’s future depends in no small part on how well we prepare the next generation to contribute and lead. Virginia generally is blessed with excellent public schools, community colleges and universities. I am concerned that at the very time we need to be investing in Virginia’s young people, falling state revenues have pushed us to reduce support for education. I’ll fight this kind of shortsightedness. Virginia’s great educational institutions are engines of economic growth. This is not the time to cut back on our support or lower our standards. For Virginia to be well prepared to compete in the future, our schools must be the best they can be.
I’ll also make solving Arlington’s and Northern Virginia’s growing transportation problem a top priority. Our county and region are growing every day. Our roads are often clogged and more and more people use Arlington as a pass-through on their way elsewhere. We need to make it easier for people to use public transit, walk and cycle, and make wiser transportation, economic, and environmental choices. While we have the beginnings of a world-class regional transit system, we aren’t there by a long shot. We need to invest more in transit – Metro, regional trains, streetcar lines, rapid and regular bus transit, and better transportation services for the disabled. We also need a strong and safe network of pedestrian and bikeways for those who want to choose people power.
Finally, I’ll work to expand health care coverage in Virginia. In early 2008, the Virginia Health Care Foundation reported that more than 1 in 7 Virginians was uninsured. No doubt this number has grown significantly since then. Our state has a vital role to play on this issue – as an employer, as an insurance regulator, and as the health insurer of last resort through Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. As someone who works every day on health care issues, I’ll bring new energy and ideas to this pressing and growing problem.
Q. What is your position on Dillon Rule, which severely limits the power of local government vis-à-vis the state? Should it be weakened to allow a progressive county like Arlington to move ahead on things like human rights, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and other areas?
The Dillon Rule all too often restricts counties like Arlington as they seek innovative ways to meet community needs. As property values in Arlington have risen, for example, the Dillon Rule has made it difficult for County officials to protect and expand affordable housing. Likewise, the Dillon Rule prevented Arlington from extending benefits to county employees’ domestic partners. In Richmond, I’ll seek a way to relax the Dillon rule to give local governments much greater flexibility in meeting their community’s needs while at the same time protecting all Virginians from abuse.
Q. What will you do to fix the traffic mess in Northern Virginia? Specifically, what is your stance on "smart growth," extending Metrorail to Dulles airport, and I-66 widening?
At its core, traffic is a quality of life issue. On this issue, Virginia can learn a lot from Arlington. I believe strongly in our “smart growth” approach and promoting more livable, walkable neighborhoods. We can’t rest on our laurels. As a legislator, I will work to make our community and others in Virginia even more walkable, bike-friendly and transit oriented – steps that ultimately reduce carbon pollution and protect our environment.
Regionally, we have much room for improvement. I’ll work to eliminate the financial gridlock that keeps the state’s investment in public transportation, particularly public transit, abysmally low. Metro and ART ridership is surging but the state is not meeting its responsibility to help maintain and improve the systems. On the other hand, investing in the proposed spot “improvements” will simply move bottlenecks around making congestion worse. Those funds should be redirected to move people not cars.
I strongly support other regional initiatives, including extending Metro to Dulles, broader availability of bus rapid transit, establishing a high-speed rail line from Washington and Northern Virginia to Richmond and the Hampton Roads area, extending the Virginia Railway Express line to Gainesville, and strong policies to encourage carpooling, and telecommuting.
Q. What are your beliefs regarding gun control? For instance, do you favor banning so-called "cop killer bullets" and "assault weapons?" What about closing the so-called "gun show loophole?"
I unequivocally support banning cop-killer bullets and assault weapons in Virginia (and all other states) and just as strongly want the gun show loophole closed. I know gun ownership advocates including the National Rifle Association have drawn a hard line in the sand – any limits on gun ownership will ultimately lead to controls on all gun ownership. In Richmond, I’ll seek to find sensible solutions to seemingly irresolvable conflicts like this one.
Q. Do you believe that gays and lesbians should have full marriage rights in the Commonwealth of Virginia? If not, why not?
Yes. As a longtime member of Equality Virginia and the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance, the rights of the GLBT community are a high priority for me. I believe gays, lesbians, bisexuals and members of the transgender community should have the same rights afforded other Virginians. Beyond marriage rights, I’m committed to work for laws that ensure equal rights for all, ending workplace discrimination, recognizing out-of-state civil unions, supporting adoption, and requiring employers to provide equal benefits for domestic partners.
Q. Do you support an aggressive move to slash Virginia's power consumption, particularly for fuels that emit carbon dioxide or cause environmental destruction (e.g., mountaintop removal coal mining) in their production? Would you press for "decoupling," "smart metering," and mandatory "renewable portfolio standards" if you get to Richmond?
Although we clearly don’t have mountaintops to remove here in Arlington, that doesn’t mean mountaintop removal mining isn’t our problem. Mountaintop removal is a symptom of a larger problem – Virginia’s ongoing addiction to dirty sources of energy.
I strongly support finding effective ways to reduce our energy needs. Moreover, I believe that transitioning to a clean energy economy is a win-win-win:
* We create jobs here in Virginia by developing and manufacturing new energy technologies, ones that can’t be outsourced.
* We make energy more affordable for ratepayers through extensive weatherization programs (for which we should be using stabilization and rainy day funds).
* We do our part to curb global warming.
I am in favor of decoupling, smart metering and a strong mandatory renewable electricity standard because Virginia needs an energy overhaul. With our strong universities and technology brainpower, Virginia should lead the country and the world by investing in what NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman calls “energy technology” – clean renewable sources of power like wind and solar – which he argues can be just as transformative for our economy as information technology has been.
Q. On a related note, will you pledge to take no money from Dominion Power or other companies that act in ways that harm workers, the environment, etc?
Absolutely.
Q. Which one issue are you most passionate about and why?
Nothing motivates me more than being able to help someone improve his or her life. I first became involved in our community years ago as a volunteer in Arlington’s Special Olympics program. I didn’t understand at the time that it was me who would be helped most. Every time I am involved in a Special Olympics event, I take away so much more than I could ever give.
Subsequently, I became involved in broader human services issues when I learned of the challenges faced by parents of adult children with intellectual disabilities. Aging themselves, the future of their children is an all-consuming concern. This is not a simple problem and there are no easy solutions. Still, I’ve worked for years with other Arlingtonians to develop choices for these families. We’ve developed group homes, community supervision, and other alternatives. I know there is more to do.
I’ve been lucky that through my volunteer work in Arlington on the Commission on Aging, and leadership of the Community Services Board and the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, that I’ve been able to give something back. Simply stated, I’m passionate about helping people make the most of their lives.
Q. Can you give us a few reasons why people should vote for you instead of your Democratic opponents?
I’ll be the most effective legislator for the residents of Virginia’s 47th District. I’m known as a listener, a collaborator, and a consensus builder. I’ll bring the energy, creativity and interpersonal skills needed to craft and successfully promote the best responses to the challenges we face. I fervently hope that Democrats control both houses in the General Assembly next year. The ratio of Democrats to Republicans nonetheless is likely to remain close. I have a long record of working effectively with others and the results to prove it. If we’re going to succeed at addressing the needs of our state and its citizens, we’ll need to form the kind of partnerships for which I am known.
I’m eager to get to Richmond and to work on behalf of the residents of the 47th District. If you would like to learn more about me, please visit my website, www.HopeforDelegate.com. Also, please feel free to email me with any ideas, comments or questions you have at Patrick@HopeforDelegate.com.
