Bruce Roemmelt spent 21 years as a Prince William County fire fighter, eventually retiring as a Captain in 1993 due to heart disease. There's no sign of heart disease now, though, as I can attest from personal experience: Bruce is strong as an ox with a handshake that could crush bone...not to mention heartless, right-wing Republican policies! Who is Bruce Roemmelt? Basically, he is a tough, honest, down-to-earth, mainstream Democrat who looks you straight in the eye and gives you honest, no-nonsense answers.
What Bruce Roemmelt is NOT is a typical politician. And that's a huge plus in our books! Of course, this isn't surprising when you consider that Bruce has spent his whole life dedicated to serving and protecting the public in a dangerous profession. Roemmelt's values are summed up on his website as follows: Be Nice, Survive, and Prevent Harm.
For residents of Prince William County, where Bruce Roemmelt has lived since 1976, this is EXACTLY the type of representative needed in Richmond. To put it mildly, he will do a far better job than the incumbent, right-wing Republican Bob Marshall, who Roemmelt calls "one of the weakest and least effective Delegates in Richmond."
In keeping with his pledge to be a delegate representing all the people of his district, Bruce Roemmelt has launched a "20,000 Doors" campaign to visit 20,000 homes in Prince William County personally. In addition, it is worth noting that Roemmelt outraised Bob Marshall 3:1 ($20,637 to $7,628) in the first quarter of 2005.
All in all, it looks like Firefighter Roemmelt is well on his way to Richmond, lights flashing and sirens blaring Here's RaisingKaine's exclusive interview with Bruce.
Q. Why, in your own words, have you decided to run for Virginia House of Delegates?
A. I hope to get people involved again in the democratic process by participating myself. Our current delegate is focuses only on narrow social issues and has not dealt with the serious transportation, health and education issues that we face.. I will represent ALL citizens of the 13th district.
Q. How would you describe your political philosophy -- progressive, moderate, conservative, or something else?
A. I'm progressive in the sense that I'm always looking for ways to move our society and our Commonwealth forward, as I believe we all are. But if elected, I'll work on both sides of the aisle to enact meaningful legislation that will improve the everyday lives of my constituents. The people of the 13th district want and need someone who will get results, regardless of his/her political philosophy. I'll get results.
Q. What is your position on the Kaine and Kilgore proposals for providing relief to homeowners faced with rapidly rising assessments and, consequently, tax bills?
A. I support Lt. Governor Kaine's plan. I think it can provide homeowners with some much needed relief without strangling localities.
Q. Tim Kaine has stated that he is personally against the death penalty but would enforce it if he is elected governor. Jerry Kilgore, of course, is enthusiastically for the death penalty. What is your position on capital punishment?
A. I've dealt with life and death before. When someone else's life is in your hands, you have the ultimate responsibility to do what's right. Criminals don't often weigh those consequences like the rest of us do when they carelessly and selfishly take another life. The people of the commonwealth have decided that careful and thoughtful application of the death penalty is the solution. What we need to do is to ensure the penalty is a last resort and applied fairly and that our judicial system is given every tool to meet that criteria.
Q. Who do you most admire in American politics? Who do you least admire?
A. I most admire the late Senator from Minnesota, Paul Wellstone. I least admire anyone who fails to adequately address the core needs of his/her constituents. I least admire anyone who is unresponsive to his/her constituents. I least admire anyone who is weak and ineffective when attempting to represent his/her constituents.
Q. What will you do to fix the traffic mess in Northern Virginia? Specifically, what is your stance on "smart growth," extending Metrorail toDulles airport, and I-66 widening?
A. I think we need to develop short, middle and long term solutions to our current "traffic mess." In the short term, I want to build 5 commuter parking lots on western I-66, and one at Rt. 50 by Gilberts Corners, encourage slug lines, and expand the Potomac Rapid Transit bus system. In the mid-term, I will work to bring VRE to Gainesville, thereby taking 5,000 cars off of I-66. I also want to look at putting Bus Rapid Transit on I-66. In the long term, I believe we must do a better job of coordinating growth and transportation. Growth must be managed and controlled in a responsible manner by local governments, who must be given the necessary tools -- APFOs, impact fees, proffers -- to do so.
Q. What are your beliefs regarding gun control? Do you favor, for instance, banning "cop killer bullets" and "assault weapons?" What about waiting periods for purchases at gun shows?
A. Like Governor Mark Warner, I believe that Virginia has plenty of gun laws. We must, however, do a better job of enforcing those laws.
Q. What is your opinion of the "Dillon Rule," which severely limits the power of local government vis-a-vis the state? Do you believe in delegating more power to the localities, or keeping it more in Richmond?
A. I believe in delegating more power to the localities when appropriate.
Q. What one issue are you most passionate about?
A. The current lack of participation of many Virginians in the political process.
Q. Your opponent, Bob Marshall, is a conservative Republican who opposes abortion, civil unions for gay people, and stem cell research. How would you respond to Bob Marshall on these issues?
A. I will respond by pointing out his complete inability to address the issues that affect all who live in the 13th: transportation, education and health care. He is consistently one of the weakest and least effective Delegates in Richmond. The "results" of his 12-year incumbency stare us in the face every morning and every evening -- miles-long back-ups on Rt. 29, I-66, and others. I believe we can do better.