Earnie Porta is yet another in the long line of impressive, articulate, energetic young Democratic candidates running for House of Delegates this year. Porta, 41, lives in Occoquan and is running against Republican incumbent Mich?le McQuigg in the 51st district (Prince William County). He has an impressive academic background, with both graduate and law degrees from Georgetown University. Currently, Porta is Vice-Chair of the Occoquan Magisterial District Democratic Committee, and a member both of Historic Occoquan, Inc. and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. We thank him for agreeing to this exclusive interview with RaisingKaine, wish him luck on the campaign trail, and hope to hear more from him in coming weeks.
Why, in your own words, have you decided to run for the Virginia House of Delegates?
I'm running because I believe that for too long Prince William County has suffered from ineffective, one-party representation in the House of Delegates?representation that has paid inadequate attention to the serious issues that affect us all. In my district people consistently tell me that transportation, education, and health care are among their top priorities, yet they see the House of Delegates instead spending its time on license plate slogans, road names, underwear bills, and on divisive social legislation. The results are obvious?a transportation mess, overcrowded and under-funded schools, and a looming health care crisis for families and small businesses. We'll never make progress on the complex and important matters that affect us all if our delegates continue to avoid them by hiding behind petty and divisive issues. In short, I'm running to get the House of Delegates focused on what really matters.
John Kerry lost the 51st district by approximately 75 votes out of more than 28,000 cast in 2004. Michele McQuigg is widely considered to be one of the least effective delegates in the Virginia House. On the other hand, McQuigg is popular in the district and will likely have a great deal of Republican financial backing. All in all, how tough a race do you believe this will be? What is your main argument for voters to remove the incumbent from office?
It will no doubt be a very difficult race. Michele McQuigg, as a sitting incumbent, will not only receive Republican financial backing, but a good chunk of special interest money as well. My campaign has tremendous grassroots support, and our message of effective representation for the 51st district has appeal across party lines. Remember, Michele McQuigg has been an elected official for more than a decade, both as a Delegate and as a County Supervisor. The problems with transportation, education, and health care emerged on her watch, yet what has her priority been as a delegate? Photo-red camera legislation (on which she has been unsuccessful despite being a member of the majority party). Regardless of your position on that legislation, it's hard to argue it should be the priority of our delegate when there are so many other important issues that need to be addressed.
How would you describe your political philosophy --progressive, moderate, conservative, or something else? Also, who do you most and least admire in American politics?
I consider myself a progressive, but blanket labels often mean different things to different people so let me elaborate a little. On the fiscal side I believe we should pay our bills on time and live within our means; I'm not a fan of deficit spending unless it is absolutely necessary. As for social issues, I firmly believe that government should stay out of people's personal lives to the maximum extent practical.
Barack Obama is among those I most admire in American politics today, not for what he has accomplished as a new Senator, but rather for what he accomplished in getting there. His life to date is an inspiration for future generations. I've also been impressed of late by former Republican Senator John Danforth, an Episcopalian minister who recently wrote an article espousing a version of public Christianity that resonates with me. I least admire whoever is advising Jerry Kilgore to assert that Tim Kaine's supporters are anti-faith, anti-family, and anti-American. It's an example of the type of cynical, malicious, and misleading politics that I hope voters will punish in November.
Can you give us examples of issues where you agree and where you disagree with Tim Kaine?
I agree with Tim Kaine on the vast majority of issues, but there are some differences. I'm firmly pro-choice, for example, while Tim Kaine is not. To Tim Kaine's credit, however, I honestly believe his position on choice stems not from any desire to broaden his statewide appeal, but rather from deeply held personal convictions. I respect that.
How would you characterize the Republican ticket of Jerry Kilgore, Bill Bolling, and Bob McDonnell. Some have said this is one of the most right wing tickets ever in Virginia history. Would you agree or disagree with that assessment?
It certainly is very right wing. Whether or not it is the most right-wing in Virginia history I simply don't know.
What is your position on HOT lanes on roads like I-95/I-395 and the Capital Beltway? In general, to what degree do you see HOT lanes as part of the solution to the region's transportation problems, as compared to mass transit, carpooling, telecommuting, and "smart growth" initiatives.
Effectively addressing Northern Virginia's transportation problems will require a mix of traditional and innovative approaches. While high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes will likely play a role in any comprehensive solution, their location should be carefully considered. I strongly oppose converting the HOV lanes on the I-95/I-395 corridor to HOT lanes. This is an issue on which my opponent and I completely disagree. Due to violators, bottlenecks, and other factors these lanes are already becoming too crowded. Nothing about HOT technology leads me to conclude that it will reduce this congestion without adversely affecting legitimate users of HOV. The grass-roots slug rider system that has developed around the I-95/I-395 HOV lanes is one of northern Virginia's few transportation success stories. Rewarding and encouraging participants in this system is one of my top commuter priorities. I view HOT lanes on the Capital Beltway as an entirely different matter. Proposed beltway HOT lanes will be constructed where no HOV lanes currently exist.
Of course, Northern Virginia's transportation crisis will require much more than HOT decisions. For example, we must expand our mass transit capabilities. While extension of Metro is often people's first instinct, as we are seeing with the proposed line to Dulles Airport the costs and time frames involved are staggering, and in the end may not comport with the long range plans of major regional employers. Much more feasible, is the implementation of a modern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, with dedicated lanes that would take cars off the major thoroughfares and feeder roads. Such a system is much more flexible than, and may be implemented at a fraction of the cost and time of Metro. In Prince William County BRT could serve as the primary means of mass transit for the foreseeable future.
Telecommuting is another feature of our technological age that state government should do what it can to support. It not only takes cars off the roads, but provides families with more time together, something that benefits families with young children. For these and other reasons I support giving small businesses tax-credits as incentive to defray the costs of implementing telecommuting arrangements for employees.
Finally, if we are ever to get a true handle on our transportation problems, better coordination of land use planning and transportation resources is essential. We cannot have localities authorizing development where the transportation infrastructure cannot keep pace, or the state building roads where localities are attempting to restrain unnecessary development.
You say that you "oppose any legislation that enshrines discriminatory treatment based on immutable characteristics, including race, gender, and sexual orientation." Does this mean that you support giving gays the right to marry, or simply that you oppose discrimination in the workplace, etc.?
As someone once pointed out to me, the issue is not "gay" marriage, but rather marriage period. Do we want the government telling two competent, consenting adults who they can or cannot decide to spend their life with? For me the answer is absolutely not. When considered in that light marriage or comparable civil unions strike me as questions of individual freedom for which the answer should not change just because of someone's sexual orientation.
Your position on abortion appears to be the "safe, legal and rare" formulation. You also believe in finding "common ground" on the issue. How, exactly, would you go about seeking compromise on this highly charged issue if you are elected as the Delegate from the 51st district?
I am firmly pro-choice. I also know and respect some people, however, who are just as firmly not. Our differences are significant and it is unlikely we will ever convert each other. Most people I know, however, also share a common desire to reduce the number of abortions. It's my belief that it is thus much more productive for us all to focus on that common objective by working to address the primary cause of abortions?unintended pregnancies. For that reason I support promoting the full range of preventive measures, from abstinence education to contraception. If people's true interest is really in reducing the number of abortions, rather than in penalizing conduct with which they disagree, then I believe we can come together to effectively reduce the number of abortions that occur, while still preserving a woman's fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
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?
I think Virginia has sufficient gun laws at the moment.
What is your view on the death penalty? Do you believe it should be expanded to include accomplices, as Jerry Kilgore proposes?
I feel the same anger and desire for revenge as anyone else when a heinous crime is committed, but I don't favor the expansion of the death penalty. For me the trouble is the irrevocability of error. Once the sentence is carried out there is no going back. To me too many people have been put on death row for crimes they did not commit, and no one knows for sure how many innocent people have actually been executed leaving the real perpetrator unpunished and at large.
What is your position on 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?
As you know, the Dillon Rule essentially asserts that localities have only the powers expressly granted to them or necessarily implied for their functioning. Conceptually I agree with the Dillon Rule and do not favor eliminating it. Keep in mind, however, that it is still up to the legislature to decide just what powers, if any, to grant localities. It is my opinion that the General Assembly has been too stingy in delegating authority to our local governments, particularly when it comes to regulating growth and land use.
Do you believe that rising home assessments and taxes represent a problem? If so, how would you go about fixing it? Specifically, what do you think of the Kaine and Kilgore approaches to this issue?
I consider real estate taxes to be a problem and support Tim Kaine's approach. As you know, one element of his plan calls for the state to fully fund its share of education so that there is less pressure on local revenue streams to make up the difference, this is something I support. Additionally, Tim Kaine is also in favor of granting localities the power to exempt a certain percentage of a home's value from assessment, another initiative I think makes good sense. The Kilgore plan is bad economics. It essentially calls for a price control mechanism that limits the amount by which a home's assessed value can rise in a year. When I first learned of it I was quite surprised to find a right-wing candidate arguing for this type of direct intervention in the market. I know of places in other states where this is essentially what has been done and it's been a mess. In a short time relative real estate values get completely out of whack, inequities between property owners become huge, and it becomes extremely difficult to go back to truer market assessments because there will be big winners and losers in the transition. In my opinion Tim Kaine has a real plan, while Jerry Kilgore has a gimmick.