Q. Why, in your own words, have you decided to run for Virginia House of Delegates?
A. I have a five-year-old son, Caleb, who will grow up in Virginia, and I'm scared to death about what kind of future he and his generation will have if the Republicans in the House of Delegates have their way. This race is about my son's future and the future of Northern Virginia. As a military officer and an activist, I have spent my entire life fighting for what I believe in, even when it meant putting my safety, my career, or my reputation on the line. I'm not stopping now. With fresh energy and fresh ideas, I know that together we can move Virginia towards a better future.
Q. You say that "Progressive values are traditional American values." How do you see Progressivism as fitting into a relatively conservative, "red state" like Virginia?
A. I always remind people who ask me that question that it was a Virginian named Thomas Jefferson who wrote that, "All men are created equal," and it was a great man from Northern Virginia named George Washington who, in a famous letter to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island, extolled an American vision of government "which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." Progressive values like freedom, equal opportunity, and tolerance are woven into the founding vision of our nation. Over our history, Virginians have struggled -- perhaps more than most -- to live up to that vision, and we Democrats -- and anyone who shares our deep and abiding belief in those principles -- have to keep fighting to bring the reality closer to the vision. I have always tried to be a strong voice for those principles, and I will continue to be a strong voice in the House of Delegates. Moreover, we need to do a better job as Democrats promoting new policy ideas, informed by our progressive values, that will make a real difference in people's daily lives. When Virginians who have typically voted Republican see that Democrats are making their lives better -- making housing more affordable, investing in education, reducing the cost of health care, improving transportation, protecting public health and safety -- the tide will start to turn.
Q. What is your position on eliminating the car tax, an issue of great concern to Northern Virginia voters.
A. Running the state isn't free. I wish it was, but it's not. I think we should stick with the current car tax structure or we risk the kinds of financial problems we had before Mark Warner turned things around. Republicans tend to embrace a knee-jerk, anti-tax dogma that would ultimately cut services to the people who need them the most and burden our children and grandchildren with debt. That's both fiscally irresponsible and morally wrong. Budgets are not mere policy tomes -- budgets are moral documents through which we decide whom we lift up and whom we leave out, whom we benefit and whom we burden. We need to set aside dogma when it comes to taxes and focus on doing what makes sense for the future of Virginia.
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 think the death penalty should be eliminated entirely, not made easier to impose on a broader range of people, as Jerry Kilgore would like. The death penalty serves no just purpose that cannot otherwise be achieved by locking a person in a cell until the day he or she dies a natural death. It's ineffective as a deterrent to crime, it's disproportionately and unjustly applied against people of color and against those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, and it's absolutely irreversible if we mistakenly kill an innocent person. Imprisonment until natural death, with no exceptions, should be the ultimate punishment for the ultimate crime. Even beyond that, we need policies that will improve legal representation to ensure that income and economic status are not barriers to justice.
Q. Who do you most admire in American politics? Who do you least admire?
A. I most admire the everyday Americans from all walks of life who are willing to give their time and their energy to fight for change. One of the great privileges of running for office has been the opportunity to be surrounded by a growing circle of people who believe in their own power to move us forward in the direction of our highest ideals. I least admire people in politics who feel entitled to power because of who they know or what family they come from. That's what's supposed to separate democracy from other, less just forms of government, and that's why I'm out there working hard every day to earn the votes of people in the 45th district.
Q. What will you do to fix the traffic mess in Northern Virginia? Specifically, what is your stance on "smart growth" and extending Metrorail to Dulles airport?
A. I do support extending Metrorail to Dulles. I believe we have an obligation to make sure our transportation system empowers people at all income levels to pursue economic opportunities and to enjoy a good quality of life, which will also make our communities socially and economically stronger. Extending Metrorail to Dulles is an important long-term investment that would help us fulfill that obligation. I also think it's important to work closely with the communities affected by the development that would accompany a Dulles line so that we minimize sprawl and promote healthy, diverse communities. We should also explore and support creative new ideas, such as internet-empowered car sharing -- Zipcar and Flexcar -- that can reduce parking, traffic, and pollution, and we should improve broadband access so more people can work from home. Additionally, we need to lock up the Transportation Trust Fund so that more predictable transportation resources will allow for smarter transportation investments over the long haul, and we need to explore additional dedicated revenue sources for transportation.
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. When I was in the military, I was rated a small arms expert on the M-9 handgun and I was proficient with an M-16. I have no particular aversion to firearms, and I respect the fact that, for many Virginians, guns are a matter of heritage. However, in Northern Virginia, where terrorists have struck, gang activity is on the rise, and we live in more dense urban communities, guns are a public safety issue. Therefore, I think localities should be able to enact their own reasonable gun safety measures that account for these differing local realities. Until deer start wearing bullet-proof vests, I would support banning cop-killer bullets and assault weapons.
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 oppose the Dillon Rule, and I will fight for local control of local issues at every opportunity. There?s no reason that legislators from Southside or even Charlottesville should have any say over local traffic or affordable housing policies in Arlington, Alexandria, or Fairfax. As a position with conservative roots, local control ought to have broad and bipartisan appeal, and Democrats should embrace this as a winning issue. Moreover, engaged citizens and activists at the local level are a great source of innovative approaches to public policy, so giving local governments more freedom to run their own affairs can produce new and better ways to solve problems and improve quality of life.
Q. What one issue are you most passionate about?
A. More than any single issue, I'm passionate about bringing people together to fight for progressive policies for a brighter future. This is never farther from my mind than my five-year-old son, Caleb, whose generation will reap what we sow. I see the many issues we all care about as interconnected - it's not as simplistic as any single policy or issue, it's about how we approach the constellation of social and fiscal policy concerns. We need to stop thinking in two or four-year electoral cycles and start taking the long view and thinking about how policies will effect people, families, and communities over the course of their lives.
Q. Do you see yourself as more of a "Mark Warner" or a "Howard Dean" Democrat?
A. I think it's a false choice. While there are stylistic differences, Mark Warner and Howard Dean are both fiscally responsible Democrats concerned with social justice and tolerance who have a history of promoting fresh new ideas to improve people's lives. I think that also describes me. That said, my focus on grassroots activism and party building is very much in line with Howard Dean's vision for the Democratic Party. We are building a grassroots movement through my campaign that we will harness after our primary to help elect Tim Kaine and other Virginia Democrats. I'm sure that's something both Mark Warner and Howard Dean support.