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Those attending the Buena Vista Labor Day celebration Monday got initial glimpses of the six candidates who are vying to represent them in the General Assembly in revised districts that take effect following the Nov. 7 elections.
All six candidates delivered speeches at Glen Maury Park – Republican Del. Ellen Campbell and Democrat Randall Wolf, running for House of Delegates District 36; Republican Del. Terry Austin and Democrat Stephanie Clark for House of Delegates District 37; and Republican Del. Christopher Head and Democrat Jade Harris for state Senate District 3.
Campbell, elected earlier this year to succeed her late husband, Ronnie Campbell, noted that with recent special elections she is no longer “the newest member of the House of Delegates,” though joking that she “is still the shortest.” She said she’s sorry that the new district she’s seeking election to would no longer encompass Buena Vista. “Ronnie was real proud to represent you.”
Since taking her seat in the legislature, she said, “I’ve received nothing but kindness from both sides of the aisle. We all have a job to do.” Common ground has been found, she said, on funding for education and workforce development. An emphasis is being placed on training for new jobs, many with cutting-edge technology.
Resources are being provided for law enforcement and agriculture, a top economic sector, is being supported now more than ever. “We feed the country and the world,” she said.
Wolf took aim at the state income tax, which he described as a “burden for lowincome workers.” He said he has a plan that will lessen the tax burden for two-thirds of workers while taxing corporations at a higher rate. Instead of trickle-down economics, he said, “Let’s try trickle-up economics.” He said he supports free community college, affordable housing, inclusiveness, diversity and equal access of opportunity.
A supporter of unions, he said he has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO. He said union workers earn 15 percent more than their non-union counterparts. He called for repealing Virginia’s right-to-work law, which he said has a “misleading name that divides workers.”
Republican Congressman Ben Cline of the Sixth District, the only speaker who is not a candidate in this year’s elections, praised the rightto- work law, which, he said, allows workers to choose whether or not they want to join a union. Republicans, he said, celebrate workers every day by supporting policies “that help workers.” Virginia, he said, “is the best place to work and raise a family.”
Electing the Republican slate of candidates to the General Assembly, said Cline, would allow “our star governor, Glenn Youngkin” to enact his agenda. He said the governor and the other two GOP state office-holders, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and Attorney Gen. Jason Myares, are “doing a great job.” Cline said it was “great to be out of the swamp under the failed policies of Joe Biden.” He called for the retirement next year of Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Austin touted the state budget that’s expected to be approved during a special session of the General Assembly this week after negotiators apparently reached an agreement. The budget will include tax relief -- $200 for individuals.
“We’re returning a billion dollars to tax payers,” said Austin, who played a role in the negotiations. Significant investments are being made, he said, in industrial development and transportation. Improvements to Interstate 81 are slated to be funded, he said.
Clark made a plea for supporting veterans. Two words she said she never wanted to hear together are homeless veterans. She said she supports initiatives for behavioral health and affordable housing. She said she favors policies that advance the interests of working people, noting that her father was a laborer who began his own business. She called on Democrats to “rise up and be united.”
“It’s great to be part of this long tradition of celebrating Labor Day in Buena Vista,” said Head. He and his fellow Republicans have “foundational values” that guide them in deciding which policies to support. A Republican creed, he said, is that “truth is the truth. It can’t be relative.” He took issue with messages on signs of some of the Democrats in the audience, calling the messages “ridiculous.”
Harris said Democrats support the working class by advocating for policies that allow for a living wage with benefits and sick pay. A daughter of a laborer at Mohawk, she said she wanted to become part of the “pro-labor voice in the Senate.” She said she has received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO. She said she views addiction as a health care problem rather than a criminal issue. She said she supports better jobs, education and affordable housing. Democrats, she said, are “scrappy … tenacious … we never back down.”
Democratic Del. David Reid of Ashburn, a native of the Rockbridge area, was the only speaker who’s running in a district from outside the Rockbridge area. He spoke of growing up in poverty but becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. His mantra is to work for “positive change,” he said. He supports college affordability. Democrats expanded access to health care and are funding a massive expansion in broadband access, he said. He called for spending much more on upgrading Interstate 81 than is currently budgeted. He said he didn’t think there was enough money in the budget for funding basic needs and giving tax breaks.
