Lingamfelter vows to focus on education funding, maintain state taxes

Scott Lingamfelter was first elected Virginia’s 31st House District seat in 2002. This year, the Republican is defending that seat from Democrat Sara Townsend. 

The district encompasses portions of Prince William and Fauquier Counties.

Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Lingamfelter and he sent us the responses below: 

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PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent?

Lingamfelter: The top three issues that face our community are: (1) jobs and the economy, (2) quality schools that provide a safe and secure environment, challenging learning, top notch teachers, and accountability to the public, and (3) the safety of our community, which includes a reliable transportation infrastructure that keeps us moving safely and reliability, as well as neighborhoods that are free of crime where our kids can live in safety.

PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?

Lingamfelter: Jobs and the Economy: The best way to help jobs and the economy is to elect conservatives like myself that fight higher taxes and burdensome, job-killing policies. I have consistently voted for balanced budgets; voted for the most recent budget that produced a $536 Million surplus; voted to cut $7 Billion in waste; voted to keep Virginia taxes among the lowest in the U.S. My opponent, however, supports raising the sales tax, the gas tax, regional taxes and the largest ($3.5 Billion) tax increase in Virginia history, as well as expanding a broken Medicaid system that will cost us $2 Billion. All of this will kill jobs and our economy.

Education: Being married to a career teacher has helped me be very aware of the needs we have in education. I have a record, not empty rhetoric, to show what I have actually accomplished. I worked to improve teacher pay, reform the SOLs, grow virtual schools, eliminate burdensome red tape, and voted for $31 million in school security. I will build on this record.

Reliable Transportation Infrastructure and Community Safety: I have worked hard to create a more reliable and safe transit system in Northern Virginia. Through my leadership, we have restructured our financing of road projects to push more money toward local highway and road maintenance our communities use every day— the same roads our kids use to get to school. It is easy to propose sweeping mass transit projects, but not at the expense of properly maintaining what we have now. A smarter, new and more economic approach to moving people is Bus Rapid Transit, which will cost far less than expanding the Metro system which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Finally, in public safety, I chair the Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee. I have been a crime fighter since the day I was elected. My opponent has falsely asserted that I have not supported efforts to combat child predators. I supported $13.8 Million to support the State Police Internet Crime against Children (ICAC) Task Force; $3.7 million to stop child predators; a recent boost of $1.2 Million (again) to the ICAC; $8.2 Million for Child Advocacy Centers, and many other laws to fight these vile perpetrators. I have a proven record and the politically-inspired falsehoods can’t alter that fact. I will continue to be a staunch supporter of anticrime efforts.

PL: From your prospective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?

Lingamfelter: From my perspective, its best summed up in my vision for Virginia: Virginia must lead the way in protecting the Constitutional rights of all of our citizens, the vitality and prosperity of our families, the growth and success of all businesses, and the safety of our communities. I will do that by (1) pressing for bold reform in Virginia, (2) continue to insist on balanced budgets, (3) seek innovative improvements in transportation and education, (4) enhance public safety in our schools, neighborhoods, and communities, (5) press for audits of all of Virginia’s agencies and divisions to ensure efficiency and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and (6) work to provide businesses in manufacturing, agriculture and energy the greatest consideration and opportunity to prosper and grow in Virginia.

PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?

Lingamfelter: As someone who spent his life in public service, as a soldier for 28 years—both in war and peace–and now as a senior legislator in the General Assembly, I have a lot of experience that benefits our community. I will be the senior member of the Appropriations Committee in northern Virginia, which is very important to our region and county as we ensure that we get our fair share of the tax money we send to Richmond back for our roads, schools, and communities for public safety and alike. Experience is key in this election and I am blessed to have that experience.

PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?

Lingamfelter: Citizens of our community are not only well informed, they are smart, too. My opponent thinks they are not so informed, but I have spent 15 years at the doors of the people I represent. I know them personally. They know me and I can assure you that they are more informed than my opponent may understand. To be sure, they have not been fooled one minute by the false and negative campaign she has run since July of this year. People don’t want the name-calling, the falsehoods, the negative campaigning. They want a positive vision for Virginia, selfless service, and devotion to the work and they know I bring that to them.

PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they effected you?

Lingamfelter: The biggest mistake a legislator can make is to think that he or she is entitled to a seat in the General Assembly. This seat belongs to the people of the 31st District and one mistake I have never made is thinking that it is somehow “my seat.”No, it belongs to the people of this district and them alone. And yes, I have made mistakes in policies and bills I have voted for in Richmond. I call these the “laws of unintended consequences” where we didn’t think things through as we should have. And when I make such a mistake, I listen to people and go back and fix it. That’s called “owning up.”

PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you? 

Lingamfelter: The motto that I have followed since Day one of my service to the people of the 31st District in the general Assembly is this. Promise Made – Promise Kept. The two biggest casualties of modern politics are accountability and authenticity. I have tried to address the first in my service to this community by showing up on the doors steps of my constituents to be accountable to them. But just as important as “showing up” is being who you say you are and doing what you say you will. I am an authentic conservative who will represent this community with commonsense conservative policies and values that people look for in a leader. For that reason, I earnestly ask for your vote on November 3.