Delegate Mark Cole's decision not to run for reelection in Virginia's 88th District has created a crowded field of candidates looking to replace the veteran lawmaker who served for more than 20 years.
Tim Lewis, a Libertarian who is mounting a third-party run in the district that includes Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fauquier counties, and Fredericksburg, wants to bring a different philosophy to the state capitol.
Originally from Montgomery, Ala., Lewis has lived in Virginia on and off since 1984 with his wife Jackie and his three children. In addition to having served 20 years in the Marine Corps, Lewis serves on the board of the child-focused non-profit Beacon Hill as well helping to fundraise for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Lewis is a Libertarian, the country's third-largest political party. He'll run against Democratic candidate Kecia Evans and Republican Phillip Scott.
Lewis takes both Democrats and Republicans to task for continuously growing the state government and wants to offer a different choice to residents of the 88th district.
"Under both Republican and Democrat rule, we've seen the power of the government grow and take more control over our lives. There are jobs here in Virginia you can only have if you ask permission and pay Richmond for the right," says Lewis.
Lewis acknowledges that he doesn't want to run the lives of Virginians, and wants to empower Virginians to follow their own path without government intrusion. He believes that as long as someone is not hurting others or taking something that doesn't belong to them, they should be able to live their own best life and make their own decisions on what is best for them and their family which is a typical libertarian ideal.
Lewis is also focused on particular issues such as repealing a 2.5% grocery store food tax, which has also been proposed by Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for governor. He also wants to open Virginia to school choice which he says is already available in Washington D.C. and in the states surrounding the commonwealth, where school funding is allocated by student, not school building. Lewis and his wife Jackie homeschool their three children.
Lewis is also focused on the repeal of Certificate of Public Need laws which govern how hospitals and medical centers operate. According to Lewis, these laws have been blamed for creating medical monopolies which denies such services to communities and increases the costs of healthcare.
"COPN requires hospitals to jump through a number of hoops and petition Richmond for permission to do something as simple as add an MRI or to build a NICU. If Richmond believes it will create "unfair" competition, they can deny the request," says Lewis.
Lewis also holds up private health offerings such as plastic surgery, Lasik, chiropractic, and hospice care as examples of providers' ability to lower costs and provide more healthcare in an open marketplace.
Historically, third party candidates such as those from the Libertarian Party have had a hard time getting on ballots. But Lewis has taken the time to go door-to-door and talk with potential voters to explain his positions, this approach got him enough signatures to get on the ballot and run in the 88th District.
"Regardless of political beliefs, I will fight tirelessly to give every voter the right of self-determination, the power to decide how to live their own lives. I'm not out here running for some powerful lobby or old political party, I'm running understanding that in the eyes of the government, each and every person in our Commonwealth should be protected on equal ground. I offer no special treatment to one group over another, I offer full liberty to all. I will push at every turn to get the government out of your way and out of your life."
Election Day is November 2. No-excuse early voting begins Friday, September 17.
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