Our survey series ends with our eighth and final question to our candidates. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.

Early voting began Sept. 20. and ends November 2. Election Day is Nov. 5.

Over the past few weeks, we have offered a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area. Candidates have answered questions about the economy, education, veterans, borders, data centers, and more.

Each week, candidates were emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

We asked our candidates the following question:

With Winsome Sears and Abigail Spanberger leading the 2025 gubernatorial race, reproductive rights are expected to remain a central issue. What is your position on the current reproductive healthcare laws, and how do you plan to address concerns about access to services on one side and the need for restrictions on the other?

Kaine responded:

As a result of draconian abortion bans put into place following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, women like Amber Thurman have died because they haven’t been able to get the care they need. Virginia is the last state in the South without an extreme abortion ban, and I won’t stop fighting against efforts to implement a national abortion ban so women can make their own health care decisions without interference from out-of-touch politicians. After the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, I introduced the bipartisan Reproductive Freedom for All Act, which would enact the core holdings of Supreme Court cases, including Roe v. Wade, which established and affirmed the rights to abortion and contraception. My bill is the only bipartisan proposal currently before Congress that would codify Roe v. Wade as a national protection of reproductive freedom.

Cao responded:

As a United States Senator, I will vote against any national abortion ban. I believe this issue was correctly sent back to the states which is a contrast from my opponent who wants to federalize this and take it out of the hands of voters in Virginia and put it in the hands of a Senator in California and a Congressman in Idaho. He wants to do this in order to push the most extreme agenda of unlimited abortion up to the moment of birth. This is why he voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.

My family benefitted from fertility treatments so I would support making insurance companies pay for IVF and other fertility procedures. One of our five children was adopted so I would like to streamline the adoption process to help American families grow.

Anderson responded:

Unfortunately, this is something my opponent has been lying to voters about for weeks. I look at this issue as one we should approach with compassion and common sense rather than division and lies. To be very clear, I will not and do not support a national abortion ban. I’m a strong supporter of IVF and of over the counter contraceptive access. The Dobbs decision put this discussion back in the hands of the states and Virginia has spoken on this. I do not want to federalize this issue.

Vindman responded:

In 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned over 50 years of precedent in the dangerous Dobbs decision, they took away a Constitutional right held by women for generations. I don’t want my 14-year-old daughter to grow up in a world in which she has fewer rights than her mother or grandmother before her. That is unconscionable. My position on this is simple: an issue as personal as access to abortion care should be a decision made between a woman and her doctor, a politician shouldn’t be in the room. In office, I will codify Roe to make it the law of the land. My opponent unfortunately has dodged this question.

Derrick Anderson wants to let politicians dictate to women if they are allowed to access critical reproductive care. He has committed to being a “pro-life” member of Congress if elected. He actively campaigned for a candidate who disgustingly claimed that women can’t get pregnant from being raped, and therefore shouldn’t be allowed to receive an abortion if they requested one. And he is bankrolled by MAGA extremists who have called for a national abortion ban without exceptions like in Project 2025. Simply put: Derrick is a danger to women, and cannot be trusted to protect our families in Congress.

Derrick has claimed that “this should be an issue left to the states.” Let me be clear: this means that Derrick supports state legislatures and governors being able to ban abortion without exception. Including for victims of rape or incest and even when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. This is not a hypothetical future, it’s a reality women face every day. After the Dobbs decision, a 10-year-old rape victim was forced to flee her state because Ohio had banned abortion. Amber Thurman, a young mother in Georgia who had to travel hundreds of miles to receive an abortion, died from sepsis because she was denied the care she desperately needed. Right now, because of state politicians, victims are being denied care, and women are dying. So when Derrick says “leave it up to the states” don’t let his canned line distract you from the reality of what that really means.

It’s obvious that Derrick knows that his extreme position is unpopular, and that’s why he has done everything he can to dodge and distract from his true beliefs. At a recent candidate forum, Derrick was asked simply “do you support a woman’s right to choose, yes or no?” he repeatedly refused to answer. Derrick even went so far as to stage a photo-op with a “fake wife and daughters” in an attempt to soften his image as a bachelor who believes that women should be denied the ability to make their own healthcare decisions. It’s clear that he will do whatever it takes to hide his true position from voters because he’s too extreme for Virginia.

In this election, the voters of this district will decide the future of abortion rights and women’s healthcare access in Virginia and across the country. As a member of Congress, I will always vote to empower women to make their own choices. It is clear that Derrick won’t.

 

Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online. To provide the public with more information about the board meetings, we’ve assembled a list of some of the items on the agenda.

On the agenda:

Board of Supervisors

• The board is voting on whether to approve amendments and revisions to its bylaws. Notable changes include a requirement that when any Board member writes an op-ed letter or letter to an elected official or local, state, or federal agency expressing his/her views, he/she shall place on the same document a disclaimer that the statement represents only the views of the writer and are not necessarily representative of the board.   The revision removes social media posts, memorandums, and emails from this requirement.
• Sections 7.2 and 7.3 will no longer include Ethical Standards.

…annually the Board shall review and consider endorsement of a code of performance and ethical standards to convey to each other, as well as to the citizens of the County, its commitment to conduct the business of the Board and the County in a professional and dignified manner.
B. The Board shall be presented with a code of performance and ethical standards annually at its annual organizational meeting for review, approval, and execution…Board members agree to follow its adopted Human Resources Policy for Board Support Assistants, dated July 2, 2024, as last revised, and its code ofperformance and ethical standards regarding Board Support Staff, including, but not limited to, hours of work, conduct, and required trainings.

Transportation

• A proposal to study the Courthouse Targeted Development Area (TDA) for additional transportation improvements. This area finished a $200 million transportation improvement in 2020, which added the Diamond Interchange off of I-95 Exit 140, constructed Hospital Boulevard, and expanded Courthouse Road from two lanes to four.  The proposal says more improvements are necessary to support current and future growth in the Courthouse TDA. Over 4 million square feet of commercial, warehouse, light industrial, and data center space, and over 300 residential units have already been approved. Applications have been submitted for additional 500,000 square feet of commercial, warehouse, and industrial space, and an additional 700 plus residential units.

Public Safety

• The Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services wants permission to sign a lease agreement to rent a boat slip at Hope Springs Marina to store their new fire and rescue boat.
  • The marina is located on Aquia Creek, near the Potomac River, and they believe it’s the best spot for the boat. The lease would cost $3,000 for the first year, with a 3% increase each year after.
  • The department has enough money in their current budget for this year’s lease, and future funding will depend on the county’s budget.
  • The department recently got a 32-foot fire boat, and they’ve also arranged for a boat lift to be installed at the marina. The lift, owned by Stafford County, will keep the boat safe and make maintenance easier. The lease would be for 10 years, and the boat lift would stay with the county if the boat is ever moved.
• The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office requests approval to accept a grant from the 2024 COPS Technology and Equipment Program. The grant, totaling $246,000, would be used to purchase an Emergency Police Dispatch system.
  • This new system will help the Sheriff’s Office improve how they handle emergency calls, making it easier to respond quickly and accurately to different situations. The grant doesn’t require any county money to match the funds, so it’s fully covered.
  • The new system would complement the county’s current emergency dispatch services for medical and fire calls. It works by asking important questions during each call to make sure the right type of help is sent, depending on the answers given.

Human Resources

• The county’s Human Resources Department wants to update its salary policies to help attract and keep employees. These changes are important because Stafford County is growing fast and needs to be competitive in how it pays its workers to keep up with other areas. The staff is recommending several updates, and they’re asking for approval to hold a public hearing about some of them.
  1. Sign-On Bonuses: For hard-to-fill positions, staff recommends offering sign-on bonuses of $2,500, $5,000, or $12,000, depending on the job. The employees will need to stay for a certain period (12 to 36 months) to keep the bonus.
  2. Probationary Pay Increases: If new hires perform really well during their first 6-12 months, they could get a 3% raise if they were hired at the lower end of the pay scale.
  3. Pay for Certifications/Degrees: Employees who earn important certifications, degrees, or licenses that help the county could get up to a 5% raise.
  4. Bilingual Pay: Employees who speak another language that helps their department could get a $2,000 yearly bonus. They’ll need to pass a language test.
  5. Employee Referral Bonuses: If employees refer a friend who gets hired, they could earn between $300 and $1,200, depending on the position.

  The proposal also considers how to set pay for constitutional officers. Historically, constitutional officers entered the office receiving the same salary as their predecessors until 2024, when the board reduced the salary of the county’s new Treasurer.

  In the proposed updates, the board will decide if a newly elected Constitutional Officer gets a salary supplement on top of the state-provided pay. After that, the officer will get the same raises and cost of living adjustments as other county employees.

  • To set the salary for a new officer, the County Administrator will work with Human Resources to compare salaries from similar areas. Based on this, the County Administrator will recommend it to the Board, which will review it in a closed session. The Board may invite the officer to discuss the salary during the session.
  • Under the proposed language, the newly elected officer will not be informed of the new salary until after the election and may be excluded from discussions on the matter.

Planning and Zoning

• Additional time is requested to review a rezoning application on the Musselman Road warehouse project, Attain at Stafford, and The Arbors at Stafford. The Musselman Road Warehouse project in the George Washington District includes rezoning 21 acres from Urban Commercial and Suburban Residential to Light Industrial.
  • The warehouse will be approximately 218,000 square feet. Attain at Stafford, a mixed-use development, and The Arbors at Stafford, an age-restricted community, are both in the Falmouth district. Together, the two will add 470 dwelling units on over 30 acres. The developer is requesting additional time to review prior county feedback.

Stafford County Public Schools will host its 14th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger Program on November 4, 2024. The event will be held at Mountain View High School at 7 p.m.

In 2005, Mountain View High School welcomed its first Band Director, Doug Armstrong, a Virginia Tech graduate who helped establish Hokies for the Hungry, a fundraiser supporting the local food bank in Blacksburg, VA. Inspired by this, Armstrong created Band Together to Fight Hunger in Stafford County to help the community. The annual event gathers five high school marching bands—Mountain View, Colonial Forge, Stafford, Brooke Point, and North Stafford—to perform their shows.

Approximately 397 students will participate this year. Admission to the event is a donation of non-perishable food items. The event holds a concession stand, offers a 50/50 lottery, and sells “shout-outs” that family members can use to send messages to their band students. T-shirts and sweatshirts are also available for purchase. All proceeds from concessions, lottery, merchandise, and shoutouts go to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank.

Coordinated by band parents from all five schools, alongside Deirdra Hazeley, Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts, and Hunter Berry, Director of Engagement for Stafford County Public Schools, the event serves as a season finale for the marching bands. Each performs its halftime show, followed by a combined performance with a guest conductor. Over the past 13 years, the event has provided more than 350,000 meals to the food bank, with 2023 marking a record 56,786 meals.

For 2024, the goal is set at 50,000 meals. Donations may also be made online.

Mountain View High School is located at 2135 Mountain View Road.

The annual Independent Book Festival returns to Fredericksburg on October 12, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Riverfront Park. Founded in 2015 by local authors James Noll and Chris Jones, the festival offers writers a platform to promote their work, attend panels, and network with other authors.

Noll, who began his independent publishing journey in 2013, visited over 24 events in a single year—including comic cons, horror cons, and book festivals—in an effort to learn about the industry. “The travel was exhausting, but I realized nobody was hosting a book event in Fredericksburg,” said Noll. “So, I decided to make it happen.” He partnered with local writers Amy Bayne and Chris Jones to launch the festival. Though Bayne left the team in 2018, Noll and Jones continue to run the event.

Noll has written several sci-fi novels and numerous short stories, while Jones is an award-winning journalist who has authored two books and contributed to five others.

This year’s festival will feature a variety of speakers between 10:45 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., covering topics such as children’s literature, sci-fi, and the challenges of independent publishing. The talks will range from 15 to 30 minutes each. Spaces for authors have sold out, with 80 authors signed up to attend. A map of their locations is provided online with the authors’ names and genres.

The festival has hosted a full slate of speakers and panels every year. While it remains a one-day event, organizers are considering expanding it to two days in the future, with one day dedicated to workshops and business sessions for writers, and one day for festival activities.

The full event schedule is available online.

We continue our survey series with our seventh question to our candidates. The series will end next week with our eighth and final question.

To help voters in Virginia’s 7th District and statewide make an informed decision, we have offered a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area. Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

Early voting began Sept. 20. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.

We asked our candidates the following question:

With inflation and the cost of living still being major concerns for voters, what are your specific plans to address economic inequality and provide relief to middle-class families?

Kaine responded:

When the global economy was hit hard after Covid disrupted well-established supply chains, the U.S. recovered better than any advanced economy, but there’s more to do. I proudly cast a deciding vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which slashed prescription drug costs by capping insulin prices at $35 per month, enabling Medicare to negotiate lower prices, and capping out of pocket costs. Inflation in the U.S. has been consistently falling since then as a result. Passing strong domestic manufacturing and infrastructure bills is also creating good jobs shoring up supply chains, thus reducing prices. America is also accelerating domestic production of clean, cheap renewable power because of the Inflation Reduction Act. I will keep working to lower costs for families. We’ve increased federal support to lower child care costs and I have a bipartisan bill to supercharge existing tax credits and expand child care. Lastly, we must bring back the expanded Child Tax Credit and make it permanent. When we did this, it benefitted 1.7 million Virginia children and cut child poverty to the lowest rate ever.”

Cao responded:

Everything that’s going wrong in our country right now stems from our wide-open southern border, and Virginians across the Commonwealth know it. Housing costs are at an all-time high because we have tens of millions of people here that were not here just a few years ago for which we need to provide housing. To make matters worse, the Biden-Harris administration is spending a billion dollars a day on illegal immigrants, driving up the cost of living for everyone else. When I am elected to the U.S Senate, my first priority will be to secure our border and stop the U.S. from spending taxpayer dollars on illegal immigrants. By doing so, we will lower the cost of living for everyone and provide relief for Americans who have been hurt by Bidenomics, sky high housing costs, and increased costs for goods and services.

Cao also responded with a quote from Tuesday’s debate at Norfolk State University:  

Right now we need to be energy independent. That is the crux of everything. If it costs more for a farmer to farm their land, it’s gonna cost more for a trucker to bring it there. What they’ve made us dependent on oil from countries that hate us like Iran and Venezuela. These countries hate us in the Middle East. We need to be energy independent in this country. That means unleashing all the energy we can get to bring forth American power. I heard him say at a forum a couple weeks ago that solar and wind are more efficient than nuclear power. Can you imagine one of our aircraft carriers on wind power? Do you want to put sails on there? I’m a warrior by trade but also I’m an engineer and a physicist. I’m telling you right now that’s wrong. Nuclear power is the most clean and efficient form of energy out there and we need to exploit more of that in Virginia and we need to be energy independent and stop being dependent on other countries.

Anderson responded:

We need to put country over party to balance the budget and lower costs. Congress absolutely should not get paid if the budget isn’t balanced. The amount of spending in recent years has really hurt the middle and working class.

My opponent is sadly on the other side of this issue — he believes in the failed policies of the past that led to higher costs and more inflation.

Also, our small businesses are a key part of economic growth. I grew up in a Spotsylvania small business family — I washed dishes and mopped floors at my mom’s restaurants — and I’ll always fight for our small businesses and their employees. I see the impacts of high costs on my home district every day and offer a clear contrast from my opponent on this issue.

Vindman responded:

When my wife and I head to the store to pick up groceries or fill up our minivan on the way to pick up our daughter from school, we get the same sticker shock that I know everyone feels.

Costs are still too high, and we have to do better. In Congress, I will work across the aisle to lower the cost of everyday goods, cut excessive regulations so we can build more housing and make it affordable to buy or rent, and work to bring high-paying jobs to our region so that working families have the resources to thrive.

The COVID pandemic showed us all that vulnerabilities in our supply chain can have major downstream effects. We must strengthen our supply chain by investing in American manufacturing so that in case we face another global pandemic, we are not at the mercy of foreign countries.

Supply chain constraints are only one of the causes of the cost of everyday goods becoming unaffordable. Over the last few years, as families have been hurting, these major retailers are seeing record profits. If elected I will take on these price-gouging monopolies, and break up companies that are stifling innovation and hurting consumers.

To lower the cost of housing, I will work with local, regional, and state partners to cut burdensome regulations that make it too expensive to build new housing. The 7th district is an amazing place to live and raise a family, and an appropriate housing supply must be available to meet the high demand for housing here.

The past few years have laid bare what many of us have already known: for too long our economy has been working for those at the top while leaving the rest of us behind. We must invest in our middle and working class families. In office I will work with leaders in industry, and labor, to bring high-paying jobs to our region. I will secure federal funding to bring more manufacturing to Virginia and make sure our schools have the resources they need.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 — Pickleball fans, grab your paddles: Fredericksburg’s new indoor pickleball facility will open on October 19. The Picklr location at 3700 Plank Road will be open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Owner Jay Sartori said he and his partner Kim have been avid pickleball players for years. They “wanted to create a curated, ‘eatertainment-style’ pickleball club.” Guests will not only be able to play, but also socialize and enjoy great food. Sartori described pickleball as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., outpacing tennis and golf combined.

Sartori said all of Picklr’s clubs feature a fully-stocked pro shop with head-to-toe pickleball gear. The facility offers locker rooms and changing rooms, and most Picklr clubs have showers. Sartori said they will offer light food and beverage options, and the menus vary from location to location. [After this article was published, Santori said no food or drink would be served at the establishment].

The Picklr offers several membership options, including a $30 for 30 Days trial membership for those who are just exploring the sport. Their “All In” membership, priced at $139 per month, includes perks like unlimited play, leagues, tournaments, clinics, and guest passes at any Picklr club nationwide.

Sartori said, “We recognize that youth are the future of our sport,” noting the club offers junior memberships for youth between 15 and 18 years old and summer camps.

The Fredericksburg Picklr will offer private lessons and clinics for all skill levels. “We have full-time coaches who are ready to help players learn and refine their skills,” Sartori said. The facility will also host leagues and tournaments catering to all skill levels.

This past Friday, October 4, the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber’s Leadership Fredericksburg program held its Annual Leadership Impact Awards celebration at the A & B Creative Events Center. The event brought together local business leaders, alumni, and community supporters to honor the contributions of Leadership Fredericksburg alumni who make positive impacts on the community.

Susan Spears, Executive Director of Leadership Fredericksburg, said: “The Leadership Fredericksburg program continues to cultivate leaders who not only excel in their professional lives but also make lasting, positive impacts on our community. We are thrilled to recognize these five outstanding individuals who have embodied the spirit of community leadership and commitment.”

One honoree was Paul Milde, District 64 Delegate and Founder and President of CIP Finishes. A 2021 alum of the Leadership Fredericksburg Class of 2021, Milde shared what initially inspired him to participate. “It was around 2011 when I was on the Stafford Board of Supervisors. I noticed many highly regarded businessmen and women would mention that they were alumni, and it was obvious they felt they had gotten something special out of the program.”

Though his duties on the Board of Supervisors and as a member of VRE kept him from enrolling until 2018, once he completed the program, Milde said the program has changed his communication style, it “assessed my communication and personality traits and suggested areas where I might be better off with a different style. It helped me see better how others saw me—simply put, how to improve my people skills.”

Milde believes leadership is about leaving the community better than he found it. “That could be anything from preserving large tracts of forest and farms for future generations, building up our transportation network, fostering diverse business opportunities with good jobs, or being part of the growing network of LF alumni who help keep the counties and city connected as one family of businesses and leaders.”

He now actively encourages others in his company to participate in Leadership Fredericksburg. “Based on my experience, I started sending my company’s management through LF. It is worth the return on investment.” 

Nicole Cole, Owner and President of Nicole Cole Financial Services Group and a 2017 alum of Leadership Fredericksburg, was also recognized. Cole, who moved to Spotsylvania in 2013, explained that she was inspired to join the program after hearing about it from her cousin, a Leadership Metro Richmond graduate. “She said it would be a great way to build my leadership skills, learn ways to apply them within my community and build a stronger network with fellow members of the Chamber. All these things were accomplished through my participation in Leadership FXBG.”

As a leader in the financial sector, Cole credits the program with enhancing her ability to develop leadership within her team. “The skills related to developing the leadership capabilities of my employees and trusting in delegating tasks have been most useful so we can better serve and respond to our clients,” she shared. 

The program helped Cole evolve her own leadership style, particularly in becoming more visionary and collaborative. “The program helped me to add more ways to involve others, recognize leadership capabilities in others, and inspire others to work together to develop the plan and take ownership of the work required to achieve our common goals,” she said. She also noted the importance of mental health and self-care for leaders, a lesson that resonated deeply with her: “Leaders take on so much, often very selflessly, and it can take a toll. We must remember self-care or, better, creating harmony, is a must for us to be able to do the work we do and stay healthy.”

Cole also emphasized the value women bring to leadership. “While in the past, finance hasn’t been an area women were encouraged or supported in engaging, much less becoming leaders, it is a great industry in which women can thrive. The industry needs the diversity of thought, temperament, and understanding that women bring to the table as leaders.”

Other recognized alums were Veronic Curry, of Germanna Community College; Meghann Cotter of Micah Ecumenical Ministries; and Martha Hutzel of Central Rappahannock Libraries.

We continue our survey series with our sixth question to our candidates. To help voters in Virginia’s 7th District and statewide make an informed decision, we continue a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area.

Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.

Early voting began Sept. 20. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.

We asked our candidates the following question:

What policies do you support to improve public education, particularly in underserved communities? How will you work to address issues like teacher shortages and student performance gaps?

Kaine responded:

As parents of children who went through the public school system, my wife Anne and I know firsthand the power that good teachers have to change kids’ lives for the better. There are about 4,500 teacher vacancies in Virginia, and the highest vacancy levels tend to be in schools with higher concentrations of Black students and students living in poverty. I have introduced several bills to combat teacher shortages. For example, my bipartisan Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals (PREP) Act would address teacher and principal shortages, particularly in rural communities, and increase teacher diversity by expanding the definition of “high need” districts under the Every Student Succeeds Act. I also have a bill called the Supporting Teaching and Learning through Better Data Act, which would address teacher workforce shortages by strengthening data collection on the teacher workforce. Moreover, we must take steps like expanding access to Pre-K to close achievement gaps. When I was Governor, I worked across the aisle to expand Pre-K enrollment in Virginia by 40 percent. Earlier this year, I successfully pushed for a $1 billion increase for early childhood learning in child care in the government funding package, which included a $66.5 million increase in funding to support universal pre-K for service member families.

Cao responded:

My parents wanted me to achieve more than they had. I want my kids to be able to exceed my accomplishments. Every American wants the next generation to be more successful than their own.

We are the wealthiest country in the history of the world. Our schools should be excellent, and parents should have the power to demand that. If parents feel that their child’s education is not up to their standard, they should be able to take their tax dollars to a school that does meet that standard. School choice gives power back to parents and ensures that your future isn’t determined by your zip code. When we escaped Vietnam right before the fall of Saigon to the Communists, my parents dreamed of a place where their children can thrive. They taught us that your money or your title can be taken away in the blink of an eye, but your knowledge is forever. We owe the same commitment to our children and our children’s children.

Anderson did not respond.

Vindman responded:

As the father of two kids currently in public school, and the husband of a former public school teacher, who taught all over the country and overseas, I see the gaps in our public education system every day. My daughter does not have a permanent language arts teacher.  We also have kids learning in trailers rather than in classrooms. This is a problem across our district.

Growing up in an immigrant family, my brothers and I attended high-quality public schools that allowed our family to live the American dream; but for too many communities the lack of necessary resources is keeping kids back, teachers away, and success out of reach for too many families. In Congress, I commit to being a partner for every community in the 7th district and fight to ensure they have the resources to support every student, and I will fight back against MAGA extremists on local school boards who are plotting to ban books and compromise our kids’ education.

I will work across the aisle to secure federal funding to increase teacher pay, rebuild schools, and bring technology into the classroom. I will also use my position to foster more relationships between our schools and the building trades, ensuring that students interested in pursuing a career in the trades have a clear path to enrolling in an apprenticeship program after graduation. I will work to build consensus around common-sense solutions to lower the costs of college, including community colleges, so that every hard-working student who wants to pursue a college degree is able to do so, no matter their family’s financial situation. But more than any solution that I can propose, I will always look to the local leaders, educators, students, and parents for their ideas, and find ways I can support them as they fight to make our schools the best in the country.