Blueprint for a Better Virginia

I was taught as a child that I could achieve anything if I was willing to work for it.  I was expected to deliver excellence without excuse.  And that’s what I’ll deliver to you.  But I can't do this alone—I need your vote on June 9th. Together, we can deliver the real RESULTS our families and community deserve.

Our Commonwealth is facing several challenges.  Our economy is in crisis.  Our students and schools are being left behind. Health care costs are spiraling out of control and thousands of Virginians have no health care coverage at all.  Below, I have outlined my plan to ensure that our Commonwealth pushes through these trying times and emerges stronger and more prosperous.

Economic Development Plan 

• Fight to bring Stimulus Money to the District in order to create new jobs
• Work to Increase State and City Spending with Minority and Women Owned Businesses
• Work with State and Local  Economic Development Leaders to Revitalize Northern Midlothian and Hull Street Business Corridors to bring good paying jobs to the district
• Work to Bring at least $10 Million in new Private Industry Investment to the District over the next two years

Small Business ATTaCk Plan

• Advocate for Small and Minority Business
• Technical Assistance Programs for Small and Minority Business
• Tax Cuts for Small and Minority Business
• Capital funding and loan assistance programs

Education Plan

• Support funding for Preschool Initiative and Early Education
• Support Increasing Teacher’s Salaries to the National Average and Smaller Class Sizes
• Support funding for Vocational Education and Skill Education to Address the 21st Century Job Market
• Increase Funding for Drop-out Prevention Programs
• Support and Encourage Greater Parental Involvement in the Schools

Health Care

• Support the Expansion of Virginia Children’s Healthcare Program
• Allow Small Businesses to Pool to Purchase Health Insurance
• Use Purchasing Power of the State to negotiate health  premiums on behalf of  Small Businesses Community Pool
• Increase Medicaid Reimbursement Rates so that Physicians and Hospitals will be adequately reimbursed for taking care of our indigent and poor citizens
• Encourage Investment in Health Sciences by the State in order to Make Virginia a leader in bioscience and medical research and job creation

Consumer Protection

• Stop Credit Card Companies from Changing Interest Rates and Payment Terms  when customer is in compliance with agreement
• Extending the Homestead Exemptions to cover Portion of Property Value to Make Foreclosure Process Fairer
• Close Loopholes for Payday and Title Lenders

Environmental Plan

• Support  tax incentives that incent businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Support incentives that encourage the expansion of Virginia’s Renewable Energy Portfolio
• Support the Development of a Green Building Code that requires the Use of Energy Efficient Materials and Products in Construction
• Support the Conservation Easement Program

Criminal Justice

• Support the Development and Full Funding of Alternative Sentencing Programs such as McSchinn foundation
• Support the Expansion of the Drug Court Program
• Support Funding of a New Richmond City Jail
• Support Increased Funding for Education Programs and Job Training Programs for the Incarcerated
• Support Ending the Gun Show Loophole and banning Guns in Bars and Parks
• Immediate Restoration of Civil Rights for Non-violent Felons Upon Completion of Sentence