Issues

Schools

My commitment is to uphold the right of parents to raise their children according to their family values, free from government mandates or intervention. It is important that parents are able to exercise control over their children’s futures.

More importantly, we must continue to look for more ways to protect our children while they are in school. I will support a school budget which adds Student Resource Officers in every school, including the elementary schools.

In addition, I believe that all children should have access to high-quality education that is free from political bias and agendas driven by interest groups. Education should be based on merit and equal opportunity. Any obstacles that hinder equal opportunities in public education must be addressed for the benefit of all students.

Going forward, it will be important for the members of the School Board and Board of Supervisors to meet on a more regular basis. I will prioritize efforts to ensure that the Rockingham County Public Schools are adequately funded to cater to the needs of teachers, students, and classrooms. Such funding must be directed towards improving the educational quality of our schools, and not towards advancing divisive or politically-motivated programs and policies.

Protecting Private Property Rights

I will support the rights of private property owners to do as they wish on their own land so long as it doesn’t affect the rights of someone else.

Private property rights are fundamental to individual liberty and economic growth. These rights allow individuals to use, trade, and dispose of their property as they see fit, without interference from the government or others. This provides incentives for people to work hard and invest in their property, which in turn leads to economic development, innovation, and increased prosperity. Protecting private property rights also provides a means for individuals to secure their own homes and businesses, fostering a sense of stability and security in their communities. Ultimately, the ability to own and control property is essential to maintaining personal freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Protecting Agriculture & Our Rural Community

Agriculture is a critical industry in Rockingham County and protecting it is essential for our sustainability, independence and economic prosperity. The farming industry provides jobs, supports local businesses, and generates much revenue for the county. It is our lifeblood. Supporting local farmers helps to ensure a stable food supply for the region, while also contributing to the local and national economy. Therefore, it is vital for us to prioritize the protection and preservation of agricultural lands.

Smarter Growth, Housing & Development

Affordable housing encompasses a wide range of approaches aimed at enabling local residents, especially younger families who may face financial constraints, to access suitable residential options. It is crucial to explore various methods to foster the creation of affordable housing, considering the diverse needs of groups such as schoolteachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, and individuals with modest incomes. The availability of affordable housing will significantly shape the future of the community, ensuring a stable foundation for these essential contributors to society.

With that being said, more housing does not necessarily equal affordable housing. I do not want to see Rockingham County transformed into the next Loudoun or Albemarle County. The explosion of housing the the past few years is running the risk of overdevelopment and we do not have the infrastructure in place. We need to find ways to balance growth pressure with the vision of who we want to be in 30 years.

Too much too soon will only lead to additional strain on our resources that we are not prepared to handle. The consequences of such actions will lead to increased traffic, crowded schools, maxed out capacity for water and sewer, safety hazards adding more burdens for police, fire & rescue personnel and an overall reduction in the quality of life for our current residents. The demand for more government services will also have an increased tax burden for our residents in the future as residential housing brings little to no additional revenue for the county. Again, we need to address the challenges of growth pressure at a pace that is acceptable to residents and adds value to Rockingham County.

As an alternative, I intend to advocate for fiscal responsibility, diverse workforce housing options for middle class residents and smart development that supports local businesses that are beneficial to Rockingham County. We require smart balanced growth not unchecked growth.

Low Taxes

I would like to maintain a low tax rate and look for ways of alleviating taxes even more so for our residents. In particular, the age demographic in this area is decreasing thanks to more job opportunities and tourism, so we have less of a need to rely on the elderly who are on fixed incomes.

In general, tax burdens faced by lower income and middle-class residents are persistent obstacles that impede upward economic mobility. I will never consider unnecessary taxes that affect our residents, such as the plastic bag tax, but I will work to identify intelligent solutions to mitigate and manage taxes in Rockingham County, including the real property tax.

It is essential that we adopt tax policies that encourage residents to invest and spend their disposable income at local small businesses. Doing so will contribute to the continued growth of our local economy and improve the quality of life for all residents.

Maintaining & Increasing Our Reserves

Per Virginia Code Chapter 15.2-2505 A county budget may include a reserve for contingencies and capital improvements. I would like to gradually continue to increase our reserves if and when it is possible and keep our level of contingency funds so that we are never put in a position to raise taxes for an emergency situation that may occur during an economic recession.

2nd Amendment

In 2019 Rockingham County held the largest Public Comment opportunity in the history of the county at Spotswood High School. Three thousand residents attended and over 40 people spoke in favor of the Board adopting a resolution to declare Rockingham County a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary. This shows how conservative Rockingham truly is, yet the Board was a bit delayed in adopting this resolution. I will ensure that we, being one of the most conservative counties in the Commonwealth become a leader for these types movements to resist any tyrannical government overreach in the future.

Supporting Law Enforcement, Mental Health and Fighting The Opioid Crisis

In 2019 I worked with a group called the Virginia Law Enforcement Assistance Program (VALEAP). I saw the mental anguish that officers and first responders are put through. For career employees, it is akin to going to war every day for twenty or more years. This takes a toll on an officers mental health. While the culture is changing and while we are blessed to live in one of the safest counties in Virginia, I want to make sure that we have officers who are well trained in peer to peer CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management). I want our law enforcement to know that we support them in every way and will support any efforts to retain good officers and provide them with the resources they need to combat drug trafficking in our area. Illegal drugs and the mental health crisis affecting the nation are not separate issues.

More Transparency & Better Communication

Every second & fourth Wednesday of the month the Board of Supervisor meet. The first meeting of the month begins at 3 p.m. Unless you go online to review the minutes, it is hard to witness the updates given by the department leaders. Many people cannot get off work that early to participate. I will advocate that the first portion of the 3:00 p.m. meetings be livestreamed or video recorded on the county website in order to allow for online participation. In general, I would like to see Rockingham County integrate and utilize more Web 2.0 technologies for notifications for these meetings.

In 2020, Rockingham County completed upgrades to the Board of Supervisors conference room that allowed the Board to conduct meetings virtually. We have the technological capabilities to offer more options like to the public in some form or another for future meetings and should take this under consideration again for the reasons stated.

In addition, many people are not hearing about zoning request changes until the final hour or after the fact. I will look for better ways to inform the residents online about changes being proposed.