RSSDistrict 35
1. If you are elected (or re-elected), what will be the first piece of legislation you will introduce for the 2010 session and why?
2. What can be done in this current economic climate to improve Northern Virginians' transportation mobility – i.e. what will get us the most congestion relief within our current budget constraints?
3. Fairfax County Public Schools are again facing a dramatic budget shortfall for fiscal 2011. What would you do as a legislator to ensure that our students continue to receive a high-quality education?
James E. Hyland
Party: Republican
Age: 48
Family: Married, two children
Occupation: Attorney, Pennsylvania Avenue Group
Public service: Former president, Friends of Oakton Library; board member, Virginia Outdoors Foundation
Web site: www.hylandfordelegate.com
1. My first bill will be about tackling our transportation problems. This is one of the reasons I have been endorsed by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce. I would like to see a bi-partisan commission assess our transportation needs and make funding recommendations, and report to the General Assembly promptly.
2. Immediate fixes that have current funding include: widening I-66 inside the Beltway, and timely completion of HOT lanes on the Beltway. More inexpensive immediate relief could include a focus on fixing bottleneck intersections in Fairfax County, and a stronger effort to have private companies encourage telework.
3. Work closely with Superintendent Jack Dale to ensure we are getting our fair share of funds at the state and federal level. FCPS should take its resources, like Thomas Jefferson S&T HS, and expand distance learning to other parts of the county and state, and generate revenue through such a program.
Mark L. Keam
Party: Democrat
Age: 43
Family: Married, two children
Occupation: Attorney, on unpaid leave of absence from Verizon Communications
Public service: Past president, Courthouse Oaks Homeowners Association; member, Rotary Club of Vienna
Web site: www.markkeam.com
1. We don't receive our fair share of transportation funds from Richmond because of an outmoded transportation funding formula that looks solely at total lane miles. I will introduce legislation to require that the formula calculates population, congestion and use, so that Fairfax County receives more funds for our roads.
2. While we work on a comprehensive statewide transportation solution, we need to ensure that ongoing projects already funded, such as the Dulles Metro extension and HOT Lanes, are completed on time. To minimize disruption around the construction sites, we need more rapid buses deployed and smarter alternate routes identified.
3. I will fight to protect school funding so that our children's futures are not shortchanged. We can look for ways to do more with our tax dollars by identifying and eliminating bureaucratic redundancies and waste in school administration and incorporating use of the latest technologies for both classroom instruction and management.