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Purves-Shannon debate focuses on taxes
At the American Legion Post 180 Candidates Forum in Vienna, the candidates for 35th district delegate were models of decorum and civil disagreement. Incumbent Democrat Steve Shannon and Republican challenger Arthur Purves were on opposite sides of almost every issue, but managed to remain polite.
"My opponent and I disagree on nearly every issue, but we aren't disagreeable toward one another," Shannon said.
It's easy to be magnanimous in Shannon's position. He is facing an opponent with one fortieth of his war chest, an opponent who boldly espouses hard right-wing views about school prayer, Medicaid and abortion in a town whose state senator has declared herself a "Republican in name only" to help her get reelected.
The unlikelihood of winning is no news to Purves, who has lost five previous elections. Events like the Oct. 18 American Legion forum are the point of Purves' candidacy, the chance to get his message heard. However, Purves still fired some shots at Shannon during the forum.
"In 2004 the General Assembly enacted an additional $1.4 billion tax hike and this year ... another half billion dollar tax hike ... and my opponent voted for both the tax hikes and abusive driver fees," Purves said.
"Of course [the 2007 transportation plan] has shortcomings ... but there's nothing worse than doing nothing for two decades ... at least we have new infusion of revenue," Shannon responded.
The issue of the transportation bill is a microcosm of Purves' strategy at the forum and in the campaign. As an outspoken political outsider, Purves attacks the current system of politics in Virgina, indicting Shannon for his complicity in the system as an incumbent.
Purves said that tax increases cause social ills by forcing both parents to work to keep up with the rising cost of living. Asked about tax exemptions for veterans, Purves quickly turned the discussion to a condemnation of inefficient government spending.
It's meaningless unless you control spending," Purves said.
Shannon, meanwhile, concentrated on his record of representing Vienna in the General Assembly.
"I'm the lobbyist for the town of Vienna," said Shannon, who has worked in the legislature to get stronger storm water regulations and photo red light cameras that the town wanted.
Although Shannon praised his opponent for his politeness at the end of the forum, Purves couldn't pass up the chance for a final shot at his opponent.
"If you elect [Shannon] he's going to go back and raise more taxes, and this has been going on for decades ... and things are not getting better, these problems are not getting solved," Purves said.
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