68th House District: Candidate Forum Notes

Election Day in the Museum District/West of the Boulevard area is Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Our neighborhood is represented in the House of Delegates 68th District. The three way race is being run by incumbent Katherine Waddell (Ind.), former City Council President Manoli Loupassi (R), and William “Bill” Grogan (Ind.).

The Museum District Association hosted a forum to get to know the candidates better Mon., Sept. 24 at Albert Hill Middle School. I apologize for the delay in posting these forum notes, but better late than never! Closing remark videos can be found at the end.

Why are you best qualified for the office?

Grogan: Stubborn but frugal but gets things done

Loupassi:Council for 4 1/2 years, elected unanimously to Council President; sensible reasonable, practical and his record as public official signifies that.

Waddell: Mother wife, delegate, record as incumbent of serving the district. Proven that an independent can be effective in office; she doesn’t caucus with whether party but looks at all bills from both sides of the aisle before deciding. Acts and votes based on four questions:
Is it in the interest of constituents?
Does it make sense?
Is it good public policy?
Is it the right thing to do?

What one change would you like to make in Virginia government if you could as a delegate?

Loupassi: Classrooms first program; aim to make sure 65% of public education money goes to the classroom.

Waddell: Redistricting. The way we select and draw districts is not good because the process is so polarized. Politicians select the voters rather than the other way around. Need more choice in competition in all elections.

Grogan: a fair and simplified tax system

Stem Cell Research?

Waddell: supports it

Grogan: Yes. Everyone can benefit from it.

Loupassi: Does not favor embryonic stem cell research.

Would you support a statewide non-smoking ban in restaurants?

Grogan: doesn’t like government coercing businesses to run their operations; should be up to the individual owner. You get to degrees of restaurant size and it gets complicated to manage.

Loupassi: Up to the individual owner. His sister who runs the Robin Inn took the restaurant smoke free a few years ago on her own without being told.

Waddell: favors the ban. Gov’t is involved in many aspects of businesses (health inspections, etc). She supported the “smoking allowed” requirement in the bill that passed the Assembly last year but the Governor changed the wording to include a full ban that she supported but failed.

Abortion – would you support right to choose?

Loupassi: pro-life; noted even with the new Supreme Court they did not overturn Roe v. Wade. As delegate need to focus on things that affect us directly, not political hot buttons.

Waddell: pro-choice; agreed with Loupassi on focusing on other direct issues.

Grogan: opposed to repealing Roe v. Wade.

Roads issue: How can we get past stalemate?

Waddell: Transportation package will help and bill included money to begin process of replacing Huguenot bridge. Noted that she supported the bill to get the money for the bridge but supports revocation movement of abusive driver fees.

Grogan: abusive driver fees don’t make sense; noted a 1 cent increase in gas tax costs average driver $8 a year and raises $10 million for roads. Favors a user fee to improve roads.

Loupassi: Much needed plan addressed last year. Does not favor regional authorities with taxing power because they are unelected bodies. Abusive driver fees ridiculous and need to be revoked. They punish the poor and make police officers part time tax collectors.

The state owes the city money for untaxed land and limits on annexation. How can the city get/increase those funds?

Grogan: city got shorted by annexation ban; we do not get money we are or were promised. Would work to end the annexation ban.

Loupassi: Annexation is not the solution. It is very divisive and will not solve the city’s ills. City needs to look at and revise funding formulas with state and feds; said he will represent the best interests of the people and work for a positive effect on the state.

Waddell: annexation very divisive and not a good idea to reopen;

Illegal Immigration

Loupassi: an issue for the Feds to tackle; against free higher education for illegal immigrants; astounded that local police are not allowed to contact the feds/INS if they arrest an illegal immigrant.

Waddell: Understand why they are coming here but there is a right way to enter and a wrong way. Feds have failed; voted to deny in-state tuition for illegal immigrants; need to make sure employers are not hiring them.

Grogan: legal immigration is fine; illegal is not. Joked that they should round them up and bus them to D.C. because it is a federal issue.

Renewable energy to address global warming?

Waddell: will listen to ideas but believe in balance. need to protect the Bay, rivers, and air for her grandchildren; need to balance protecting the environment but also keep the economy moving. Voted for money for protection of the Chesapeake Bay.

Grogan: had an old plan from the 90′s for the city to house 1,000 shared bicycles.; worried that we are destroying our environment.

Loupassi: dead zones in Bay are unacceptable; state must act to correct this; said he was a Green Republican and will prioritize helping the Bay with feds; state needs to spend more in this area.

How do you manage personal public criticism?

Grogan: don’t know, never had any (laughter). He will admit when he is wrong and own up to it. But warned you better be right b/c they will get it back x2 if they are wrong about him.

Loupassi: do the best he can and let it go. He is the son of an immigrant and noted that to get where he is now and to serve would be an honor.

Waddell: can handle her stuff; she is tougher than she looks; she is down there fighting for legislation and doesn’t take it personally; focuses on the job.

Closing Remarks Video Clips (forgive the poor quality) can be found here.
Katherine Waddell

Bill Grogan

Manoli Loupassi