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Dialogue with Localities and More Local Control
When the Springfield mixing bowl was restructured and rebuilt, it was done without any concern for the interests of the community, and now many people think it was done improperly. When the General Assembly handed down a rule that said all public schools had to display the words “In God We Trust” in the entry ways to schools, they did so without concern for how much money such an effort would cost the county or whether the community thought it was a priority.
When I wanted to get a cross walk painted on a road near an elementary school to make the area safer for pedestrians, I had to wait months to get permission from the state. By that time I could have gone out there with a can of paint and done it myself. It is time for the delegate from the 38th District to advocate for more local control.
More local control on the budget and transportation
- Too many Republicans and Democrats in Richmond believe that a “one size fits all” model can apply to creating the budget and fixing transportation. These advocates of the Dillon rule could not be farther from the truth. The fact of the matter is a decision made without concern over a specific locality is a decision doomed for failure. As your delegate, I promise to conduct my work on the budget and transportation issue in a way that reflects the needs of the 38th District.
Increased dialogue with local officials
- I have been on the School Board for ten years. In that time, I was contacted by my Delegate once. Ten years. Ten budgets. One contact. As your delegate, I promise to be more responsive to local elected officials and leaders when dealing with an issue that is important to them. Because I’ve been in their position and I know that Richmond is better off with the advice of localities. I make the same promise of responsiveness to each and every person who lives in the 38th District.
Increased abilities for localities to deal with safety needs
- My tale of trying to get a cross walk painted is one of many examples of local officials being unable to address safety concerns due to constrictions from Richmond. As your delegate I will work to give localities more control over matters of safety on the roads.
