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Profession/

Experience:

Health care attorney with over 20 years of experience working for Virginia; recognized by numerous organizations for leadership and community service.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts degree, St. Mary's University in San Antonio ('93); Master of Arts degree, Congressional Studies, The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. ('96); Juris Doctorate degree, The Catholic University Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. ('01).

Personal/

Activities:

Information not provided in the original text sections.

Public Service:

Member of the Virginia General Assembly as the delegate from the 1st District, running for re-election to his eighth term. Chairs the House Courts of Justice Committee; member of the House Public Safety Committee and the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Legislative Priorities/Challenges/Solutions:

Legislative Priorities: Pass resolutions to amend Virginia's Constitution (right to vote, right to reproductive freedom, and right to same-sex marriage). Pass gun safety legislation to enhance background checks for all firearm purchases. Pass legislation to update Arlington's County Manager Plan (allowing for popular election of Board chair, expanding Board size, and allowing for districts/at-large/hybrid structure). Ensure continued access and coverage for life-saving vaccines. 

Residents’ Biggest Challenge: Unnecessary firing of federal employees and contractors, and draconian cuts to Medicaid eligibility. 

Proposed Legislative Solution: Working with Democrats to address the crisis by: 1) increasing unemployment insurance by at least $100 per week; 2) amending the Landlord Tenant Act to allow recently displaced federal employees to break their lease without penalty; and 3) evaluating federal funding reductions to potentially use the Rainy Day Fund and/or Revenue Reserve Fund to provide Medicaid coverage.

Data Centers:

Supports the regulation of data centers and placing requirements on them to support their own energy generation. Must also invest in clean energy to create a sustainable future with a renewable energy supply to manage demand.

State’s Underfunding of Public Schools:

Virginia is underfunding public schools by billions of dollars. Need to update the Standards of Quality (SOQ) formula to accurately reflect true costs, including a per-pupil increase, factoring in local labor costs (COCA), and funding for at-risk/higher-need students. Teachers should be paid above the national average, and positions like central office/transportation personnel should be included in the SOQ formula change, all fully funded by the commonwealth without a local match. Localities like Arlington should be given the power to raise funding for school infrastructure needs.

Casinos:

Building a casino in Arlington is not a viable economic driver for the county, as Arlington is already a desirable location for business development and residency.

What I Want District Members to Know:

“I am proud to have served the commonwealth for 16 years and am running for re-election to continue making positive changes for all Arlingtonians.”

https://www.hopeforvirginia.org/

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Profession/Experience:

Software engineer; entrepreneur for 25 years. Joined a software startup in NoVA as a consultant in 1997.

Education:

Software engineer trained at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Personal/Activities:

Hometown: North Guilford, CT. Identifies as an engineer and an optimist, seeking to creatively solve problems in a complex system, not merely through partisan thinking.

Public Service:

Has not yet served as a public servant, but ran for office earlier.

Legislative Priorities/Challenges/Solutions:

Legislative Priorities: Residents say the biggest challenge is the effects of the reduction in force of the U.S. government, which has had ripple effects on contractors, small businesses, and future investment due to the presumptive shrinkage in the local economy. Proposed Legislative Solution: Relax permitting rules. Hire this well-educated workforce and fund sign-on bonuses through the unemployment program, forgivable after two months of full-time employment, when hiring former federal employees. The governor should provide tax incentives for companies that keep these employees full-time for at least two months, with full forgiveness for those who stay for two years.

Data Centers:

Prioritize placing data centers in the basements of existing, unused residential and commercial buildings. The generated heat can be used to heat buildings, reducing electricity costs, as demonstrated by the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center's ability to heat a complex of buildings. Geothermal cooling can manage bills in the summer.

State’s Underfunding of Public Schools:

Adopt Loudoun County's compromise on transgender bathrooms: single-person multigender toilets, showers, and changing areas should be available for different genders. Argues that fighting this policy is "stupid" and denies critical federal funding to Arlington schools while incurring large legal bills, funds that could be used for facility retrofitting.

Casinos:

Believes a common-sense compromise could protect residents from negative aspects while allowing local small businesses to benefit from increased foot traffic. Views existing politicians as having no concern for residents and sees it as a state revenue opportunity. Would be a "no" on a simple vote, but a "maybe" if the bill were well thought out, with local benefits proportionate to the negative impact.

What I Want District Members to Know:

As an engineer, he approaches problems differently, seeking creative solutions within complex systems rather than through partisan thinking. “The only thing that matters is how effective the tax dollars we raise are at solving the problems we are facing.”

https://www.billmoher.com/

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Comments

Profession/Experience:

Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates (HD-2). Previously served as executive director of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and policy director for former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. First Black person since Reconstruction and first Asian person to represent Arlington County in the General Assembly.

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Economics, Virginia Commonwealth University (2011). First in her family to attend college.

Personal/Activities:

Born in Yuma, Arizona, raised in Northern Virginia (Fairfax County/Alexandria). Daughter of an early childhood educator and a Filipino immigrant veteran. New mother; experienced hunger and periodic homelessness as a child.

Public Service:

Delegate, House District 2. Serves on House committees for General Laws, Transportation, and Public Safety.

Legislative Priorities/Challenges/Solutions:

Top priorities include affordable housing/childcare, reproductive justice, maternal health, public education, environmental protection, and workers' rights. The biggest challenges are high housing and childcare costs and the impact of federal workforce cuts/shutdowns. Solutions include state action to insulate Virginia from federal chaos, passing a bill to create the Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program (employer-matching funds), and fighting for increases to the Housing Trust Fund to boost supply and financial aid.

Data Centers:

Must balance economic growth with environmental protection. Centers should not stress existing power grids or put undue pressure on consumers. Focus on combating climate change while building a diverse, future-focused economy.

State’s Underfunding of Public Schools:

We must modernize school funding by updating the formula and reviewing the Standards of Quality. The state budget must address chronic underfunding and fully fund mandates to ensure a stable, student-needs-based approach.

Casinos:

Any economic project must be thoroughly vetted, provide livable wages, and serve the community. I look forward to reviewing all data, public input, and the debate on the social and financial impacts in the next legislative session.

What I Want District Members to Know:

“I will continue to work with the community to pass meaningful legislation that breaks down barriers, expands human rights, and improves access to critical services for all Virginians.” 

https://adeleforva.com/

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Profession/Experience:

Homemaker and former small-business owner.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology, from Sacramento State University.

Personal/Activities:

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia. Born in Augsburg, Germany, to a military family and moved frequently during early life.

Public Service:

Candidate for Delegate, HD-2.

Legislative Priorities/Challenges/Solutions:

Legislative Priorities: Sponsor bills to incentivize farmers to prioritize purer produce and livestock, aiming to phase out FDA-permitted food additives banned in other countries. Focus on programs that assist Virginia's veterans living below the federal poverty level, with frugal budget oversight. Residents’ Biggest Challenge: High costs of housing and health care. Many residents, including young couples, are delaying having children or buying a modest starter home because they can't afford them. Proposed Legislative Solution: Legislation will aim to lower taxes and encourage the Arlington County Board to reduce costs for builders (including zoning and permits). Will collaborate with other legislators to encourage builders to construct more modest homes in the 1,500- to 2,500-square-foot range.

Data Centers:

Balancing economic benefits (jobs, tax revenue) with environmental and social costs requires a strategic, sustainable approach. Given Arlington's environmental consciousness, early outreach is vital. Proper strategic thought regarding aesthetics and blending construction with the landscape is crucial. Must implement strict efficiency standards and engage with communities early to address concerns about noise, water usage, and infrastructure strain.

State’s Underfunding of Public Schools:

Conduct a funding equity analysis, build a nonpartisan coalition, and launch a public awareness campaign. Work with finance experts to compare Arlington District 2's funding and create a data-driven report highlighting disparities. Partner with other disadvantaged districts and parent organizations to create a unified voice and meet with state legislators to propose changes to the funding formula.

Casinos:

Does not believe a casino is a viable path to economic development. Argues that the long-term social costs (problem gambling, crime, financial instability) often outweigh the financial benefits, even if funds could offset K-12 education costs.

What I Want District Members to Know:

“My priorities lie with the men, women and children of Arlington County, District 2. Although I am proud to be a conservative leader, I am most committed to serving the socioeconomic and related needs of our community. I will lead as a Virginian first, espousing the ethos, “Virginia is for Lovers.” The love of our state and district is my greatest platform.”

https://www.wendyforva.com/

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Comments

Profession/Experience:

Federal advocate (public and government relations firm).

Education:

BA, Vassar College; JD, Tulane University Law School; Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia (Fellow - Political Leaders Program).

Personal/Activities:

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia. First Latino Democrat elected to the Virginia General Assembly; founder of the Virginia Environment & Renewable Energy and the Virginia Latino Caucuses.

Public Service:

Seven-term member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Former Obama Administration political appointee and cabinet-level appointee in then-Gov. Tim Kaine’s administration. Senior member of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, the Public Safety Committee, and the chair of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee. Has been the patron, co-patron, or chief co-patron of over 150 bills enacted into law.

Legislative Priorities/Challenges/Solutions:

Legislative Priorities: Top priorities include addressing inflation and cost-of-living issues, combating threats to democracy, improving K-12 education, supporting small businesses, improving protections for New Americans and immigrants, environmental protection, and expanding renewable energy sources. Residents’ Biggest Challenge: Cost-of-living/housing affordability, exacerbated by the housing crisis and federal employment cuts. Proposed Legislative Solution: Will work to remove supply chain obstacles, expand the supply of housing options, reduce home prices, increase labor options, and reduce income inequality. Also aims to address occupational licensing rules and make it easier to access child care resources/services.

Data Centers:

While data centers bring some economic benefits, they also bring concerning environmental impacts and energy consumption levels that could affect electric bills for regular Virginians. Regulators need to charge data centers for the costs they incur instead of putting increased costs on residential customers and require these facilities to make investments in energy efficiency and clean energy.

Public Schools Education Funding:

Virginia’s K-12 public schools should be the best in the nation, but funding formulas across the commonwealth need to be updated. Significant uncertainty exists regarding federal pass-through funding (e.g., Title 1, school meals, and IDEA/Medicaid). Localities, especially poorer ones, lack access to local revenue to fill gaps that address varied student learning needs; these considerations must be baked into funding formulas from the start.

Casinos:

Does not oppose casinos in concept, provided a locality requests it, voters approve it via referendum, workers are afforded worker protections and the right to unionize, and sufficient set-asides are made to address problem gambling.

https://www.alfonsolopez.org/