Andres Wants To Be In Richmond For You:

Fighting for Arlington’s fair share in education dollars: Arlington’s public schools are outstanding because our community values education and invests in them. Andres will work in Richmond to ensure we receive our fair share of State funds. Every student deserves an education that will help achieve his or her dreams.

Fixing the Economy: Virginia must rebuild its economy with innovative green technology that creates jobs and conserves energy and our environment. We must invest in long term health care solutions – vital to keeping Virginians healthy and generating skilled jobs. Virginia must implement strategies and incentives to bring more technology and manufacturing jobs into the Commonwealth.

Changing the Tone in Richmond: We need to change the tone in Richmond. Andres will fight against the ill-considered legislation aimed at the most vulnerable in our society. Andres wants to raise awareness, promote understanding, and find common ground on the difficult, contentious issues before the General Assembly.

Andres Tobar - Blue Virginia Interview

Q. If elected, what would your top three priorities be when you get to Richmond? Why these and not others?

My priorities are based on my passions and where I believe I can do the most good. I also believe they play to my strength. I would work hard to help my colleagues pass equally deserving priorities that they are championing.

The first would be Education. I believe that the success of the Commonwealth of Virginia relates to the education of its citizens and residents. I support universal pre-K for all children. It was a priority for Governor Kaine and although funding barriers blocked its enactment, a lot of work has been done on its feasibility and I hope to continue this effort. I also want to ensure that No Child Left Behind does not penalize hard-working schools that are making progress, and I want every student to graduate with the ability to go on to higher education or a good job.

Second would be working on Virginia’s Economic Recovery. I believe that the challenges that face this country – industry and manufacturing job losses, environmental destruction, rising energy costs – can be improved by encouraging “green collar” jobs, supporting development of new technologies, and ensuring our community colleges and other institutes of learning to provide training for such technologies.

Lastly, I want to change the tone in Richmond. I want to stop legislative efforts that attack the most vulnerable in our society. I welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues that have generated such legislation and work to build respect and understanding.

Q. What is your position on Dillon Rule , which severely limits the power of local government vis-à-vis the state? Should it be weakened to allow a progressive county like Arlington to move ahead on things like human rights, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and other areas?

I support more flexibility in the Dillon Rule. Local government officials, accountable to the voters, should be able to adopt policies on issues that reflect the values of the community.

Q. What will you do to fix the traffic mess in Northern Virginia? Specifically, what is your stance on “smart growth,” extending Metrorail to Dulles airport, and I-66 widening?

Arlington has historically opposed the widening of I-66. To widen the highway would encourage more people to drive on this already congested route and increase the delays. I support that view. I support conducting a comprehensive multi-modal study that would evaluate traffic flow on I-66. I support greater incentives to encourage people to use public transportation and encouraging employers to permit telecommuting and public transit benefits. I fully support the extension of Metro rail to Dulles airport. My intension would be to work hard with the Northern Virginia delegation to find a regional plan that addresses traffic matters, without widening I-66.

I endorse the use of smart growth and would support measures to accomplish such policies. Although Arlington has worked at land use planning to promote smart growth for decades, more is needed for the farther, emerging suburbs, as it affects all communities in Northern Virginia.

We should amend land use planning that keeps sprawl in check, particularly areas not yet developed. Sprawl creates government spending on infrastructure, new schools, emergency services, and so forth. By limiting what can be built on such land, and also requiring the developer to pay for infrastructure costs such as roads, curbs, gutters, as well as contribute to building costs of new schools, in and of itself could limit such sprawl. Planned communities should have a public transportation scheme or strategy that builds in ways to take residents to their work place without adding more traffic (such as commuter buses or trains). Encouraging low-transportation systems such as bike paths helps as well.

Q. What are your beliefs regarding gun control? For instance, do you favor banning so-called “cop killer bullets” and “assault weapons?” What about closing the so-called “gun show loophole?”

I support banning assault weapons and cop-killer bullets. Any gun loopholes that allow weapons to be sold without a full background check and waiting period should be closed. The background check system must be fully integrated to disclose if a person has been referred for mental health treatment due to contact with law enforcement or the courts. I also believe that local jurisdictions should have the right to ban persons, even persons with concealed weapon permits, from bringing guns into public entities such as libraries, recreation centers, restaurants, concert halls, colleges and universities, and so on.

Q. Do you believe that gays and lesbians should have full marriage rights in the Commonwealth of Virginia? If not, why not?

I believe that gays and lesbians should have every right that is afforded to all people in Virginia, including full marriage rights in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Q. Do you support an aggressive move to slash Virginia’s power consumption, particularly for fuels that emit carbon dioxide or cause environmental destruction (e.g., mountaintop removal coal mining) in their production? Would you press for “decoupling,” “smart metering,” and mandatory “renewable portfolio standards” if you get to Richmond?

It is imperative that Virginia develops a serious plan to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, particularly with the anticipated federal legislation advocated by the Obama administration and currently under consideration by Congress, which includes a proposal to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2025. I will support measures that promote energy efficiency and protect the environment. Such standards will require aggressive action to accomplish. I would support those technologies that do this, such as those highlighted above, but it is important to ensure that such technology are supported by regulations that maximize its benefits. “Decoupling” promises to encourage utilities to be more energy efficient, but I want to make sure that excessive rate increases are not passed along to consumers. I am impressed by the promise of “smart grid” technology (and the smart metering) and I understand that economic stimulus funds were designated for such initiatives. Following initial demonstration projects by Dominion Virginia Power for smart meters, the utility has recently asked the State Corporation Commission for rate increases to make smart meters more widely available. I want to make sure that consumers are not forced to pay higher rates that could be paid for by Federal or corporate funds.

I oppose the methods of mining coal through moutaintop removal, strip mining, or any other system that harms the natural resources, the environment, or the surrounding communities.

Q. On a related note, will you pledge to take no money from Dominion Power or other companies that act in ways that harm workers, the environment, etc?

I would not accept money from any entity whose policies and practices are harmful to Virginians, whether it is, for example, a utility company or the tobacco industry. Also, if a major decision were expected to come before the General Assembly in the coming year, I would not accept contributions from the involved parties (even if they are “good guys”) to avoid any conflict of interest.

Q. Which one issue are you most passionate about and why?

Education. I have written about this in other questions, but I reaffirm that I believe all children deserve to be able to enter school ready to learn with the tools necessary to succeed. Universal preschool should be enacted for all Virginia children. I also believe that students who have successfully graduated from Virginia public high schools and have met other requirements as proposed in the “DREAM” Act, introduced in the U.S. Congress, should have the opportunity to attend a State college or university with in-state tuition.
I know the opportunities that education gives a person. Continuing education throughout one’s adult life is an important component to a successful career and life for today’s students, and Virginia’s education system needs to evolve with the times.