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The
26th District House of Delegate campaign is probably
the most competitive in the Commonwealth with a
Democratic farmer challenging a Republican farmer.
The
Blue Dog interviews Democrat Lowell Fulk and
Republican Matt Lohr:
Blue
Dog: Explain how you see your role as the 26th
District House of Delegates member?
Lowell
Fulk: I
will represent and protect the interests of the
people of Rockingham and Harrisonburg while in
Richmond regardless of party affiliation, and
while not in session I will work hard to provide
good constituent service and hold town hall meetings
to involve the people - the owners and shareholders
of government - in working together to find
solutions to the issues we all face.
This
is how I have worked for the area in the past, and
how I will work for the people of the 26th District
if they should choose to honor me by hiring me for
this job in November. Richmond needs to know who we
are and take us seriously. I will fight to make sure
that the Shenandoah Valley holds a prominent place
in state considerations.
Matt
Lohr:
I see my role as an elected delegate to take our
Shenandoah Valley values to Richmond. That means
I'll stand up for strong schools, low taxes, a
government that truly serves people and time-tested
values like hard work, deep faith in God, close
families and helping those in need.
We
need leaders with the integrity to do the right
thing for our families, businesses and communities
instead of doing what it takes to get elected and
stay elected. We need leaders who are committed to
serving others and who understand the trust placed
in them by their fellow citizens.
Blue
Dog: What are your priorities for the next two
years, if elected to the position of delegate?
Lowell
Fulk:
I have lived right here in Linville for all of my 47
years and this land and the people are part of my
very being. I understand the importance of planning
for our future and the value of preserving our
heritage.
We
must work to protect and improve water quality in
our springs, wells and streams, solve transportation
and development issues as we continue to grow, make
sure our communities and our children are as safe as
we can keep them, and improve the quality of life
for all residents of our Valley.
I
have the greatest respect and admiration for the
folks of my parents' generation. They invested much
of themselves and their lives to make a good life
for us and I will work to insure that we will be
here for them as they were there for us."
Matt
Lohr:
There are many issues on the minds of the folks in
the 26th District. Every time I visit with
individuals, they are not shy about saying what is
on their mind. There are a few that are near and
dear to my heart that I will make a priority.
The
first is education. As a former middle-school
teacher and current school-board member, I know
first hand the concerns our teachers and parents
have. We have great schools in Harrisonburg and
Rockingham County, but it has required much time and
effort to achieve that success. I am in favor of
fully funding our state Standards of Quality,
gaining a waiver for the No Child Left Behind
legislation, promoting career and technical
education, and keeping our schools in the control of
local elected leaders.
My
second area is agriculture. Rockingham County is the
number one agricultural county in Virginia, but many
farmers are struggling. Issues like keeping
agriculture profitable, balancing growth and
informing our urban citizens about agriculture's
importance are real issues. I also am in favor of
Del. Chris Saxman's agriculture-enterprise zone bill
and will seek to find alternate uses for poultry
houses that are no longer in production. I am
committed to working hard in this area and will seek
a position on the Agriculture, Chesapeake, and
Natural Resources committee. My family's farm has
been in our family for the past 100 years, and many
of my neighbors share that same tradition. We must
be proactive in finding solutions to keep
agriculture a viable and integral part of our
economy and society.
My
third focus is on economic development. I want to
maintain an environment where businesses can
continue to provide opportunities for our citizens.
That means opposing higher taxes, protecting our
cherished Right to Work law, and looking for ways to
encourage small businesses.
Finally,
I am committed to the values we share here in the
Valley. I am committed to preserving the sanctity of
marriage as an institution between one man and one
woman. We need a culture that protects innocent life
both born and unborn. I believe we need to stand
firm against those who strive to remove references
of God and faith from our culture.
Blue
Dog: Why do you want to serve in this office?
Lowell
Fulk:
I am applying for this job because I love and
believe in the people of this area, and during the
eight years that I served on the school board and
had to deal with state politicians, I came to
realize that the people of Harrisonburg and
Rockingham were not being well served and
represented in Richmond. I believe that people here
deserve to be given accurate and honest information.
Far too often, issues are presented in an extreme
and very partisan manner, and I'm tired of my
friends and neighbors being misled in the name of
politics. Our area deserves much better. I can
provide good commonsense judgment and thinking, and
I'm smart enough to know that I don't have all the
answers. This is why I seek out and ask the people
who have knowledge and expertise in various fields
for their counsel and advice on the issues that they
deal with every day.
I
believe government should work for the people, not
the other way around. We have strength here in the
26th District that needs and deserves a voice in
Richmond and I intend to carry our value of
community and common sense with me when I go to
work.
Matt
Lohr:
I have been blessed to come from a family who has
taught me the true meaning of service. My
great-grandfather was a community leader, both my
grandfathers were active in helping others, and both
of my parents have given over 30 years to the
Broadway Volunteer Rescue Squad. I have seen people
in need, and I have seen the difference a meaningful
attitude of service can make. Over my lifetime, I
have tried to follow their example through my
community involvement. Serving as a state and
national FFA officer, presiding over my local
Ruritan Club, presiding over the Rockingham County
Farm Bureau, chairing the Rockingham County Planning
Commission, and chairing the Rockingham County
School Board have given me many opportunities to
help make our community a better place.
Public
officials need to be committed to the issues at hand
and developing concrete solutions to address those
needs. I feel that I am ready to work for the
citizens of the 26th District and continue the
quality of life we have enjoyed for decades.
Blue
Dog: How important is money in running a political
campaign?
Lowell
Fulk:
The most important considerations and focus of my
campaign are the people of this area. Unfortunately,
money does play a great role. I have good ideas and
solutions, but I also must raise money to
communicate with voters through radio, television
and the print media. Then there is also the need to
be ready to respond to and counter dishonest
negatives that sometimes come from one's opponent
late in the race. This I understand very well from
experience.
Matt
Lohr:
Clearly, you have to raise enough money to get your
message out to the voters. It is an important part
of any campaign, and I am grateful to those who have
made contributions to our efforts. However, I have
quickly learned that money it is not the most
important part. Grassroots campaigning - meeting
folks at parades and local civic events, knocking on
their doors, going to school events, listening to
people's concerns and hopes - that's how you really
win a campaign.
Blue
Dog: Do you support campaign-finance reform? Explain
why or why not:
Lowell
Fulk:
I do support campaign-finance reform. Here in
Virginia we have no contribution limits, and far too
often a few very wealthy individuals can have a
disproportionate effect on the outcome of elections.
I support reform that puts the emphasis on people
not on money.
Matt
Lohr:
With regard to finance reform, I support immediate
and full disclosure of contributions so that voters
know who is supporting each candidate and at what
level.
Blue
Dog: If elected, would you sign a pledge to not
discriminate in hiring, in this office, on the basis
of sexual orientation?
Lowell
Fulk:
My practice in hiring employees has been to base my
decision on job qualifications; the person's
demonstrated ability, their resume, and their
references from other employers. I want to hire the
best person for the job."
Matt
Lohr:
As for my employment practices, I have never asked
someone about their sexual orientation when
considering them for employment and will not do so
if I am elected.
Blue
Dog: Please share your thoughts on legislation
concerning the gay/lesbian anti-marriage amendment -
including last year's HB 751 patroned by Del. Bob
Marshall:
Lowell
Fulk:
Virginia has the most strongly worded law in the
United States that states the definition of
marriage. I see no purpose in spending precious
legislative time and taxpayers' money in pursuit of
amending the Constitution of Virginia to simply be
redundant.
Matt
Lohr:
I support efforts to pass a constitutional amendment
stating that marriage is between a man and a woman,
and I would oppose efforts to repeal HB751, the
'Affirmation of Marriage Act.' These are
common-sense measures, which simply secure the
definition of marriage, as it has always existed.
Blue
Dog: What are your thoughts regarding the banning of
Gay-Straight Alliance clubs and discussion of sexual
orientation in Virginia's public school system?
Lowell
Fulk:
I fully trust the reasoning of President Reagan and
the overwhelming bipartisan majority of the congress
of 1984 in their enactment of the Equal Access Act.
I also trust locally elected school boards to
represent their communities in finding a balance
between federal law and local values. I commend the
Harrisonburg School Board for working to find such a
balance.
Matt
Lohr: I personally am against any sanctioned
school club being formed on the basis of one's
sexual orientation. I understand the current law
regarding the Equal Access Amendment and realize
that school boards are currently limited in how they
can deal with these clubs. I favor trying to change
the law so that local school boards have the power
to refuse to sanction organizations based on
one's sexual preferences and orientation.
--
May 9, 2005
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