David L. Englin* (D)

Office Sought: Va. House of Delegates District 45
Age: 35
Residence: Del Ray.
Education: BS, history, U.S. Air Force Academy; MA, public policy, Harvard University.
Occupation: State delegate; writer, consultant, parent, former Air Force officer.
Web site:http://www.davidenglin.org
E-mail address: info@davidenglin.org
Offices and positions held: Member, Va. House of Delegates, 2006-present; board member, Alexandria United Way; past member, Alexandria Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; past chairman, Del Ray Traffic Committee; member, Alexandria Democratic Committee; past coordinator, Veterans for Kerry; member, Maury Elementary School PTA, Equality Virginia, Planned Parenthood, Jewish War Veterans, Beth El Hebrew Congregation.

Why should voters elect you?

I'm the only candidate who has demonstrated energetic, effective leadership, a strong progressive vision for the future and a record of fighting for what's right.

What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?

The skyrocketing cost of living in the region is the most urgent overall problem, since it affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. However, this is really a web of interconnected issues driven by the high costs of housing and health care, inadequate state investment in education and transportation, and unfair tax policies that are pushing out senior citizens, others on fixed incomes and homeowners who teeter at the edge of being able to pay their bills. We also must stand up to attacks on minorities, fight for clean air and reverse climate change.

What is your plan to address the traffic problems in Virginia?

We need stronger investment in rail and public transit and greater emphasis on transit-oriented development throughout the region. We also need a dedicated, sustained funding mechanism for transportation to deliver the billion dollars a year in revenue required to make the investments that will actually improve quality of life. While the plan we passed this year was a necessary start, instead if a hodge-podge of local taxes and fees – some of which have nothing to do with transportation – that collect almost nothing from out-of-state drivers straining our roads, we should raise the gas tax by a modest 10 cents per gallon. That would get us the billion per year we need through what amounts to a user fee on our roads, and a third of that money would come from out-of-state drivers, which means less money out of the pockets of Virginians.

Do you think current policies governing growth & development in your area are too restrictive, not restrictive enough or just right?

not restrictive enough

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