D.M. "Mick" Staton Jr.* (R)
Office Sought: District Supervisor Sugarland Run
Age: 39
Residence: Great Falls Forest.
Education: BA, political science, MA, public administration, West Virginia University.
Occupation: Vice president, Capitol Link.
Web site:http://www.mickstaton.com
E-mail address: mjr@caplink.com
Offices and positions held: Member, Sugarland Run District, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, 2004-present; founding member, Loudoun Taxpayers Coalition, 2001-02; chairman, Loudoun County Young Republicans, 2002; district chairman, 2002, precinct captain, 2001, Loudoun County Republican Committee; third-degree member, Knights of Columbus; Eagle Scout.
Why should voters elect you?
I have demonstrated leadership on key issues, including growth, transportation, taxes and illegal immigration. I will continue making Loudoun a family-friendly place to live.
What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
Taxes. Growth has slowed by more than 50 percent since I took office. The housing market is declining, and home assessments are dropping, which means a decline in available tax money for local services. Now more than ever, we need to be vigilant in our spending practices. We cannot rely on increasing property assessments to continue to fund spending increases that have grown twice as fast as our population has increased. Over the next four years, we need to rein in out-of-control spending or our citizens will find themselves paying higher taxes on homes with declining property values.
What is your plan to address the traffic problems in Virginia?
We must empower local governments to be more creative in working with the private sector. We must also free ourselves from the bonds of over burdensome regulations that add years and millions of dollars in extra costs to road projects.
Most importantly, we must bring more high paying jobs to Loudoun County. By bringing more jobs closer to where people live, we are creating shorter commutes, and ending the vicious rush hour cycle where everyone is trying to go East to get to Washington, Reston, and Tysons in the morning, and then heading back West to go home in the evening.
Louduon also needs to finish the update to our Countywide Transportation Plan, and plan for new transporation links so that our road network is ready to handle not just the trafficof today, but also the traffic of tomorrow.
Do you think current policies governing growth & development in your area are too restrictive, not restrictive enough or just right?
just right
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