George L. Barker (D)
Office Sought: Va. Senate District 39
Age: 56
Residence: Clifton.
Education: BA, economics and public health, MS, health policy and management, Harvard University.
Occupation: Associate director, Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia.
Web site:http://www.barkerforsenate.com
E-mail address: info@barkerforsenate.com
Offices and positions held: Chair, Fairfax Transportation Commission; vice chairman, Tysons Land Use Task Force; board member, Occoquan Watershed Coalition; past president, Robinson and Mount Vernon PTAs; president, Mid-Atlantic Consortium on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention; adviser, Prince William Health Center; president, Noble Estates Homes Association; elder and finance chair, Fairfax Presbyterian Church; member, Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce.
Elected offices/civic activities:
Chair, Fairfax Transportation Commission; vice chairman, Tysons Land Use Task Force; board member, Occoquan Watershed Coalition; past president, Robinson and Mount Vernon PTAs; president, Mid-Atlantic Consortium on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention; adviser, Prince William Health Center; president, Noble Estates Homes Association; elder and finance chair, Fairfax Presbyterian Church; member, Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce.
Why should voters elect you?
"I am the candidate who shares your values and who will work across party lines to get things done for us."
What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
"To enhance our quality of life, we must make major progress on transportation while implementing smart growth to reduce sprawl and improve our environment. As chair since 2001 of Fairfax County's Transportation Commission, vice chair of the Tysons Land Use Task Force and longtime board member of the Occoquan Watershed Coalition, I've been working for you. Recently, the Board of Supervisors approved my Transportation Commission's new plan that would greatly improve transportation, land use and the environment, including extending Metro to Prince William. As senator, I will fight tirelessly to get the funds and tools needed to implement such plans."
What is your plan to address the traffic problems in Virginia?
1. Reduce cars by increasing teleworking, carpooling, and slug lines.
2. Use smart growth to limit sprawl and traffic and to protect areas such as the Occoquan Watershed and the Rural Crescent.
3. Increase transit, including extending Metro to Potomac Mills and Manassas.
4. Improve traffic flow by adding lanes and building interchanges and overpasses that eliminate traffic lights.
5. Work with Republicans and Democrats and with the public and transportation experts on a vision and specifics that have broad support and that will meet our long-term needs.
6. Insist that the state meet its legal responsibility to provide us an adequate transportation system rather than dumping the problem in our lap.
7. Repeal the Virginia Driver Fees, whose only Senate sponsor was Jay O'Brien.
8. Reduce distracted driving by requiring drivers to use hands-free devices when operating a cell phone.
Do you think current policies governing growth & development in your area are too restrictive, not restrictive enough or just right?
not restrictive enough
-- The Washington Post | Submit a correction request.
