Kristen J. Amundson* (D)

Office Sought: Va. House of Delegates District 44
Age: 59
Residence: Mount Vernon.
Education: BA, English, Macalester College; MA, arts management, American University.
Occupation: President, KJA Communications; member, 44th District, Virginia House of Delegates.
Web site:http://www.amundson.org
E-mail address: delkamundson@house.state.va.us
Offices and positions held: Member, House of Delegates, 1999-present; member, Fairfax County School Board, 1991-99; member, Board of Trustees and former president, New Hope Housing; former president, Westgrove Civic Association; member and former Vestry member, Christ Church; member, P-16 Council; co-founder, la BECA Women's Scholarship Foundation.

Why should voters elect you?

For more than 20 years, I have worked to make Mount Vernon a better place to live. I want to continue that work.

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

We in Mount Vernon are blessed to enjoy a wonderful quality of life. With the Potomac River and Huntley Meadows Park, we have an abundance of natural beauty. Our neighborhoods are cohesive — we're a small town in the midst of a big city. The biggest challenge is preserving that quality of life — protecting our environment, investing in transportation so parents can get home for soccer games and PTA meetings, continuing to strengthen our public schools, and ensuring that the state pays its share of the costs so people are not taxed out of their homes.

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

First, we must revisit HB 3202. The abusive driver fees must be repealed and the revenue replaced with sustainable funding--not a raid on the General Fund. Second, we must find ways to get people out of their cars. Greater investments in transit, and a greater focus on transit-oriented development, are a must. The Route One corridor needs a rail link from the Huntington Metro station to Fort Belvoir. Similarly, there needs to be a rail link to the Proving Grounds, where much of the BRAC development on Fort Belvoir will be sited.

Even with that, however, we must find a way to fund the roads that we need. Without a substantial investment in transportation, the Northern Virginia economy, which has been the economic engine that has driven Virginia's prosperity for more than a decade, will falter.

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

decline to answer

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