Herring, Phillips Take on Economy, Education During DRCC Debate

Mark Herring (D-33) and Patricia Phillips (R) debated the issues at a candidates forum hosted by Cox Communications and the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning.

The event included candidates from the 33rd, 34th, 37th and 67th districts and was heavily focused on business and the economy. Danny Vargas of VARCom Solutions served as moderator of the event.

Phillips own a business in Loudoun County that works to help food companies make products more nutritious for school lunches.

She’s been campaigning on a small business platform because small businesses create new goods and services resulting in more new jobs than government programs, she said. Another of her top concerns is traffic congestion and roads.

Herring, the incumbent, is a lawyer who attended the University of Richmond School of Law.

During his campaign he has focused on technology-based economic development, transportation issues and schools. He has served on the state senate since 2006.

The first question asked by Vargas went to Herring and focused on the role of the government in economic development.

Herring said jobs and the economy are a top concern for everyone in the district and Virginia is doing a lot of things right. He said state unemployment is about 6.3 percent, and is even lower locally, between 4-5 percent.

Herring said Virginia needs to continue to have a business-friendly regulatory environment, and should continue to invest in education to compete in a global workforce.

Phillips said she believes one of the biggest hindrances to economic development is the area’s road and transportation network. She said improvements to the road infrastructure will open up more opportunities for employment, and the state senate should find a long-term solution to deal with roads.

Phillips also said she believes businesses are the ones who are in the best positions to make decisions for themselves, not the government.

Next Vargas asked the candidates thoughts on how government regulation and reducing regulation impacts the ability for businesses to hire people and motivate the economy.

Herring said if elected he would continue to make sure Virginia has a favorable business and regulatory environment. He said they should continually look at ways to work with the business community, listen to their ideas and help streamline their operations.

Phillips said people should keep in mind the important role of government in terms of public safety and fair business practices, but not intrude into businesses or how businesses run their business.

Next the candidates addressed how they would work to improve the education environment in Northern Virginia, and in particular science, technology, engineering and math.

Phillips said one of her most basic principles is that government is most responsive when it is closest to the people. She said she would work to protect the decision making at the local school board level and give teachers and principals the authority to do what they do, which is educate children.

Phillips said education shouldn’t be micromanaged by the state, and it would be presumptive of her as a state legislator to tell school officials how to educate better.

Herring said he thinks an effective state senator can do a lot to improve education. He said he was a large supporter of the reversal of the state’s composite index freeze, getting millions of dollars for Fairfax and Loudoun county schools back from Richmond.

Additionally, colleges are bursting at the seams and he supported a higher education bill that includes new slots in four-year colleges and community colleges, laying the groundwork to create another 100,000 college degrees in the region.  

The debate is available on the “Local Government” folder on Cox On Demand (channel 2635) for those with Cox cable, and will be available on Cox’s YouTube channel beginning Wednesday, Oct. 26. The event was cosponsored by Dominion Virginia Power.