Current candidates announced: Questions answered surrounding the upcoming elections
The Liberty Champion has put together a spread of the candidates for Lynchburg’s local elections in an effort to help give students voting on campus more information before they make their voting decisions. Each candidate was given identical questions and word counts. Their responses have not been changed. We reached out to Jennifer Woofter multiple times and received no response.
Virginia House of Delegates (R): Wendell Walker
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Throughout my time in office, I’ve been a consistent voice for the taxpayers, advocating for fiscal responsibility, limited government and upholding the values that are important to the people of Central Virginia. Over the last two years alongside Gov. Youngkin, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot for the people of Virginia. In my next term, I look forward to continuing my work on putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking Virginians, keeping our communities safe by prioritizing law enforcement and mental health resources and strengthening Central Virginia’s workforce.
Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
In Richmond, I’ve fought for polices that reduce the financial burden on students in Central Virginia, such as my budget amendment last year to reinstate the residential VTAG grant for online students, easing their tuition burden. I’ve also worked to reduce the cost of living for individuals, including many students in Central Virginia, by lowering taxes and returning the budget surplus.
Furthermore, as a proud Liberty graduate and your current representative in the House of Delegates, I understand the university’s unique mission and the importance of upholding our shared commitment to faith-based principles. I have always sought to be a Champion for Christ in everything I do, and I’m dedicated to representing our community effectively and ensuring our values are reflected in my work.
Lynchburg is currently voting to close multiple elementary schools due to budget deficits. How could the budget surplus from last year be applied to helping these schools? What would be your plan for redistributing the budget surplus?
Over the last two years in Richmond, we have done our part to pass a budget that gives record funding to our public schools, provides teacher raises and bonuses and makes significant investments in the school construction grants. It’s important to understand that we, as state legislators, have no say in how local governments operate their budgets. While the General Assembly provides a certain amount of funds to the school system, it is the local government’s responsibility to determine how to spend it. This is a tough issue for many in our community, and one that our local leaders need to reach an agreement on here soon.
How do you see the state helping local communities with crime?
Keeping our community safe is a partnership between our public safety offices, legislators and the community as a whole. While our investments in public safety over the last two years have been beneficial, we must make sure we continue to work with our community partners to address areas such as mental health resources and preventative programs that keep individuals off the street. Our Republican team has been focused on creating safer communities for every Virginian, while Democrats in Richmond have been focused on a criminal-first, victim-last agenda. While there is no one single solution to prevent crime in our community, we can work to address the root of issues of crime while enforcing penalties for the most violent offenders.
Bio:
Elected in November 2019, Delegate Wendell Walker is seeking reelection in Virginia’s 52nd House District, encompassing the city of Lynchburg and part of Campbell County. Walker has been a consistent voice for the taxpayers, fighting for fiscal responsibility, limited government and protecting Virginia’s shared values. He has a proven record in the General Assembly and has been a consistent fighter for a government that serves the people. Walker moved to Lynchburg in 1975 to attend Liberty Baptist College, where he worked alongside Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. for several years, most notably on the “I Love America” touring program. Wendell Walker and his wife of over 40 years, Patsy Walker, have two children and are members of Thomas Road Baptist Church. Throughout his career, Wendell Walker operated a landscaping business and spent 21 years in workforce development, where he worked to equip and train tomorrow’s workforce through Virginia’s Registered Apprenticeship programs. Since the 1990s, he has also helped recruit, campaign with and elect many local, state and national Republican officials across the Commonwealth of Virginia through various party leadership positions.
State Senate District 8 (D): Donna St. Clair
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
– Sensible gun control measures.
Guns are the number one cause of death of American children K-12. Swaddling ourselves in the Second Amendment isn’t going to solve that problem. I wonder who would be callous enough to preach the “right of the people to keep and bear Arms” to the grieving parents of Sandy Hook, Parkland, Virginia Tech, Uvalde. … The Constitution does not shield us from the obligation to solve crucial problems. As a U.S. Army veteran and a gun owner, I support gun show restrictions, red flag laws, handgun purchase limitations, buy-back programs and increased availability of mental health services.
— Abortion rights.
I am an organ donor. My Virginia driver’s license proclaims that for all to see. Organ donation is a noble cause, but without my prior authorization, nobody can harvest my organs upon my death. And yet — some people believe that it’s reasonable to require a woman to use her body as an incubator, with or without her consent. Think about that: dead bodies in Red States with abortion bans and restrictions have more bodily autonomy than living women do. I support Roe v. Wade.
— Climate crisis.
Unless we hunker down and get to work now, our world is going to become uninhabitable for future generations. Virginia needs to aggressively pursue green energies, emission restrictions and everything else that might slow or ameliorate this problem. Truly, this is the time to throw everything we’ve got against the wall and see what sticks. Remember those boats on the water ablaze in Maui? When even “Paradise” is on fire, we’re in
big trouble.
Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
As a retired teacher, I carry the banner for the development of critical thinking skills and logical problem- solving. Liberty University students who embrace such a model themselves would find my approaches and positions very agreeable.
Lynchburg is currently voting to close multiple elementary schools due to budget deficits. How could the budget surplus from last year be applied to helping these schools? What would be your plan for redistributing the budget surplus?
Apart from monetary concerns, arguments for closing these schools seem flimsy at best. Indeed, the arguments for keeping them open are far more cogent. City leaders need to go back to the drawing board to determine what the goals are for these facilities. Are they truly aging facilities that will be a drag on the school budget year after year — or is this a one-time budgetary issue? The problem statement has not been well-crafted here.
How do you see the state helping local communities with crime?
Our law enforcement officers need to earn higher salaries. Much higher. Mental health therapists need to be added to the staff for domestic violence situations, crisis interventions and counseling for the officers themselves. Drug courts and creative probation initiatives can serve to rehabilitate offenders within the community instead of sending them off to prison. And let’s not forget vibrant Head Start programs! Research has shown that they reduce crime rates by the time those little kids
become teenagers.
Bio:
Born in Lynchburg, Donna St. Clair is a graduate of E.C. Glass High School and Randolph College. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Clair is also a U.S. Army veteran. Clair worked in public education and public relations and served on the boards of numerous community organizations. Currently, she volunteers with Meals on Wheels and the Medical Reserve Corps. Following her Army tour, Donna St. Clair married Bruce St. Clair. Tragically, Bruce St. Clair became stricken with early-onset dementia before his 60th birthday. Donna St. Clair spent the next 6 1/2 years helping him battle the onslaught of cognitive decline. In the aftermath, Donna St. Clair waded full-throttle into activism. She is committed to the preservation of
our democracy.
State Senate District 8 (R): Mark Peake
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
If elected, first, I will fully support and defend the Constitution. In doing so, I will fight to protect our individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. In looking at proposed legislation, I will first look to see if it serves a core function of government or intrudes on our liberties. Second, to fight for public safety. In doing that, I will fully support our law enforcement officers. That means supporting them in spirit and through laws that will enhance their ability to protect us and through fair and competitive salaries. Third, work to ensure economic prosperity for all of our citizens. I will do this by fighting unnecessary government regulations and bureaucracies. In addition, I will continue to work for tax breaks and for our small businesses and citizens. Joe Biden’s policies have resulted in double digit inflation, exorbitant interest rates and gas prices that are nearly 50% higher than when he took office. I will work at the state level to counteract his
failing policies.
Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
I believe my political philosophies are more inclined with Liberty students than my opponent. I believe in supporting our law enforcement and the victims of crime and not criminals. I think individuals are responsible for their actions and not society. First, I support life. I believe in protecting the lives of the unborn. My opponent is a staunch pro-abortion advocate. Second, I support the Second Amendment. My opponent wants to take away our guns. Third, I support giving parents a say in their children’s education. I believe our schools should be used to educate our children and not to indoctrinate them in particular ways of thought.
Lynchburg is currently voting to close multiple elementary schools due to budget deficits. How could the budget surplus from last year be applied to helping these schools? What would be your plan for redistributing the budget surplus?
This really is not a state issue. Lynchburg receives more than adequate funding from the federal and state levels. The issue with having to close schools is in large part due to their declining enrollment. At the state level, we have given teachers a 2% raise over the last two years.
How do you see the state helping local communities with crime?
We are fully funding law enforcement instead of following the Democrat call to defund the police. We have provided significant pay raises for our officers over the last two years. More importantly, we are showing from the top levels of government that we value our law enforcement officers and that we will support them, and the victims of crime, over criminals. Also, if the Republicans can win the Senate and the House, we can roll back many of the detrimental policies enacted by the Democrats that made it much more difficult for law enforcement officers to police our streets and protect us from crime.
Bio:
Senator Mark Peake grew up in Roanoke and graduated from Virginia Tech and Washington and Lee University School of Law. He resides in Lynchburg with his wife of 28 years, Lila Peake. They have five children. Mark Peake has practiced law in Lynchburg for over 30 years. He was elected to the Virginia Senate in January 2017. Mark Peake has consistently been involved in his local community, serving with numerous organizations including the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Lynchburg Bar Association and the Lynchburg Republican Committee. Mark Peake currently serves on the Judiciary, Education & Health, Privileges & Elections, and Transportation Senate Committees.
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