Del. Jim Scott (D-53)
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Votes

Del. Jim Scott (D-53)

AGE: 67

FAMILY: Wife, Nancy, a public school teacher; two daughters

CAMPAIGN MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 359, Merrifield, Va. 22116

CAMPAIGN PHONE: 703-560-8338

E-MAIL: deljscott@aol.com

OCCUPATION: Consultant

EMPLOYMENT: Inova Health System

EDUCATION: B.A.,M.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.P.A. George Mason University

QUALIFICATIONS: Board of Supervisors, 1972 to 1986; House of Delegates, 1992 to Present

1. What is your top public service accomplishment?

Helping Gov. Mark Warner (D) pass the largest increase in pubic education funding in Virginia history, plus the largest general fund increase in transportation funding.

2. What is one thing you promise not to do if elected?

Vote to restrict localities' gun control authority further.

3. What is the biggest issue facing your district? What should be done to address it?

Education and housing affordability. The state must fully fund public education as Tim Kaine has proposed, and it must find new resources to preserve existing moderately-priced housing.

4. Is there any additional legislation in regard to abortion that you would support? Would you make any changes to the current laws and regulation about abortion in Virginia?

No new restrictions; make it clear that use of contraception is legally not an abortion.

5. In Virginia, local governments have limited control of revenue and taxing authority. Should they have more? Less? What changes would you propose?

Counties such as Fairfax should have the same authority as cities to raise cigarette taxes.

6. In Northern Virginia, property taxes have increased dramatically in recent years. What role should the state play in this?

As Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) has proposed, it should give localities the authority to exempt a portion of the residential real estate tax.

7. What do you believe the role of the state should be in determining the status of same-sex couples in Virginia?

Virginia already has a law banning same-sex marriages and civil unions. It should also ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment.

8. What are your views about public-private partnerships and other mechanisms to privatize Virginia's highway system? What are the caveats you would identify as we move forward with this process?

Public-private partnerships must play a role in adding transportation capacity, but public ownership of existing facilities should be relinquished rarely, and more public input should be sought.

9. Do you believe that illegal immigration is a problem in Virginia? If so, why, and what should be done?

It is a problem. Virginia has already taken steps, but employers have not done enough to limit illegal employees and the federal government has fallen down on its responsibility to limit illegal immigration. Legal immigrants should not be unfairly penalized however. They provide essential services.