We have to agree with Vivian Watts that she still has a tremendous amount to offer and she is still needed in the House of Delegates. Her experience and perspective are badly needed in a legislative body where institutional knowledge is in short supply.
While Watts recognizes that overall in Northern Virginia, transportation is the top issue, in her district, the rising influence of gangs is of primary concern.
“As a member of the Criminal Laws Subcommittee, we’ve passed the toughest anti-gang laws in the nation,” Watts says. “But we need additional local, state and federal law enforcement personnel — as well as local health and housing inspectors — and we need them working cooperatively to penetrate into gangs and convict those who drive the violence.”
The demographics of her Annandale/Springfield district mean Watts has to be prepared to grapple with quality of life issues beyond traffic, including multiple families living in single-family homes, blighted properties and neighborhood parking issues. She has been effective in building bridges for solutions with local officials as well.
It’s too bad that Watts has been drawn into some hand-to-hand combat by some of the less-than-optimal tactics of her energetic and well-funded opponent, Michael Meunier (R).
Meunier could have much to offer in future political activism. “When I grew up [in Egypt], I didn’t have a voice in anything,” said Meunier, who didn’t have electricity until he was 10 years old. “I appreciate democracy more than most people do.”