The Connection

Incumbent State Senator

Town of residence: Leesburg

Age: 47

Family: Husband: Andrew Wexton, Sons: Matthew (12) and Jamie (10)

Education: Undergraduate: University of Maryland; JD: William and Mary

Offices held, dates: Virginia State Senator, January 2014 - present

Occupation and relevant experience: Attorney, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney

Community involvement: Community Services Board, Special Justice, Substitute Judge

Website: senatorwexton.com

Email address: info@wextonforstatesenate.com

Twitter handle: @SenatorWexton

Name three favorite endorsements: Washington Post; Virginia Education Association (teachers); Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce’s NOVABizPAC (business).

Questions

What is one issue that defines your call to serve, why does it matter, and how will you tackle it?

I am running for reelection to continue providing effective representation for the people of the 33rd Senate district. Voters want us to maintain the high quality of life that attracted them to Loudoun and Fairfax. For most people, that means quality schools and manageable commutes, so we need to invest in education and transportation. We must restore state funding for schools so that we can hire and retain the best teachers and keep class sizes small. We also need to reduce the number of SOL tests, to ensure quality classroom instruction time and reduce the amount of “teaching to the test.” In transportation, money earmarked for NOVA should be spent first on projects that best reduce congestion. The new proposal for tolls on I-66 is a bad one for my constituents, and I will oppose I-66 tolls, just as I previously have worked to lower tolls on the Dulles Greenway.

What distinguishes you from your opponent(s) and why should voters choose you?

As a working mom with two sons attending Loudoun public schools, I understand the concerns of most people in the district. My background as a prosecutor and an attorney gives me a good understanding of the law, and how to evaluate and improve proposed legislation. Putting these things together, I have earned a reputation as a thoughtful legislator who focuses on creating sound policy and who puts partisanship aside to pass good laws. My opponent, on the other hand, touts the rigid ideology of the Tea Party. He wants to weaken public education, repeal the bipartisan transportation legislation that provides hundreds of millions of dollars for transportation projects in Northern Virginia, and opposes even the most basic of commonsense gun restrictions, like universal background checks.

Given the political makeup of the state legislature, what examples from your own experience suggests you can successfully bridge the intense partisan differences there?

In my 21 months in the Senate, I have focused on passing non-partisan, commonsense legislation that actually helps my constituents and people throughout Virginia. This is a key reason nine of my bills passed by both houses of the General Assembly and were signed into law in 2015. Among them, one guaranteed that women can legally breastfeed in public; another helped families with autistic children (Conner’s Law); and others made it easier to investigate and prosecute online sexual predators and child abusers. These aren’t “hot button social issues” but they make Virginia a better and safer place to live.

In order, list your top 5 specific legislative priorities.

• Improving education by reducing class sizes and the number of standardized tests that students take.
• Transportation issues, including improving our local transportation infrastructure, reducing congestion, and opposing new tolls.
• Expanding Medicaid to cover the 400,000 working uninsured people who fall in the coverage gap in Virginia
• Commonsense gun restrictions, including keeping guns away from criminals and domestic abusers.
• Protecting our children by passing laws that make it easier to prosecute child abusers and predators.

How has your district changed in the last 10 years? What caused those changes?

Loudoun County has been one of the fastest growing counties in America the past 10 years. Many people moved from inside-the-beltway to the 33rd District suburbs in search of nice houses, safe neighborhoods and good schools at a more affordable price. This has led to unprecedented growth in housing development, public school enrollment, and traffic.

6. Will you support legislation restricting high interest lending including car title loans?

Yes

Will you support funding for Fostering Connections which would result in an influx of federal funding for foster children aging out of foster care?

Yes

Do you support expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and if so, what would you do to make that happen?

Yes. I voted for the Marketplace Virginia plan that passed the Senate with bipartisan support in 2014, and will support similar legislation. That plan would cover 400,000 Virginians and bring Virginia more than $1.7 billion of federal tax dollars.