Running for a third term in office, Republican incumbent Jason Miyares is facing Democratic challenger and political newcomer Gayle Johnson to represent the 82nd District in the House of Delegates.
The Virginia Beach district includes the North End, King’s Grant and Great Neck.
Miyares, 43, was first elected in 2015. He’s a lawyer and former prosecutor who grew up in Virginia Beach.
Johnson, 65, worked as a professional musician for 25 years and created and led a baroque music ensemble called Capriole. In 2008, she started a contracting firm, EcoBuilders of Virginia, specializing in energy efficiency and green building. The small business closed in 2011 amid the Great Recession. Johnson now works as a property manager for a green vacation home.
The environment and sea level rise are central issues for Johnson, who decided to run for office for the first time because, she said, elected officials are ignoring data from climate scientists.
“We have a climate crisis on our hands,” Johnson said. “… I just couldn’t stand by and watch nothing be done.”
Among her priorities if elected: flooding mitigation and lowering carbon emissions. Johnson said Virginia needs to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and she supports offering tax incentives for those who drive electric vehicles, put in solar panels and use green building practices, such as building with permeable surfaces.
Johnson said she sees an opportunity for Hampton Roads to become a manufacturing and distribution hub for offshore wind.
“It could be an economic driver and an economic stimulus for us,” she said.
If re-elected, Miyares said his legislative priorities would be flooding, public safety and funding for education and teachers in Virginia Beach.
Miyares said flooding is a “hugely important issue” for the region, and he proposes legislation that would allow the state to work directly with the Army Corps of Engineers on large flooding mitigation projects. Miyares’ bill has been tabled in the past, but he plans to introduce it again if re-elected.
He also plans to reintroduce a “red-flag” bill that would give judges the ability to issue an order to temporarily prevent someone from buying or possessing a firearm if a mental health expert finds them to be a threat to themselves or others.
“The idea is to get them the help they need,” Miyares said.
This year, Miyares got two bills passed regarding public colleges and universities: one allowing them to provide grants to pay tuition for students in foster care and another requiring them to give the public a chance to comment at a board meeting before increasing tuition.
Miyares has raised about $254,000. Johnson has raised about $81,000.
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Question
What would you first bill or budget amendment be if elected to the General Assembly?
Gayle Johnson
Gayle Johnson: My first proposal will create tax credits for properties that use proven building techniques that mitigate recurrent flooding by absorbing stormwater on site, such as permeable materials, rainwater storage systems, tree preservation zones, and water retaining features. These tax credits will encourage widespread use of these sustainable building practices without mandating expensive regulations, potentially saving Virginians millions while mitigating the dangers of flooding. Flooding represents an existential threat to coastal Virginia. Flood waters do not discriminate between rich and poor, Republican and Democrat – flooding affects us all, so we must all work together to mitigate flooding. My bill will also impose significant penalties for developing land that is at significant risk of recurrent flooding or sea-level rise. Virginia Beach keeps detailed maps of flood-prone areas and imposes a $100 fine for building in high-risk areas. Yet $100 is nothing compared to developers’ potential profits, which is why 222 new homes with a collective value of around $145 million were built in flood-prone areas around our city between 2010 and 2017. Places profit before the public good costs taxpayers millions. I believe any developer who wishes to build in these areas must therefore pay a much steeper fine to offset the cost.
Jason Miyares
Jason Miyares: It is an honor to represent my fellow Virginia Beach citizens in Richmond. I’m a firm believer that when you run on clear principles the voters will support you. Here are the principles I’ve taken to the House of Delegates and will continue to hold as long as I’m in office. First, with my own daughters in Virginia Beach public schools, I believe in bringing home more funding for our local schools. Every year I’ve served in Richmond, education dollars for Virginia Beach schools has increased, including an additional $45 million. We also voted for a 5% pay increase for our hard-working teachers. Second, I believe in being smart with taxpayer dollars and every year of service we’ve balanced our state budget while not raising taxes. Third, I promised to tackle the critical issue of catastrophic flooding. This includes legislation encouraging Virginia to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System which has led to an average discount on flood insurance premiums of 15%. I also introduced the Hurricane & Flooding Protection Act, which enables Virginia to work directly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the critical flooding mitigation projects we need to protect our city.
Question
How should the GA respond to the mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center?
Gayle Johnson
Gayle Johnson: The General Assembly must take every reasonable step to ensure that this type of tragedy never happens again while performing the inarguably delicate balancing act between upholding public safety and protecting our rights. One potential response is to pass a Red Flag Law, which allows law enforcement personnel to temporarily remove firearms from someone who has been deemed a threat to themselves or others. But I will only support a Red Flag Law as long as due process is observed and steps are taken to ensure that at-risk individuals have access to durable solutions, such as effective, long-term mental health care for those suffering from suicidal depression. Evidence from other states indicates that Red Flag Laws can decrease the rates of suicide and premeditated homicide, but we must ensure that we never put undue burden on citizens or law enforcement. The GA must also ensure adequate support for survivors and the families of the victims by improving our state’s access to mental health and building a society that is willing and able to provide for those in need. These will be monumental undertakings, but I have no doubt that we can achieve them as long as we work together.
Jason Miyares
Jason Miyares: Gun violence has no place in our communities, and it is time for us to act. As a former Virginia Beach prosecutor, I am no stranger to the hurt and pain felt by survivors of violent crimes. During my time as a prosecutor, I worked tirelessly to protect Virginia Beach families from those who would bring them harm. In the General Assembly, I will pursue enhanced penalties for criminals who use firearms in the commission of their crimes and establish mandatory minimums for perpetrators of gun violence. I am fully aware that putting their attacker in prison is only the first step in healing for victims and their families. Finally, it is clear that we must keep guns out of the hands of the deeply mentally disturbed and criminals. To reduce the risks of these tragedies from happening, I introduced new legislation, creating a Severe Threat Order Protection, enabling law enforcement to act proactively, preventing those who are “clear and convincing” threats to themselves or others, from obtaining a firearm. This legislation balances Due Process Protections guaranteed in our Constitution while serving as a useful tool for our legal system and mental health experts to prevent the violently mentally ill from obtaining firearms. It is an honor to serve and to represent this wonderful community thoughtfully and deliberately in Richmond. My hope is to continue my season of service another two years and respectfully ask for your vote on November 5th.
Margaret Matray, 757-222-5216, margaret.matray@pilotonline.com
