Don Shaw is running to unseat the long-serving Robert G. “Bob” Marshall in Virginia’s 13th House of Delegates District.
Shaw first came onto the local political scene last year when he announced he was running for Brentsville District Supervisor, to fill a seat vacated by Wally S. Covington who became a judge at the Prince William County Courthouse. Republican Jeanine Lawson went on to win the race.
Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Shaw and he sent us the responses below:
PL: What are the top three major issues facing the district you wish to represent?
Shaw: 1) Transportation – We have some of the worst traffic in Northern Virginia. Commute times increase every year, and our elected officials have done nothing to reduce them. 2) Education – We have the largest class sizes in the Commonwealth and our children’s education suffers because of it. 3) Property Rights – Dominion Virginia Power has proposed overhead power lines in a residential area not designated for transmission lines.
PL: What concrete solutions do you propose to address these issues?
Shaw: 1) I will work to ensure full implementation of the 2013 bipartisan transportation bill. I will work across the aisle to fight against any effort to impose tolls on I-66. Working families shouldn’t have to pay an additional $85 a week just to get to work. I will advocate for real solutions to the traffic problems on Route 28, I-66, and US-29 including alternate modes of transportation such as bus rapid transit, extending VRE to Gainesville/Haymarket, and studying the feasibility of extending metro to our area.
PL: From your prospective, what is the job description of the office you’re seeking?
Shaw: Voters trust that the people they elect will do two things: 1) show up to work, and 2) advocate for their interests. The first requirement is fairly simple; when there is a vote or a committee meeting, we expect our elected officials to be there. If they don’t show up, it’s impossible for them to advocate for their constituents’ interests.
The second requirement is a bit more complex. Advocacy includes creating a business-friendly environment that brings high-paying jobs to the district; reducing the burden of commuting and increasing the funds available for a quality education. A delegate has a responsibility to foster a welcoming, inclusive climate for all constituents.
PL: What expertise will you bring to the office?
Shaw: I have dedicated my adult life to service to others. I spent a career in the military training and mentoring Soldiers and Airmen; serving my country for 20 years in the enlisted ranks, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. I learned about loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage and internalized those values at an early age.
I served as a senior manager in the Department of Defense for almost a decade where I worked to reduce costs and supported the relocation of a combat support agency to Fort Belvoir on time and on budget with no loss of mission capability. My division was recognized as the best of more than 85 DoD organizations in 2012.
I am the Chief Enterprise Architect at a veteran-owned small business, where we advise and support government organizations working to do more with less. We help connect strategy with implementation while identifying gaps and reducing unnecessary duplication.
So in addition to my educational background where I studied government administration and policy, I’ve been in government. I’ve seen what works and plan to put that experience and knowledge to use in Richmond.
PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well-informed and understands the workings of local government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?
Shaw: Yes, the average citizen has a good fundamental understanding of government. However, if you were to ask the average citizen in the 13th House District who his or her Delegate is, the majority would not know. I place a high priority on communication and will hold regular town halls at times convenient to the constituency as well as establish a rigorous communication plan that includes electronic and print media and constituent outreach programs.
PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they effected you?
Shaw: We are all human and all make mistakes. What’s important is to learn from those mistakes and to use those moments as opportunities to become a better person.
PL: Our readers want leaders in local government. Why should they vote for you?
Shaw: I have a proven track record of leadership in the military, the federal government, and in the private sector. Leaders show up. My opponent missed 723 votes in the past 4 years and skipped 52% of his committee meetings in the 2015 session. He doesn’t chair any committees and has even estranged members of his own party. That’s not leadership. Leaders work across the aisle. Politics is the art of the possible, not intransigence. Leaders are chosen to make the hard decisions, not the politically expedient ones.
