Our second week of candidate survey questions generated responses from three of the four candidates. To help voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District make an informed decision, we continue a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area.
Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.
The second question focused on transparency in government in relation to media and to citizens.
Early voting in Virginia begins Sept. 20. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running for the District 10 seat in the Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.
This week, we asked Tim Kaine (D) and Hung Cao (R) the following question:
How do you view the role of the mainstream media in holding government officials accountable, and what steps would you take to ensure that media outlets have the freedom and resources to report accurately and independently?
Kaine responded:
“A free and vibrant press is critical to any democracy. Amidst growing threats to democratic values around the world, we must redouble our efforts to promote press freedom and protect journalists. When reporters like Vladimir Kara-Murza and Evan Gershkovich were wrongfully detained for years by Russian authorities, I worked with the administration to push for their release. I was heartened to see both of them return home this summer. I have also introduced a bipartisan bill, the International Press Freedom Act, that would help protect at-risk journalists working in countries with high censorship by creating a new visa category for threatened journalists and opening a new office within the State Department to combat crimes against journalists. Moreover, I have been proud to engage with and support local newsrooms over the course of my career, especially in Virginia. Local press plays an indispensable role in holding leaders accountable and providing communities with answers to important questions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I urged Senate leaders to include funding to support local journalism and media in any relief packages.”
Cao responded:
“Lately the mainstream media has been carrying water for government officials rather than holding them accountable, even going so far as to censor opposing views. What has been disclosed about the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to coordinate with both media outlets and social media platforms to censor and restrict free speech is incredibly troubling. Freedom of speech and freedom of thought are on the ballot this November. The First Amendment was not put in place only to protect media outlets, but to protect the American people’s right to free speech. I fought for that right for twenty-five years in the Navy, and I’m not done.”
We asked Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D), both running for House of Representatives the following question:
How do you plan to promote greater transparency in the legislative process, including making it easier for constituents to understand how decisions are made and how their representatives are voting?
Anderson responded:
“They say that how a person campaigns is how they’ll govern, and right now VA-07 voters are seeing a real-world example of how Yevgeny Vindman would govern —  he’s dodging public debates and he’s dodging questions about inflating his military record.I’m dedicated to being open and accessible to as many voters as possible. The six debates and forums I accepted are one of the many ways I’ll do so, and I challenge my opponent to accept them as well.”
Vindman did not respond.
This series will continue next week. If you have suggestions for topics, feel free to add a comment.
As election season approaches, Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Early voting in Virginia begins Sept. 20.
To help voters in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District make an informed decision, we continue a feature series offering insights into each candidate’s stand on critical issues affecting our area. Candidates are emailed a question and asked to reply by a deadline.
This first question focuses on data centers.
This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day. Senator Tim Kaine and Hung Cao are running for the District 10 seat in the Senate. Derrick Anderson and Eugene Vindman are running for the District 7 seat in the House of Representatives.
This week, we asked Tim Kaine (D) and Hung Cao (R) the following question:
Given the rapid expansion of data centers in Virginia, how do you plan to balance the economic benefits they bring with the environmental and community impacts, such as energy consumption and land use?
Kaine responded:
“While data centers fall under the jurisdiction of state and local officials in Virginia, I remain focused on bringing good-paying jobs to the Commonwealth. During my time in the Senate, I’ve proudly introduced several bills to expand job training and upskilling programs and help fill the high-demand jobs of the future in tech sectors – including in data centers. At the same time, building an economy that works for everyone requires taking steps to protect communities from noise pollution, water loss, and negative environmental consequences.”
Cao did not respond.
We asked Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D), both running for House of Representatives the following question:
Data centers are a significant part of Virginia’s economy; how do you plan to work with local and state governments to ensure that their growth benefits local communities without compromising quality of life?
Anderson did not respond.
Vindman did not respond.
This series will continue next week. If you have suggestions for topics, feel free to add a comment.
As early voting for the fall 2024 election approaches, Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat.
To help voters make an informed decision, we are continuing a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city. Our third one, which ran on Aug. 16, focused on commercial airline services.
The candidates are given 10 days to respond to a Google Form, and their answers will be compiled into a single post on PotomacLocalNews.com. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come election day.
Today’s topic: Data centers.
The candidates were asked: The recent approval of data centers near the Manassas National Battlefield Park has sparked significant debate regarding their impact on the environment, local infrastructure, and property values. What is your position on the development of data centers in Manassas City, and how do you plan to address the concerns related to environmental impact, increased utility rates, and the overall strain on city resources? How would you ensure that the economic benefits promised by these projects are realized while mitigating negative impacts on the community?
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Stafford County voters will receive a new, unique "I Voted" sticker this year. Ellie Brewer, a senior at Mountain View High School, created the hand-drawn design of a cardinal perched on a dogwood branch, symbolizing the pride and beauty of Virginia.
Brewer's design will be featured on the official 2024 "I Voted" stickers distributed at polling stations throughout Stafford County. Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) collaborated with Stafford County Government and the Office of Elections to host the 2024 sticker design contest. Students were asked to create designs to inspire voter participation.
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Virginia Senator Tim Kaine (D) expressed disappointment that his opponent, Hung Cao (R), declined to participate in three scheduled debates and forums. This continued a pattern observed during the GOP primary when Cao skipped 12 of 13 candidate forums.
In a press release, Kaine states that he remains committed to discussing his efforts to support Virginia's economy, health care, reproductive rights, and military families in an upcoming debate in Norfolk on October 2. Potomac Local emailed the Hung Cao campaign for a comment and received no response.
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More than 300 people signed up for the 45-minute tour, during which the public learned about the office’s mission, voter registration, equipment preparation, voting by mail, results reporting, and election officer staffing. Each segment offered an overview and practical demonstrations.
With partisan rhetoric about election security on both sides of the aisle, Eric Olson, Director of Prince William County Office of Elections, highlighted the importance of maintaining public trust. “We want to educate people on how elections work and the steps we take to ensure the integrity of their vote. With concerns about election integrity increasing, it’s important to show the public how the process operates.”
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Vindman’s campaign manager, Jeremy Levinson, responded by introducing a third party, the employee of a political action committee. “All future questions,” he said, could be directed to him.”
Vindman, a Democrat, is running to replace Abigail Spanberger, who represents eastern Prince William County, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, and Fredricksburg. Republican Derrick Anderson is also vying for the seat.
A Manassas City School Board Candidate Forum will occur on August 19, 2024, at Bristoe Station Park. The event will begin with a Meet & Greet session at 6:30 p.m., followed by the forum at 7 p.m. The forum is open to parents, teachers, students, and community members.
The event will be held at 9118 Wharton Court and live-streamed. All Manassas School Board candidates, including Zella Jones, Suzanne Seaberg, Allie Forkell, Dayna Miles, Maidy Whitesell, Diana Brown, Javanese Hailey, and Christina Brooks, have been invited.
Democrats endorse Seaberg (incumbent), Jones, and Brown. Republicans endorse Forkell, Miles, Whitsell, and Hailey. Brooks (incumbent) is running as an independent.
For more information, contact the organizers via email at [email protected].
Last week, the school board chose not to feature regular attendance reports during regular school board meetings. Republican-endorsed members argued for transparency, while board members endorsed by Democrats voted no.
They expressed hesitation with monthly attendance reports for many reasons, and Board Member Jill Spall said releasing this information to the public may be harmful because it could bring negative labels to schools.
See more of our Manassas schools coverage.
The University of Mary Washington will host a public debate on October 2, 2024, between Derrick Anderson (R) and Eugene Vindman (D), candidates for Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District. The event, co-sponsored by local organizations, will be held at Dodd Auditorium and available for viewing via Zoom.
