Culipher Talks Transportation at DRCC Forum

(R), who is challenging Sen. Chap Petersen (D) in the 34th Senate District, participated unopposed in a candidates forum sponsored by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Thursday morning.

"With 19 days left until Election Day, Chap's spending as much time as he can campaigning in the 34th District," said Ben Hodapp, Petersen's campaign manager, in an email to Oakton Patch.

The following is a full transcript from Culipher's time during the forum hosted at Cox Communications in Herndon. Raoul Dany Vargas, a former DRCC chairman, moderated the event.

OPENING REMARKS

Thank you to the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. My name is Gerarda Culipher. Unfortunately, my opponent is not here today. Either two things. He's either stuck in traffic and I look forward to his arrival, or he's unwilling to debate the issues that most affect you and me together. I'm Gerarda Culipher and I'm asking for your vote to be your state Senator November 8th. And why am I asking for your vote? Because the American dream is not glowing taillights. I am a commuter and I am a mother and that is why I'm running. My family came to the Washington area in 1978. I grew up in this area. I grew up sitting on 495, and all these years later, 30 years later, I see the profound transportation needs still. I look forward to being a new voice, voicing new ideas, forcing the important debate that you demand of us on how do we responsively and responsibly invest in our transportation needs. I'm running to cut your commute and cut your taxes precisely because I'm for your family. All we have to do is drive up and down our roads here in 34th to know that the state Senate delegation has a lot of work to do and I look forward to being part of that Northern Virginia delegation. Thank you for your vote. Gerarda Culipher on November 8th.

Vargas: Thank you Ms. Culipher for those impassioned remarks. We'll begin with a question related to transportation. As you know, we've got one of the highest average commutes in the country here in Northern Virginia and congestion impacts not only our personal lives but both our safety and our businesses. At the same time we need to make sure our secondary roads also receive the repair that they need. How would you address the situation? What kind of dedicated funding sources would you identify and support if you are elected to the Senate. 

Right, this is a very important question. Because I'm running and I will serve to cut your commute, we have two obligations as a state Senate delegation and as a state Senate chamber and that's number one to make smart, thoughtful, long-term investments in our capital improvements. That means new transit and new roads, but it also includes a reasonable understanding of the relationship between our county Board of Supervisors and the state delegation under the Dillon Rule. It's important to understand the maintenance of local roads is an important, important reality in Virginia. The state legislature has to give explicit authorization to the counties to the extent that they can raise revenue locally to take care of their roads and to the extent that they can care for those roads. So I look forward to talking not just about long-term investments in capital improvements, but also in the important obligations to maintenance. But I would caution us. Maintenance while important doesn't address the volume issue. You know it. You know it. We know it instinctually. Look at 66. All you have to do is look at it to know. And unless and until we talk about the profound volume, we won't be addressing the commute. So that's why I've introduced the idea of a community commute tax credit. This will allow local money, corporate money and individual taxpayer money to fund some of our needs, to get the cars off the road, adequate parking at Metros. We know that this is a substantial need and I look forward to responsible funding sources.

Vargas: Thank you. In sort of a related note, every part of Ticonderoga Park and every home that exists in Northern Virginia needs power, as well. One-third of Virginia's power comes from outside the state. How would you find ways to generate additional power within the commonwealth of Virginia?

Finding ways means having a conversation with our business partners. As a state Senator, I look forward to being briefed on these issues. I look forward to engaging the marketplace in our business and corporate actors, our partners in moving Virginia forward. So, I look forward to being open to listening and hearing the best idea from the private marketplace and understanding that the proper role of government is to listen to the best free market ideas, digest them responsibly, consider them, take them to the voters, to you, the voter, ask for your input and then make a judicious decision as a team.

Vargas: Well I appreciate that. I'm going to ask a different question now, not necessarily directly related to transportation. This Chamber of Commerce took it upon itself in a very unique way to be able to visit with our congressional delegation to urge them to address immigration reform, not advocating one solution or another but just to move forward with the process of coming up with solutions. At the state level, what do you see your role being in terms of addressing immigration reform and illegal immigration in general.

Well, at the state level, what you and I know to be true is that we have a rule of law. There are laws on immigration and we must enforce them. That means responsible funding for our police force for public safety, that is a core function of government and I support that. Also importantly, in my opinion, state senators have an important role in the selection of state judges. State judges are very often the first place where criminal illegal aliens come and address and meet the government. So I approve of state judges that support our rule of law and enforce those important immigration laws.

CLOSING REMARKS

Thank you to the Dulles Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for having me. Thank you for giving voice to the countless commuters who are sitting on Route 66, 28, 29, Gallows Road, 123 in gridlock. As it was pointed out earlier, we are blessed here in Virginia with lower unemployment than the rest of the country. But what does that tell us? It tells us that the state government must get those workers to work faster. I owe it to you, and I take it as my mandate, to see to it that you can get to your job and get back home to your family faster. State roads and transit investment, and the prioritizing of state money for Northern Virginia is my singular priority. And it's because I'm for your family that I support cutting your commute and cutting your taxes. Because what we know to be true is that you want to get to work and get home. It is a core function of government and traditional understandings of what government does, demands that I serve you. I ask for your vote so that I can. Gerarda Culipher for Virginia Senator on November 8th.