Q&A: Eric Clingan, 67th Delegate District

Del. Jim LeMunyon (R) and Eric Clingan (D) are vying for the 67th Delegate District seat, which will be decided Nov. 8. Patch sent in the same questionnaire to each candidate. The following are Clingan's unedited responses. Click here for LeMunyon's responses.

Local Editors Ask Local Questions

Q: Some elected officials and advocates for mass transit have suggested that Metrorail extend the Orange Line to Centreville within the next decade or two. Should it? Explain.

I strongly support expanding Metro’s Orange line to Centreville over the course of the next two decades. We can’t afford to turn good ideas away and extending the Metro out to Chantilly is a good idea. We need to get it done and we need to get it done right. Our commutes, our economy and our property values will all hinge on whether we extend the Orange Line to Centreville and Chantilly. We need a Delegate who is committed to assuring that funding is allocated to advance this project.

Q: What fresh ideas do you have concerning congestion along Route 50 and 66?

Expanding the Orange line to Centreville is still years away and we need transportation solutions now. We should provide Bus Rapid Transit options on I-66 that would utilize designated lanes and at-grade boarding. Additionally, we should expand incentives for telecommuting to encourage more of our employers and workers to take telework at least one day a week.

Q: With Oakton constituting just a small portion of your district, how do you plan to ensure its residents’ needs are being met? From your experience campaigning, what have you learned about Oakton’s priorities versus the rest of the 67th District?

Oakton's residents share many, if not all, of the concerns of residents throughout Northern Virginia.  Oakton residents are as reliant on Metro, I-66, and the Dulles Toll Road as residents in Herndon, Chantilly, and Centreville.  Having met hundreds of Oakton parents I find that they are as concerned about Oakton high school and our state's approach to education funding as parents of students at Chantilly or Westfield.  At the end of the day, Oakton, Herndon, Chantilly, Centreville, and South Riding voters are all tired of transportation gridlock and education cuts.  My promise to all the 67th district:  I will never vote to cut education in Virginia.  Ever.  And the time for talk is over when it comes to extending Metro to our communities.  The time for action, is now.

General Questions

Q: A new study shows that the wage gap in Virginia has reached a 30-year high. From the Washington Post: "The top 10 percent of wage earners make at least 5.7 more than those in the bottom 10 percent, according to The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, a Richmond-based think tank." How, if at all, should the state address this problem?

The expanding gap in wages is a serious problem in both Virginia and the United States. We should think seriously about the wages those at the bottom receive and ensure that as many jobs as possible in the Commonwealth are family supporting jobs that pay a living wage.

One thing that could be done to close the gap is a full examination of the tax code. We ought to eliminate tax loopholes that allow the wealthy and corporations to avoid paying their fair share. Additionally, we should make sure that all state-funded projects treat their workers with respect and pay a dignified wage.

Q: Would you support telecommuting centers where government employees can easily access their secure networks without having to commute all the way into the D.C. area? From where would this funding come?

Yes I would support technology centers in the region that would cut down on commute times and traffic congestion. As for funding, these centers would primarily serve the federal government and thus should be funded primarily out of the federal budget.

Q: Gov. Bob McDonnell has talked of making Virginia colleges more available to Virginia students and adding the resources necessary to ensure that more students graduate in four years. Do you agree? If not, why not? If so, what would you do to support it?

The Governor sets forth an admirable goal to increase the number of students who obtain 4-year degrees from our state college and university system. Setting that goal is not nearly enough. We need to ensure that when we expand the availability of higher education that we maintain high academic standards. Expanded degree options need not only to be affordable but also valuable.

We should focus on expanding the availability of degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as those are the degrees that will help the Commonwealth increase its economic competitiveness in an increasingly high-tech marketplace.

We also cannot achieve this goal by simply stuffing more students into our already overburdened community college system. Northern Virginia Community College is in desperate need of additional classroom space. We must ensure that expanding degree options is coupled with an expansion of instructional facilities so that the quality of education these students receive is still superb.