Sit-down with Senator David Marsden

Recently, we invited Senator David Marsden from Senate District 37 to chat with us about what he thinks Virginia can do to revive our economy and help Virginians find fairness and opportunity in the midst of so much economic uncertainty. This is what he had to say.

“Northern Virginia has been fortunate through these difficult economic times. Although, our unemployment rate is high it is below that of the rest of Virginia and the country. In the past 6 months I have visited with constituents from Bull Run the Lake Barcroft. What emerged is a keen awareness people have of the struggles waging on Capitol Hill contrasted with sound decision making and compromise that goes on in Richmond. Though, our bi-partisan efforts to cut spending have allowed Virginia to keep its AAA bond rating, it has not come without sacrifices and difficult decisions.

“Over the past 3 years we have cut close to 1 billion in school funding and my constituents understand the need to improve the state contribution to local education. Improving the investment in our schools is the best policy for our children, reduces pressure on local real estate taxes and insures people will continue to move to Fairfax County in search of the best school system. For many years people have been eager to live, work and invest in Fairfax County because the quality of our schools and the strength of our home values. When we invest in our public schools it encourages business to locate and expand in Fairfax and this will support higher home values which many of us count on to fund our children’s higher education and our own retirement.

“Another area of economic development crucial to our future is investment in our infrastructure. From updating our roads and bridges to replacing our water and sewer lines – it is a mark of successful societies when they look to the future as a way to solve the pressing problems of the moment. We can create jobs and economic activity by making these improvements that will lay the ground work for continued growth and development. We must be able to move people, goods and services expeditiously while making sure that water is used economically, sewage is disposed of safely and utilities such as gas and electricity will used in a manner allowing us to adequately meet our future needs. Obviously there is tremendous potential in alternative energy development such as wind solar and geothermal capacity. Continuing to invest in our infrastructure is crucial to making sure Virginia remains the best place to do business, live and work.

“There is rarely one answer to a challenge or problem that confronts us. We must conserve first and expand in ways that will provide safe and bountiful resources to power our future. We must solve problems with all means available to us, giving weight to those solutions which are the most sustainable and least costly. To build a better future for Fairfax County and the Commonwealth we must agree that good ideas don’t come with a party label.”