Ask the Candidates

When you meet your candidates,
will you know what to ask them?

The delegates and senators we elect will dictate conservation policy and Virginia's future in upcoming years. It's important to know how each candidate plans to protect our environment and to get each candidate "on the record" with his or her position on key conservation issues.

When the candidates come knocking on your door, take time to ask them the following questions on priority conservation issues. Our quality of life in Virginia is at stake.

1. Land Use and Zoning
Question: Would you support legislation that will provide localities with additional tools to effectively manage their rate of growth? (Possibilities may include Adequate Public Facilities or impact fees.)

Background: Many local governments are now facing fiscal strains for water, sewer, schools, roads and other public services for rapidly growing populations due to earlier mistakes that resulted in over-planning and over-zoning in their communities. The resulting growth is also adding to the demands for state funds. When local governments have gone to the General Assembly in recent years for more authority to manage their growth, members of the General Assembly have told them that local governments have adequate authority; they just don't have the political will to use it.

2. Transportation
Question: Would you support increased funding for public transit including capital and operations costs?

Background: Huge numbers of cars on Virginia's roads create tremendous amounts of traffic and air pollution. While everyone wants to solve the gridlock problem, not everyone agrees on the solutions. Development interests support outer beltways that will enable them to expand unrestrained growth in the outer suburbs. It has been proven that these highways often make traffic worse as new growth patterns take commuters farther away from employment centers. To reduce traffic as well as pollution, Virginia needs improved public transit. VDOT's budget allocates as little as 5% or less of total funds to public transit, yet transit is essential if Virginia is to meet the transportation needs of its growing population while exploring alternatives to building new roads.

3. Open Space and Farmland
Questions: Would you support funding for open space protection as one of your legislative priorities? Would you support committing a portion of the existing recordation fee (proceeds of which now go to the state's general fund) to a fund for open space preservation?

Background: Virginia's open space and farmland is rapidly disappearing. According to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Virginia's rate of development is 11th highest nationally. The protection of precious resources can be accomplished not only by buying land but also through the purchase of easements and development rights from willing sellers. Yet Virginia lags far behind our neighbors in providing funding to protect open space, natural areas, and working farms. In the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia agreed to reduce the annual loss of forest and farmland to harmful sprawl by 30% by 2012. Yet there is no funding to accomplish this goal. Would you support funding for open space protection as one of your legislative priorities? Would you support committing a portion of the existing recordation fee (proceeds of which now go to the state's general fund) to a fund for open space preservation?

4. Air Quality
Question: Would you support legislation that would require Virginia's 14 aging coal-fired power plants to reduce their sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions?

Background: Significant portions of Virginia are currently designated by the Department of Environmental Quality as having unhealthy air because of excess ozone (smog). Such pollution has significant adverse effects on the health of Virginians as well as on our forests and agriculture. The two main contributors to this dilemma are the electric utility industry (from grandfathered coal-fired power plants) and mobile sources (cars and trucks).

5. Funding for Natural Resources
Question: If elected, will you make it a goal to expand state funding for Natural Resources?

Background: Virginia is ranked 50th in the nation in per capital spending on Natural Resources, Parks, and Recreation and is now at funding levels not seen since 1984. Less than 1% of state funding allocations goes toward protecting and preserving our natural resources. Not only has inadequate funding made new initiatives difficult to achieve, but it has made enforcement of current laws and regulations impossible.

Now that you know what to ask,
read The Citizen's Guide and Get Involved!