AGE: 28
CAMPAIGN MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3134, Reston, Va. 20195
CAMPAIGN PHONE: 703-200-3669
E-MAIL: Donny@DonnyFerguson.com
WEBSITE: www.donnyferguson.com
OCCUPATION: Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, staff
EMPLOYMENT: Loudoun County citizens
EDUCATION: Texas A&M University, 1995-1998, Political Science
QUALIFICATIONS: I already care for and serve the needs of residents of a planned community, fully funding essential services and getting traffic moving. I have done so in both local and Congressional offices for over a decade. I have also worked with state legislators in Virginia, Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma to meet the needs of constituents.
1. What is your top public service accomplishment?
I am proud to work with the residents of a planned community like Reston to propose budgets that fully fund essential needs while delivering real tax relief. I work to combat gang crime, get traffic moving in Northern Virginia, and helped create a parks foundation to supplement parks funding for kids, cut property tax rates and exempt senior citizens from property taxes.
2. What sets you apart from the other candidate in the race?
The realization that after a quarter-century of worsening taxes and traffic, we need a change. Compassion for constituents and taxpayers. You will not see me writing harsh newspaper columns criticizing individual people I serve for daring to voice a different opinion.
3. What is one thing you promise not to do if elected?
I will not support Del. Ken Plum's legislation creating county income taxes, nor his plans to pack more traffic and high-impact development into Reston through a $5 billion rail development he admits does not reduce traffic congestion but benefits developers. House District 36 voters already rejected his calls for higher taxes to benefit his supporters in 2002.
4. What is the biggest issue facing your district? What should be done to address it?
Del. Plum's proposal to pack more development into Reston. The Washington Post and Plum’s own developer group point out it turns our community into a commuter lot as Fairfax County dumps their cars in our parking lots and streets. The Post also points out it will make our local taxes and traffic even worse. Plum admits his project costs billions, but does not reduce traffic congestion.
I support expanding the Dulles Toll Road and repealing tolls. If you spend taxpayer and commuter money the result should be reduced traffic, not more congestion and bigger Tysons Corner profits at taxpayer expense.
5. Is there any additional legislation in regard to abortion that you would support? Would you make any changes to the current laws and regulation about abortion in Virginia?
Unlike Del. Plum, and like most Virginians, I oppose allowing abortion clinics to convince minor girls to undergo abortions without notifying parents. Unlike Del. Plum, and like most Virginians, I oppose using taxpayers’ money to finance abortion.
6. In Virginia, local governments have limited control of revenue and taxing authority. Should they have more? Less? What changes would you propose?
As someone who helps craft budgets for local governments, I do not support taking more money out of the pockets of already-burdened taxpayers. I support the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, which has stabilized government sprawl in Colorado while fully funding essential services. I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, with former U.S. Rep. Rep. Steve Stockman, in whose office I served constituents, as my witness. Plum publicly refused and instead proposed higher taxes.
7. In Northern Virginia, property taxes have increased dramatically in recent years. What role should the state play in this?
As someone who serves and actually cares about constituents suffering under skyrocketing property taxes, I support capping property tax increases to the rates of inflation and population growth. I repeatedly get phone calls and letters from seniors who are losing the homes they have lived in for decades because irresponsible officials cannot control spending.
8. What do you believe the role of the state should be in determining the status of same-sex couples in Virginia?
The government should stop taxing, regulating and defining marriage. Marriage is a religious institution and should be defined by churches, or through mutal legal arrangements for those who do not practice a religion. Businesses, private institutions and individuals should be free to decide for themselves who they recognize. Government does not tax, regulate or define baptisms, bar mitzvahs or confirmations and should respect marriage in the same manner.
9. What are your views about public-private partnerships and other mechanisms to privatize Virginia’s highway system? What are the caveats you would identify as we move forward with this process?
Any proposal must respect the needs of taxpayers and either get traffic moving, get people out of cars and into mass transit or reduce congestion in order to be approved. Plum's $5 billion rail developer plan fails that test miserably. The Washington Post points out it will turn our neighborhoods into Fairfax County’s commuter lot as drivers dump their cars here, and only makes our local traffic and taxes even worse. I support dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lines to existing Metro stations. It moves more people than Dulles rail at a lower cost, and without the development.
10. Do you believe that illegal immigration is a problem in Virginia? If so, why, and what should be done?
I oppose taking money from taxpayers to finance day labor centers. As someone who already works to fight gang crime in our area, I support the permanent deportation of alien gang members.