Jim Kelly did not set out to run for local office, but rather, it was more of a natural progression.
At first he would read the newspapers and write letters to the editor on issues such as traffic and growth. He then began attending Loudoun County Board of Supervisor meetings. Since he was attending all the meetings anyway, Kelly decided to run for the chairmanship in 1999. Defeated but not discouraged, the Democrat ran for the newly created House of Delegates 86th District seat in 2001. The Sterling resident was defeated by then Herndon Mayor Thomas Rust (R), whom he faces once more in November.
"I opted to run for delegate because it's a state seat and I can do a lot of good by giving localities authority to do things they don't have authority to do, namely alleviate traffic, control growth and fund education," Kelly said.
KELLY SAID THAT in the two years Rust has been in the House, the incumbent has failed to be a consensus builder and the result has been bills, he said, that don't make it out of committee. Kelly said that is something he can do, gain support for measures that would "at least make it to the floor."
One way he would accomplish that is by meeting with representatives of other localities to discuss the shared problems they all face and introduce bills that would benefit everyone rather than being locality specific.
"Looking at something doesn't solve the issue. Studying it doesn't solve the issue. Proposing legislation that has a chance to pass benefits everyone," Kelly said. "You have to look at it [from the point of view of] not taking away from other jurisdictions or it won't pass. Tom Rust's education and transportation bills were one size fits all and were hostile to other jurisdictions."
AS FOR THE BIGGEST issues facing the 86th district, which includes the Floris 203/Frying Pan 235, Herndon No. 1, Herndon No. 2, Herndon No. 3, Hutchison, Stuart and Franklin precincts in Fairfax County and the Guilford, Sully, Park View, and Rolling Ridge precincts and parts of the Cascades and Forest Ridge precincts in Loudoun County, are the increasing tax rates and the traffic congestion. Kelly said that through tax reform, the state can improve the educational system, including higher education, which would lead to a better educated work force that would attract more businesses to fill the empty offices.
He thinks tax reform can be accomplished, but the legislature would need to consider previously ignored revenue sources, including taxing Web sales and other service the same way the state taxes goods.
"We can talk about a more progressive tax structure," Kelly said. "The tax structure needs to be reformed in a fair and comprehensive manner that considers all revenue sources."
AS FOR TRAFFIC, Kelly said congestion leads to lost productivity, poor air quality and high vacancy rates. Telecommuting, he said, is hard to convince business to utilize. Instead, he favors rail to Dulles, the entire length of the corridor.
He said in the meantime, there are other options to rail, but that they should be used as a temporary solution until rail is completed. For instance, he said bus rapid transportation with dedicated travel lanes from Falls Church to Dulles would be an option if rail isn't approved and, more importantly, funded.
"We may see rail to Dulles. If approved, the proposal before Federal Transportation Administration only takes rail halfway. It doesn't take care of the needs of eastern Fairfax County and western Loudoun County," Kelly said. "And we need it sooner than the estimated time of 2015."