Jay O'Brien represents the views of his constituents in his new district which includes western Fairfax and parts of Prince William County. He has served 12 years in the General Assembly, moving onto a new Senate seat just a year ago.
O'Brien is the only candidate endorsed by the Connection and CentreView who supports imposing a tax cap on property taxes. O'Brien goes further, and is one of the few Northern Virginia legislators who does not support giving county's similar taxing power to cities, a move that would allow for a reduction in the real estate tax rate. "I believe the public in Virginia appreciates the restraint of the conservative legislators," O'Brien said.
We disagree, and believe that this approach will lead to continued overcrowded schools and roads, along with high real estate taxes. But O'Brien represents his district with intellectual honesty and capacity.
His legislation on teen drivers affected many households throughout Virginia, and certainly contributed to the decrease in teen fatalities on the roads over the past year.
Greg Galligan, O'Brien's challenger, is a first-time candidate with many good ideas. We look forward to his involvement in the community in the future.