David Bulova (D)
AGE: 36
FAMILY: Wife, Gretchen; two children, Alex (8) and Josette (6)
CAMPAIGN MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 106, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039
CAMPAIGN PHONE: 703-273-3557
E-MAIL: david.bulova@amec.com
WEBSITE: www.davidbulova.com
OCCUPATION: Environmental planner
EMPLOYMENT: AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Chantilly, Va.
EDUCATION: BA, Government, College of William and Mary; Master of Public Administration, Virginia Tech; Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.
QUALIFICATIONS: Elected county-wide to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (1993-Present); Member, former chair, Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission (1996-Present); Member, treasurer, Brain Injury Services, Inc. Board of Trustees (1997-Present); Appointed by Governor Warner to the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board (2004-Present); Co-chair, with wife Gretchen, of the annual Middleridge Neighborhood Night Out crime prevention event; Co-chair of the Fairfax County Occoquan Watershed Task Force (2001-2002); Former member, treasurer, Rotary Club of Annandale (199-2002); Member (2002 and 1997), Area III Subcommittee Chair (1997), Braddock District Area Review Task Force; Volunteer coach/referee, Fairfax Little League and Burke Athletic Club soccer; Former Director of Environmental Services for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (1991-2002)
1. What is your top public service accomplishment?
Helping to strengthen protection of the Occoquan Reservoir by serving as co-chair of the New Millennium Occoquan Watershed Task Force in 2002. The Task Force was appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and for its work received a Citation of Merit for Outstanding Citizen Service from the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations and the Washington Post. The recommendations of this report are still being implemented by a wide range of local government and community groups.
2. What sets you apart from the other candidates in the race?
I bring a range and depth of community service that will allow me to effectively tackle the many complex issues facing the 37th District and Virginia. I have served in leadership positions in a multitude of areas, including natural resources conservation, consumer protection, land use, human services, and crime prevention.
3. What is one thing you promise not to do if elected?
I promise not to lose sight of the fact that I am in Richmond to represent and advocate on behalf of the people who live in the 37th District and how important it is to get out into the community to understand local concerns. I also promise not to forget how important it is that I make the time to be a good father to my two children.
4. What is the biggest issue facing your district? What should be done to address it?
Our quality of life depends on our ability to balance a complex range of issues such as keeping our schools the best in the nation, confronting the growing specter of gangs in our community, investing in public transportation, and protecting our environmental and open space. At the same time, our over-reliance on the real property tax means that fixed income residents are being forced to make tough budget choices and many young families cannot afford to call Fairfax home. The present tax structure leaves us ill-prepared to deal with our most pressing issues. Virginia must do a better job of funding its basic commitments, especially in education and public safety, so that local governments can reduce their reliance on the property tax.
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?
I would not seek any changes to the current laws and regulations in Virginia. I would focus my efforts on providing age-appropriate education to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to supporting alternatives to abortion when possible.
6. In Virginia, local governments have limited control of revenue and taxing authority. Should they have more? Less?
Our local governments have a tremendous amount of responsibility and Virginia needs to provide them with a more diversified set of revenue stream options. The purpose here is to reduce over-reliance on the real property tax.
7. What do you think about the Dillon Rule, which maintains that localities have only those powers expressly given by the state government?
On many issues, Virginia does have a responsibility and interest in maintaining a level of consistency state-wide. However, the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County, along with other urban and suburban communities, do face issues that are very different from the rest of Virginia. Where possible, I believe that the General Assembly should provide local governments with the authority to deal with these issues on a local level.
8. What do you believe the role of the state should be in determining the status of same-sex couples in Virginia?
For better or worse, this has become a state issue. However, I do not support the proposed Constitutional amendment. What concerns me most is that the debate in the General Assembly has gone well beyond the definition of marriage. The proposed constitutional amendment also takes a basic civil liberty away from same sex couples — the right to contract — that until now has been afforded to all Virginians regardless of marital status.