AGE: 55
FAMILY: Daughter, Sara
CAMPAIGN MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 143, Mount Vernon, Va. 22121
CAMPAIGN PHONE: 703-360-2265
E-MAIL: kris@amundson.org
WEBSITE: www.amundson.org
OCCUPATION: writer
EMPLOYMENT: self-employed
EDUCATION: B.A., Macalester College; M.A., The American University
QUALIFICATIONS: I have served in the House of Delegates since 1999. Before that, I spent nearly a decade (1991 to 1999) on the Fairfax County School Board, including two years as chairman.
1. What is your top public service accomplishment?
This year, I carried Gov. Mark Warner's School Efficiency Audits legislation. Part of the Education for a Lifetime initiative, this legislation will provide schools and districts with the tools they need to operate more efficiently. In Virginia, schools are big business — nearly $10 billion in state, federal, and local money each year. So whenever school operations can be made more efficient, there is more money available for teacher salaries, for reducing class sizes, and for purchasing additional instructional materials. That's what these school efficiency audits do.
2. What sets you apart from the other candidates in the race?
Since the early 1990's, I have had the privilege of representing Mount Vernon, first on the School Board and now in the General Assembly. I am the only candidate with that record of service.
3. What is one thing you promise not to do if elected?
I promise not to forget that the people of the 44th District have honored me by allowing me to represent them.
4. What is the biggest issue facing your district? What should be done to address it?
Voters consistently tell me that transportation is the biggest issue facing our district. With 18,000 new jobs coming to Fort Belvoir as a result of the Base Realignment and Closing process, our roads will be even more choked.
We need to look at every possible solution to ease congestion. The federal government must provide funding to extend Metro or other rail to Fort Belvoir. We must accelerate the process of constructing the replacement for Woodlawn Road. We must complete construction of the Fairfax County Parkway.
Not acting is not an option. Congestion costs Virginia families $3 billion each year.
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?
The changes in the Supreme Court mean that Roe v. Wade may very well be overturned at the national level. So it is critical to know where legislators stand. I support keeping abortion legal because there are circumstances under which individuals and families should be able to make that decision without government interference. We should not allow politicians and government to interfere with difficult decisions — decisions that appropriately belong with individuals, their families and their doctors.
6. In Virginia, local governments have limited control of revenue and taxing authority. Should they have more? Less? What changes would you propose?
The old distinctions between "cities" and "counties" were created when Fairfax County's main industry was dairy farming! Clearly, we need a complete re-examination of the powers granted to cities and counties in the 21st Century. I have consistently supported giving counties the same taxing authority that cities have.
7. In Northern Virginia, property taxes have increased dramatically in recent years. What role should the state play in this?
The state has two key roles to play. First, we must be a full partner with local government on issues including education and transportation. I have introduced legislation designed to change the funding formula for K-12 education so that Fairfax County is not at such a disadvantage. Second, we must ensure that those living on fixed incomes are not forced out of their homes. We should raise the income and asset levels for the senior citizens property tax deduction. In addition, we should look at some way to provide a homestead exemption.
8. What do you believe the role of the state should be in determining the status of same-sex couples in Virginia?
Virginia has already passed the Defense of Marriage Act, so I do not believe we need additional legislation in this area.
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?
I believe public-private partnerships can provide one part of a comprehensive solution to Northern Virginia's traffic problems. But we need to remember that "public-private partnership" means tolls. So we cannot rely exclusively on private financing.
Furthermore, I do not believe that the citizens of Virginia want the infrastructure they have paid for with their taxes sold off. Instead, they expect the General Assembly to come up with dedicated revenue streams that will allow us to build both the roads and the transit that we must have. We will have to protect that funding by locking up the Transportation Trust Fund.
10. Do you believe that illegal immigration is a problem in Virginia? If so, why, and what should be done?
Illegal immigration is a significant problem, but it is a federal issue. We do not have much of a problem with the border between Fairfax County and Prince William County, for example.
We need to press the federal government to enforce its laws. The federal government also needs to provide resources to the local governments that have been left with the costs of educating students whose parents have come here, and for the increased social services costs that are incurred when the federal government does not meet its obligations.