A Fresh face AND voice for fairfax county in Richmond
Ken is a strong leader on transportation and traffic relief
Ken was the pivotal vote to bring the Silver Line to Dulles Airport and Loudoun County in 2012 and has been at the forefront of advocating (and getting built) a number of highways in the Greater DC area. He will advocate for more interchanges on Fairfax County Parkway and Route 50, which are often bottle necks, PLUS getting I-95 widened all the way to Richmond and widening I 81 in the Shenandoah Valley. He also wants to equalize the tolls on I-66 inside the Beltway with the tolls outside the Beltway on 66. but allow HOV-2 drivers to use these lanes (and on 495) free or at a lower toll rate.
Taxes & Spending
Support the proposed state income tax cut to help Virginians hurting from infation, high gas prices, interest rates. Negate nuisance taxes on gas electric and plastic grocery bags. Regulations that make it hard for people to go into business or maintain a business must be revised.
Education
Ken supports a state Parents Bill of Rights and enabling access to curriculum by taxpayers. He also supports greater transparency in local government including school boards. Books should not be "banned" but subject to parental-teacher-administration review, and the content (whether in libraries or the classroom) should be age-appropriate.
We must teach kids how to think, not what to think, and ensure public schools still have Honors and Gifted and Talented programs, while giving struggling kids the help they need to succeed -- and ensure all children are safe at school.
Crime and Law Enforcement
Virginia's violent crime rate saw a 10% increase over last year, and the property crime rate also jumped.
Meanwhile, in Fairfax County, In 2022, there were 936 crimes against person cases across the county compared to 1,187 as of Feb. 15, 2023 -- and property crimes (like theft, breakins) were up by 925 cases in just one year!
In addition, there are some 180 open positions for police officers for the County Police. Across Virginia, and much of the nation, departments in urban areas cannot find officers. Why?
It's because politicians "defanged" the police and prosecutors with so-called "Criminal Justice Reform" laws to appease extremist activists. These so-called "reforms" only make it easier for some to live a life of crime vs. being productive citizens.
Instead, Ken wants to create a pilot program to place at-risk students in apprenticeship and personality development programs and get them out of crime infested impoverished communities. We also need to boost funding for Community Police Partnerships and give the police the tools they need to do their job. Click here for more details.
Healthcare
Ken opposes political interference to restrict the prescribing of Rx drugs and medical devices (including abortion drugs). Congress delegated the authority over medical product approval and marketing to the US Food and Drug Administration, and the "commerce clause" of the Constitution prohibits state interference with interstate commerce. Ken would like to see community health centers expanded to help folks without insurance or access to specific medical services due to the fact many providers do not serve Medicaid and Medicare patients.
Below, Ken Reid in front of FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Ken covered FDA as a reporter and editor since 1986 and from 1991 until 2021, ran his own publishing business, devoted to providing news and analysis of FDA regulations and policies (Washington Information Source Co.). Ken understands the healthcare issue.
Affordable housing
Housing affordability is hurting our region. We have so many working folks and seniors who are finding Fairfax County to be exclusionary. It's important for the General Assembly to examine tax and regulatory incentives to enable developers to provide more affordable units for rent and to buy. Converting vacant malls and office parks is a good start, and helping the "missing middle." It's time to say "Yes in my Backyard" (and two such affordable housing projects are to be built in Tysons near where I live and I welcome that).
Vote Ken Reid, Virginia State Senate, District 37, Nov. 7Early voting begins Sept. 22
You can vote for Ken if you live in: Tysons, Pimmit HIlls, Falls Church and Fairfax cities, Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Town of Vienna, Oakton, among other locales.
Ken Reid -- Proven Leadership with Results!