Democrat Aaron Rouse and Republican Kevin Adams are racing to substitute Jen Kiggans in the condition senate.
The specific election is slated for Jan. 10 early voting has presently begun.
Kiggans, a Republican who represented District 7, recently stepped down right after profitable her bid for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. Dwelling of Associates.
She experienced a different 12 months still left on her state Senate term, prompting the need for the particular election.
Rouse, 38, a Virginia Beach front Town Council member, is a previous NFL football player who was drafted by the Eco-friendly Bay Packers in 2007. He also played for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. He was elected to the Town Council in 2018.
If elected to the point out Senate, Rouse explained to The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Push that preserving abortion access would be among the his top priorities.
“The governor has reiterated that he is willing to sign any abortion ban that comes across his desk,” he explained. “I will fight to make guaranteed that girls have the chance to make their have selections that is anything that should not be legislated.”
Training would be yet another top rated concern, Rouse said. He thinks teachers in Virginia should really be “the greatest paid in the nation” and reported he would advocate for additional funding to modernize faculty infrastructure.
“I am a products of our public faculties,” he reported. “They can help young males like me have the possibility and prospect to make their life much more successful.”
To develop an financial system that “works for all people,” Rouse mentioned he would press for employees to obtain “fair, livable” wages. He also wants to make new workforce housing.
Rouse, who grew up in Virginia Seashore, believes his sturdy ties to the place and working experience on the Metropolis Council would be an asset when it comes to representing the district.
Adams, 61, is a retired lieutenant commander who served for 26 several years in the Navy. He owns a smaller organization, Adams Family members Handyman Companies, in Virginia Beach front.
He has not formerly held elected workplace.
If elected, Adams mentioned supporting veterans would be a top priority.
He said he would drive to eliminate the condition tax on veterans’ pensions for the reason that they should be inspired to stay in the commonwealth and have a selection of practical workforce expertise.
“That is a major stress on our veterans,” he reported. “There are other states that have no tax on their veterans’ pensions — so they go to these other areas and we want to maintain them below.”
Adams mentioned he would also target on strengthening the overall economy and lowering crime — two issues that he believes go hand in hand.
“We require to make guaranteed that businesses want to appear in this article and a single of the factors that I know inhibits small business from coming anywhere is crime,” he stated. “We want to crack down on criminal offense and make sure that our neighborhoods are risk-free.”
Anxious about law enforcement staffing shortages, Adams mentioned he would get the job done to “fully fund” law enforcement and make certain organizations have all the means they have to have.
Adams thinks his armed service provider would be an asset in the point out Senate mainly because he is accustomed to superior-worry circumstances and doing the job with folks from “all walks of everyday living.”
The specific election will just take place a person day just before the General Assembly convenes for its legislative session.
When Kiggans was elected to the condition Senate in 2019, District 7 incorporated components of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. These lines have considering the fact that been redrawn because of to redistricting — even so, the up-to-date district strains will not use in the course of the distinctive election.
The very same voters in Norfolk and Virginia Beach front who were qualified to vote for Kiggans in 2019 will be equipped to pick her substitution.
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Name: Aaron Rouse
Age: 38
Profession: Previous NFL participant, founder of Rouse’s Home, a nonprofit that serves to create education as the basis for youth
Former business office held: Virginia Seashore Town Council member (at huge), present-day
Schooling: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Point out, B.S. in Sociology (2007)
Campaign website: https://rouseforsenate.com/
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Identify: Kevin Adams
Age: 61
Occupation: Smaller-small business proprietor, retired Navy veteran
Former workplace held: None
Training: Parkside Large University (1979)
Marketing campaign web page: www.kevinadamsforsenate.com
Katie King, [email protected]
