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Lieutenant Governor

E.W.JACKSON

E.W. JACKSONRepublican RESIDENCE: Chesapeake OCCUPATION: Minster, founder of Exodus Faith Ministries church, and trained attorney EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, University of Massachusetts Boston, 1975; law degree, Harvard Law School, 1978 POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran for U.S. Senate, Virginia, 2012 PERSONAL: Age 61; wife, Theodora; three children WEBSITE: www.jacksonforlg.com

Q&A

RalphNORTHAM

RALPH NORTHAMDemocrat RESIDENCE: Norfolk OCCUPATION: Physician (pediatric neurologist) EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in biology, Virginia Military Institute, 1981; medical degree, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 1984 POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: State Senate, Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Eastern Shore/Mathews County, 2008-present PERSONAL: Age 54; wife, Pam; two children WEBSITE: www.northamforlg.com

There’s general consensus to revise Virginia’s ethics and disclosure rules, but what specific change would you prioritize?The gift-giving scandals plaguing Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli are embarrassing and unacceptable. I attended the Virginia Military Institute, where I served on the Honor Court, upholding the honor code. As a state senator, I authored the Conflict of Interest Act in 2010 that would have held politicians accountable by creating an independent review board for ethical misconduct. As lieutenant governor, I will work to rebuild trust in Virginia’s government by banning all gifts over $100 to lawmakers and their immediate family members. I will also establish an independent ethics board to increase transparency and accountability. What is your position on the stricter abortion clinic regulations that received approval from the General Assembly this year?As a doctor, I strongly oppose these medically irrelevant and politically motivated regulations. I have led – and will continue to lead – the fight to overturn them. The regulations have already forced two of the commonwealth’s largest women’s health centers to close, limiting patients’ access to contraception, primary care, and even cancer screenings. I trust women to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their doctors. Legislators, most of whom are men, should not be telling women what they should and shouldn’t do with their bodies. What is your stance on gay marriage in Virginia?I support marriage equality in Virginia. I cherish my marriage and my family over all else, and I cannot imagine the government taking the right to be married away from me. We need to make Virginia more inclusive and more welcoming so that we can attract new jobs. As lieutenant governor, I will work to turn on the “Open For Business” light across the commonwealth. Do you favor allowing oil drilling off the Virginia coast?I oppose oil drilling off Virginia’s coast. The Deepwater Horizon disaster vividly illustrated the dangers of offshore oil drilling. I will not risk the health of our fishing and tourism industries to pad the profits of oil companies. Also, the Pentagon has raised concerns about drilling off Virginia’s shores because it could interfere with military training exercises. The commonwealth should not endanger its healthy relationship with the military, and the jobs that depend on that relationship, by pursuing offshore drilling. In addition, NASA Wallops opposes offshore drilling, and we must not undermine the job creation produced by this public-private partnership. Do you favor requiring a General Assembly vote before tolling existing roads in Virginia?The decision whether to charge tolls on existing roads should be made by the General Assembly, not by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Elected representatives of the people are in the best position to determine whether the revenue-generating benefits of tolls outweigh the burdens tolls impose on their constituents. Community leaders can bring local stakeholders together to make transportation decisions. This year, I voted to quash efforts to impose tolls on I-95 without approval from the General Assembly.

TOP DONORS (as of Oct. 15)1. Service Employees International Union (Washington D.C.) $87,934 2. Ralph S. Northam (Virginia Beach) $60,124 3. Edward Hart Rice (Vienna) $36,500 4. Children's Specialty Group PLLC (Norfolk) $36,000 5. National Education Association (Washington D.C.) $35,000 Source: Virginia Public Access Project

TOP DONORS (as of Oct. 15)1. Peter L. Via (Roanoke) $75,000 2. Middle Resolution PAC (Mechanicsville) $28,423 3. John W. Galbraith (Charlottesville) $25,000 John M. Templeton, Jr. (Byrn Mawr, PA) $25,000 4. Donald Lee Woodsmall (Charlottesville) $17,175 5. K-6 Consulting (Kents Store) $12,000 Source: Virginia Public Access Project

There’s general consensus to revise Virginia’s ethics and disclosure rules, but what specific change would you prioritize?At the debate in Norfolk, I demonstrated a real willingness to work with the Democrat Party when Ralph Northam accepted my suggestion to form an “Ethical Training Committee,” where Northam, who teaches ethics at the college level, and someone from the Republican Party would talk with legislators about ethics issues. What is your position on the stricter abortion clinic regulations that received approval from the General Assembly this year?I oppose any efforts to roll back safety standards on women’s health clinics. What is your stance on gay marriage in Virginia?I support the will of the people of Virginia, who voted in favor of the constitutional amendment that defines marriage in the commonwealth as being between one man and one woman. Do you favor allowing oil drilling off the Virginia coast?Virginia must have a truly all-of-the-above approach to energy policy, including renewable energy as well as allowing for exploration and drilling of oil off of the coast. I will work with and encourage Virginia’s legislature to introduce legislation that allows Virginia to take advantage of these resources in an environmentally responsible manner, unleashing the commonwealth’s economic engine and creating jobs. Do you favor requiring a General Assembly vote before tolling existing roads in Virginia?Toll roads are part of the solution but must be considered on a case-by-case basis. If it’s a road maintained by the state, then the state should make that decision, as they have the taxing authority.