Mark Cole
Cole

A 16-year Republican incumbent from Spotsylvania County has three opponents—a Democrat, a Green Party member and an independent who served on the School Board—in the race for the 88th District House of Delegates seat.


Del. Mark Cole, one of the more conservative state lawmakers, blames Virginia’s problems on too much government. He’s also a staunch opponent of tax increases. “I think the government is already taking enough money, we just need to prioritize better,” said Cole, who works for Spotsylvania as a deputy county administrator.


His opponents—Green Party nominee Gerald Anderson, Democrat Steve Aycock and independent Amanda Blalock—share several similar positions, but said they would bring different strengths to the job as Tuesday’s election nears.


The 88th District includes parts of Fredericksburg and Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fauquier counties.
Anderson, a Germanna Community College chemistry professor from Fredericksburg, said he’s aligned with the “people’s party,” which he said will look out for citizens rather than corporations.


Unlike Democratic candidates, he said, the five Green Party contenders in General Assembly races this year did not receive donations from corporations or political action committees.


Aycock, an associate pastor for missions at Real Life Community Church in Stafford County, said he understands a broad range of topics, while his opponents seem focused on single issues—education for Blalock and the environment for Anderson. He also noted that he will have the Democratic Party’s help in passing legislation, an advantage the other challengers will lack.


Blalock, who was on the Spotsylvania School Board for nearly a decade, said she is not beholden to any party. She also noted that she’s the only female General Assembly candidate running as an independent. “It allows me to make the common-sense vote and to cross party lines when necessary,” she said. “Extremism on either side of the aisle will never push Virginia forward.”


The challengers have expressed support for a regional transportation authority that could raise certain taxes to fund road improvements. But Cole said he does not think another layer of government would solve the region’s transportation problems.


The challengers also said they oppose two controversial bills that Cole has sponsored or co-sponsored in recent years. Both bills failed.


One would have prohibited transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The other would have banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with no exception for rape or incest.


Blalock pointed out a Washington Post article seven years ago that quoted Cole as saying: “I just think you should have the right to control your own body.” At the time, he was explaining why he proposed legislation to prohibit employers or insurance companies from implanting microchips in peoples’ bodies against their will.


“Yet when it comes to women’s issues or abortion, suddenly he wants to take the right out of women’s hands,” Blalock said.


She also targeted Cole for preaching less government while collecting more than $100,000 annually from Spotsylvania and the state.


Cole has sent out mailers accusing his opponents of supporting hypothetical sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration officials. “They’ve broken our laws, and we should not be providing sanctuary to criminals,” he said of undocumented immigrants.


Anderson said at a debate last month that he agrees with the concept of sanctuary cities in general and thinks the U.S. should foster immigration.


Aycock, who noted that sanctuary cities do not exist here, said he does not think local teachers and law-enforcement officers should have to enforce immigration laws. But he said this week that he opposes hypothetical sanctuary cities.


Blalock indicated support for sanctuary cities at the debate but clarified her position this week. A debate panelist had asked the candidates whether they “support sanctuary cites,” but did not define the term.


Blalock said she thinks localities should cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Still, she does believe that “dreamers,” or immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, should be able to remain in the U.S. without fear of deportation.


Cole touts his strong opposition to gun control, saying he wants to put language in state law that defines gun ownership as an “individual right.” That would stop a “liberal judge” from ruling that the Second Amendment applies only to the military, he said.


In addition, he wants to streamline the regulatory process, particularly for road projects. “It shouldn’t have to go through three or four different state agencies to have a road plan approved,” he said.

Lastly, Cole said he thinks lower taxes and fewer regulations will grow the economy. “Every tax on a business is really a jobs tax,” he said.


Anderson said he is the most “pro-labor” candidate and would vote to repeal the state’s right-to-work law that cuts income to unions. He said he’s also in favor of “strict environmental protections” to address climate change and that he’s the only candidate to advocate for more nutritious food in public schools and better nutrition education.


Anderson said he would propose bills to limit donations to politicians, require child psychologists in public schools, and increase the $7.25 an hour minimum wage to what he called a “livable wage” of $15.60.


“We are running to represent the common man in his plight against the mighty corporations and the owners of those corporations,” he said of this year’s Green Party candidates.


Aycock said he disagrees with Cole’s stance on limited government, saying he thinks the public sector “has a key role to play in improving peoples’ lives in terms of transportation…the environment…[and] education.”


He said he supports a regional transportation authority but does not see a need to raise taxes statewide. Legislators have told him the money is there to pay for public schools and other services, but needs to be reallocated, he said.


In addition, Aycock said he hopes to restore funding for a grant program that helps localities reduce storm water runoff. And he wants to continue tax credits for businesses that let their employees telecommute.


Aycock said he thinks he stands the best chance of defeating Cole, noting that he has received donations from more than 200 people. The other challengers have received far less monetary support, and many of Cole’s donations came from corporations, he added.
 

“I would represent the individuals…and bring real progress and real change to Virginia,” Aycock said.

Blalock said she agrees with Cole on the Second Amendment but not much else.


She did say she envisions more room for compromise on health care than the other challengers, both of whom expressed support for Medicaid expansion. Blalock also said she hopes to tackle campaign finance reform, limit standardized tests and address unfunded mandates to localities.


Blalock was one of the better known School Board members, at least partly because of her active social media presence. She said she would continue that accessibility as a delegate.


“I do believe I’m well known for being responsive, answering emails, answering calls and having face-to-face conversations,” she said.


Cole holds a big fundraising lead, having collected $27,523 in monetary donations this year on top of the $60,533 he had accumulated in prior years.


He had spent $15,410 as of Sept. 30, leaving him with more than $70,000.


Anderson and Blalock have accumulated $1,777 and $1,225, respectively, while Aycock has raised $22,862.


Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402 jbranscome@freelancestar.com