Red NoVA

As we know, this year is an important election year not only for the country, but for Virginia. Following the victories of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli we have a chance to continue that momentum this year. As such, I will be reaching out to Congressional candidates outside of of Northern Virginia. First we travel down to Virginia Beach for an interview with VA-02 candidate Scott Rigell. This race is especially important, as while Barack Obama won the district with 51%, Bob McDonnell carried the district with 61% of the vote. I hope voters in this district help continue the Republican comeback by voting for Scott!

Red NoVA: Why run for Congress?

Scott Rigell: I am running for Congress because I am deeply concerned with the direction our country is headed. As a businessman who has analyzed financial statements for over 30 years, been an entrepreneur, and a self-employed CEO for the last 20 years, I understand financial statements. Our country has a financial statement, and there is every indication that our country, if these trends are not addressed or checked, will be headed into bankruptcy. I believe our country is at a defining moment, and I know that I could serve and effectively represent the people of the Second Congressional District.

RN: What is your background in politics?

Rigell: I have always been concerned about good government. I believe in elevating good leadership by helping good candidates get elected. I did not anticipate that I would run or be a candidate, but as I look back on my life experiences and the challenges that are facing our great country, I truly believe that my background, education, and experience as an entrepreneur and creating jobs here in Hampton Roads for the last twenty years have properly prepared me to represent the District.

RN: What distinguishes you from the other candidates?

Rigell: What distinguishes me from the other candidates is experience. No one in this race has the background and experience that I have in job creation. Creating jobs is not theoretical to me; I have lived through making payroll, working directly with bankers, and in a very difficult environment. Our company was started in a recession, and I know what it is like to be an entrepreneur wondering where money is going to come from to make the next payroll. I understand the stress, the challenges, the burden, the excitement, and the rewards of creating jobs. The other part is leadership. I am the only candidate who is moving forward with a strong, defined, and aggressive congressional reform agenda. That is something that the people not only in the Second District, but in America, want. They want our Congress changed. I have a specific plan to do just that, and if anyone else in the race comes along and offers a plan of Congressional reform, they are following and not leading.

RN: What is Congressman Glenn Nye vulnerable on?

Rigell: Congressman Glenn Nye is vulnerable on a host of issues, most notably his core belief that massive deficit spending is the key to economic recovery and job creation. He voted for the stimulus bill that has now wasted over 800 billion dollars on projects we did not need with money we do not have. It represents a glaring example of poor judgment and a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes our economy grow. His leadership is hurting our region. His response to the effort to move a carrier to Mayport, FL can only be characterized as “too little, too late.” Regarding the vital coordination of our local elected officials, community leaders, and state-wide leaders, and the need to present a unified front in the fight, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim stated at a meeting earlier this year that such action was “long overdue.” That effort was too little, too late.

Congressman Nye completely disregarded the wisdom, good council, and advice of senior military officials when he voted to overturn “don’t ask, don’t tell.” This has put him at serious odds with our men and women in uniform, particularly in light of the fact that there is a report due out in December on this issue that the Congressman chose to ignore and instead voted to overturn “don’t ask, don’t tell” before the report was available for review.

Furthermore, Congressman Nye’s first vote was for Nancy Pelosi to become Speaker of the House and, if given the opportunity in January 2011, I have every reason to believe he will make that decision again. Her leadership, a Democratic majority in the house, and a Democratic president, who has proven his desire and willingness to take America on a reckless, massive, unprecedented growth of government, are hurting America. Glenn Nye, through his initial votes and subsequent votes, has facilitated and really greased the skids and made it possible for this reckless path that we are on. I believe the voters of the Second District on November 2nd are going to choose a more prudent and wise path and send Glenn Nye home.

RN: How have the victories in 2009 helped prepare Republicans for 2010?

Rigell: The victories of Governor McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli reflect the will of the people of Virginia. Those decisive victories were earned by those good men who ran with a conservative common sense message of job creation and fiscal discipline, and they have done just that. The governor in particular closed a 4 billion dollar gap and now has a surplus in the most recent quarter of just over 200 million dollars. People across our Commonwealth understand that was the right path for the Commonwealth to take. And they have really set the stage for candidates state-wide. We can reference their good work as an example of core Republican principles at their very best. Those victories are the basis of victories that I believe are coming across the state on November 2nd.

RN: Is Virginia a blue or purple state? Democrats would argue that it is, citing the 2006 and 2008 elections, as well as several special elections in Northern VA in 2010. Your thoughts?

Rigell: I believe the Commonwealth, focusing on the Second Congressional District, based on my wonderful journey of the past 13 months of campaigning, is a center right District. That means it is biased in favor of our core conservative Republican principles of living within our means and investing in the future, taking care of our environment, making sure the full fabric of our community crosses the finish line, and honoring and taking care of those who protect our freedoms, our men and women in uniform.

RN: What are the major issues affecting the 2^nd District of VA?

Rigell: The top 3 are jobs, jobs, and jobs. To expand on that, there is a question of the best course of action we can take in the District to secure the jobs that we have now and to create new ones. The incumbent and I have very different views of how that is best accomplished. He believes it is accomplished through massive deficit spending.  That is in clear contrast to what I believe, which is that we must free up the true creator of jobs, prosperity, wealth, and great employment in our District – our small to medium size businesses. I have met with hundreds of small to medium size business owners across the District, and they have expressed deep concern over the direction Congress and our president are taking our country. It is like there is an outright assault on business and free enterprise. It has got them so troubled that they are no longer investing. There is a dark cloud over entrepreneurs and business owners right now. It is a dark cloud of uncertainty, which is a direct result of the actions that are being taken by our Congress and Speaker Pelosi, and the incumbent is an active and willing participant in that.

In addition, the impact of the military on our district cannot be overstated.  I would consider it a high honor and privilege to represent the men and women of the Second Congressional District and its 72,000 men and women in uniform and retirees. There would be no stronger advocate for our men and women in uniform, and those who have worn the uniform, than me.

RN: What will be your first legislative priorities if elected?

Rigell: I will introduce legislation that moves forward my top priorities and work with members of Congress from both parties who are fully committed to creating a better environment for new jobs and securing the jobs we already have, controlling federal spending, and changing Congress.

Congressional Reform will be my first legislative priority. I have a series of 8 initiatives that will challenge and change the parts of Congress that are broken. These reforms are for the long-term interest of the people.  I believe that many of the problems we are facing in the Second Congressional District and across America, such as out of control federal spending, bloated bureaucracy, massive regulation, and an ever increasing amount of regulation, are a direct result of a Congress that is broken. There are too many incentives for members of Congress to make short-term decisions that benefit themselves but hurt America both short term and long-term. I am fully committed to changing Congress rather than having Congress change me.

One of my other pillars is to represent our men and women in uniform. We have an obligation to provide them with the best leadership, training, equipment, and care as an expression of gratitude for them.

For more information on Scott’s campaign, visit http://www.scottrigell.com/