Democrat Aaron Rouse and Republican Kevin Adams are racing to substitute Jen Kiggans in the state senate.
The unique election is slated for Jan. 10 early voting has presently begun.
Kiggans, a Republican who represented District 7, a short while ago stepped down after profitable her bid for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. Residence of Associates.
She experienced another yr left on her state Senate expression, prompting the need to have for the exclusive election.
Rouse, 38, a Virginia Seashore Metropolis Council member, is a previous NFL soccer player who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2007. He also performed for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. He was elected to the City Council in 2018.
If elected to the state Senate, Rouse explained to The Virginian-Pilot and Everyday Press that safeguarding abortion accessibility would be between his best priorities.
“The governor has reiterated that he is ready to signal any abortion ban that comes throughout his desk,” he stated. “I will battle to make confident that women of all ages have the opportunity to make their personal conclusions that is something that shouldn’t be legislated.”
Schooling would be yet another major problem, Rouse said. He believes instructors in Virginia should be “the best paid in the nation” and reported he would advocate for much more funding to modernize school infrastructure.
“I am a product of our public faculties,” he mentioned. “They can help youthful males like me have the chance and chance to make their life much more productive.”
To build an economic climate that “works for everybody,” Rouse explained he would push for personnel to acquire “fair, livable” wages. He also wishes to generate new workforce housing.
Rouse, who grew up in Virginia Seaside, thinks his potent ties to the region and experience on the Town Council would be an asset when it arrives to representing the district.
Adams, 61, is a retired lieutenant commander who served for 26 decades in the Navy. He owns a tiny small business, Adams Family Handyman Expert services, in Virginia Seashore.
He has not previously held elected place of work.
If elected, Adams claimed supporting veterans would be a top priority.
He claimed he would push to eliminate the state tax on veterans’ pensions because they really should be encouraged to keep in the commonwealth and have a range of practical workforce expertise.
“That is a massive burden on our veterans,” he mentioned. “There are other states that have no tax on their veterans’ pensions — so they go to these other destinations and we want to keep them listed here.”
Adams said he would also concentration on strengthening the financial system and cutting down criminal offense — two concerns that he believes go hand in hand.
“We have to have to make absolutely sure that enterprises want to come right here and a single of the matters that I know inhibits company from coming any place is crime,” he explained. “We want to crack down on crime and make sure that our neighborhoods are risk-free.”
Concerned about police staffing shortages, Adams mentioned he would function to “fully fund” legislation enforcement and make certain organizations have all the methods they need to have.
Adams believes his armed forces services would be an asset in the state Senate mainly because he is accustomed to significant-strain circumstances and working with men and women from “all walks of existence.”
The distinctive election will choose position just one day just before the General Assembly convenes for its legislative session.
When Kiggans was elected to the point out Senate in 2019, District 7 involved areas of Norfolk and Virginia Beach front. Those strains have due to the fact been redrawn because of to redistricting — nonetheless, the up-to-date district traces will not implement all through the exclusive election.
The exact same voters in Norfolk and Virginia Seaside who were being suitable to vote for Kiggans in 2019 will be in a position to choose her substitute.
___
Name: Aaron Rouse
Age: 38
Profession: Former NFL player, founder of Rouse’s House, a nonprofit that serves to build instruction as the basis for youth
Previous office environment held: Virginia Seashore Town Council member (at significant), current
Schooling: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Point out, B.S. in Sociology (2007)
Marketing campaign web site: https://rouseforsenate.com/
___
Name: Kevin Adams
Age: 61
Occupation: Tiny-small business owner, retired Navy veteran
Former place of work held: None
Education and learning: Parkside Superior University (1979)
Campaign web-site: www.kevinadamsforsenate.com
Katie King, [email protected]
