Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to the candidate in the election for the new State House District 95 seat. Answers to our questions in this series generally are not edited, aside from obvious punctuation issues, spacing and formatting, or for clarity. Remaining copies of the Sunday, Sept. 24, print edition containing the complete guide may still be available on some of our secondary racks through Sunday, Oct. 22.
- Please reach John Doucette, the editor, with any questions or concerns via email.
ALEX Q. ASKEW [D]
- Residence: Virginia Beach
- Age: 38
- Occupation: Community relations coordinator at Sentara Healthcare
- Military Service/Education: BA in History
- Endorsements: Planned Parenthood, IAF Firefighters and Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
- Website: alexaskew.com
- Email: contact@alexaskew.com
- Social Media: @ askewfordelegate on Facebook, @alexqaskew on Instagram and @AlexAskew757 on X, formerly Twitter
What are your specific qualifications to serve in the General Assembly? I was born in Virginia Beach and raised here by my mother, a public school teacher. I matriculated through the Virginia Beach public education system, including Tallwood High School, before attending Hampton University.
I formerly served as a Chief of Staff for the Virginia House of Delegates, guiding elected officials towards tangible solutions. During my time as a Chief of Staff, I helped craft groundbreaking legislation such as the nationwide Ashanti Alert (a public alert system for missing and endangered adults), Medicaid expansion, affordable housing expansion, and school safety initiatives. Lastly, in my first term as the Delegate for the 85th District, our office had 14 bills signed into law, 11 of which received unanimous bipartisan support. Some of these bills include expanding workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters, implementing a lead-water testing process in all public schools and daycares across the Commonwealth, and creating the very first dedicated source of funding for Hampton Roads Transit.
What, to you, is the most important issue facing your district and how will you address it in office? The biggest concerns for constituents in the 95th district are school and public safety. When I previously served in the General Assembly, I passed bills to ensure students had a safe learning environment and to protect them from environmental issues that cause long-term health problems. The law implements a process to test drinking water for elevated levels of lead and one that requires the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in our schools. While serving, I worked to improve responses to mental health crises by implementing the Marcus Alert, which provides behavioral health experts to respond to mental health emergencies. If elected, I will work across party lines to pass legislation that creates solutions to the issues of mental health and public safety in our schools and community.
What are your three main legislative priorities?
- Increase access to affordable health care — including lower prescription drug costs for asthma inhalers and Insulin. We need to reduce medical price gouging to bring down health care costs. VA Dems can lead the way in prioritizing a value-based care system by supporting preventative care, thus reducing hospital readmissions rates and long-term health care expenditures.
- I’m committed to creating a livable and sustainable environment for all. In my district, this has meant taking immediate action to curb the effects of coastal flooding — which is why I sponsored legislation to create a flood insurance fund for low-income Virginians.
- I’m committed to expanding economic opportunities to build a Commonwealth that works for everyone. As our economy evolves with new jobs and tech, we must champion workers in innovative ways. This includes addressing income inequalities head-on by passing workforce, housing, and safety net policies that protect and benefit our most vulnerable workers.
How will you help ensure job creation and economic vitality? I believe that Virginia ought to increase investment in apprenticeships, and that this ought to be reflected as a budget priority during the next legislative session. I was proud to support successful legislation to create tuition-free community college programs for low- and middle-income students. Partnerships between municipalities’ public schools and local unions and labor organizations to establish new training programs available directly through secondary schools are critical to laying and strengthening local job pipelines.
How will you support local efforts to address sea level rise and recurrent flooding? I am committed to helping coastal communities such as Norfolk and Virginia Beach address issues such as sea level rise and recurrent flooding. We need to prioritize investments in resilient infrastructure, including flood control systems and seawalls, to protect these communities. Also, advocate for sustainable land-use practices and promote nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and coastal ecosystems, which can act as natural buffers against flooding. I recognize the importance of scientific research and data collection to inform policy decisions and support efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts on coastal communities.
How will you support public education? First, prioritize increasing funding for public schools to ensure adequate resources for students and educators. I will continue to fight for higher teacher salaries, professional development opportunities, and improving working conditions to attract and retain talented educators. We need to aim at addressing the funding disparities between wealthy and low-income school districts, aiming for a more equitable distribution of resources. More support investing in early childhood education and expanding access to quality preschool programs.
Do you support access to sexual and reproductive health care for women, including birth control and legal abortion access in Virginia? Absolutely! Ensuring such access empowers women to make informed choices about their bodies, health and future. It promotes gender equality, improves maternal and infant health outcomes, reduces unsafe abortions, and allows women to pursue education, career opportunities, and economic independence. Access to reproductive health care enables women to exercise their fundamental rights, enhances their overall well-being, and contributes to the advancement of societies as a whole.
Virginia Beach plans to ask the General Assembly to support a new district voting system, either by charter change or general law change. Will you work with the delegation and across party lines to support this? Yes, I will work across party lines to better support the City of Virginia Beach with the implementation of a new district voting system once in Richmond. Whether the method is a charter change or general law I will work with members of the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle to ensure citizens of Virginia Beach have equal and fair representation on the city council and school board.
© 2023 Pungo Publishing Co. LLC
One thought on “2023 Virginia Beach Elections: Questions for the candidate in Virginia House District 95”