2023 Virginia Beach Elections: Questions for candidates in Virginia House District 97

Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to candidates in the election for the new State House District 97 seat. Answers to our questions in this series generally are not edited, aside from obvious punctuation issues, spacing and formatting, or for clarity. Candidates appear in ballot order. 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.

KAREN S. GREENHALGH [R]

• Residence: Kempsville, Virginia Beach
• Age: 67
• Occupation: Small Business Owner
• Military Service/Education: GED
• Endorsements: Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association, American Veterans Vote and SMART Union of Virginia
• Phone: (757) 453-5188
• Website: karengreenhalgh.com
• Email: contact@karengreenhalgh.com
• Social Media: @karenfordelegate on Facebook and @kgreenhalghvb on X, formerly Twitter

What are your specific qualifications to serve in the General Assembly? As a mom, grandma, and small business owner, I know what my constituents face on a daily basis. In my district we have families that are choosing between affording groceries or paying their property taxes. I understand what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck and am working diligently to cut taxes and allow taxpayers to keep more of their hard earned money. I believe that you can spend your money better than the government. I also support parent’s rights in their children’s education. I used a combination of public, private, and homeschooling with my children and know how important it is to be involved in your children’s education. 

What, to you, is the most important issue facing your district and how will you address it in office? When speaking with voters at their doors, I hear most about the rising cost of living here in Virginia Beach. I am proud of the budget that we passed in September that gives direct relief to all taxpayers in the form of a tax rebate, doubling the standard deduction, and giving retired military over 55 a much-deserved tax break. I was proud to sponsor legislation that cut taxes on retired veterans, and in Richmond I will continue working to lower taxes on Virginia families because I believe it’s your money and you can spend it best.

What are your three main legislative priorities? My top top priorities are reducing the tax burden on Virginia families, keeping our families safe and standing up for veterans. During my first term I sponsored legislation that gave retired veterans a tax cut, voted to end the grocery tax and cut the gas tax. I also carried two bills that increased funding for School Resource Officers as well as other security needs, training, and equipment to help keep our children safe in school. I will continue to work alongside Governor Youngkin to pass common sense legislation. 

How will you help ensure job creation and economic vitality? One of the bills I introduced removed the state income tax from veteran pensions for those under the age of 55. This leaves more money in their pocket to support their family, start a business, or buy a home. I also supported legislation that made skills learned in the military transferrable, making it easier for veterans who learned skills in the service to get a job here in Virginia. As a member of the Small Business Commission, I was proud to support the policy recommendation of the SBC, creating the Department of Workforce Development & Advancement to consolidate Virginia’s many programs for greater efficiency and effectiveness. 

How will you support local efforts to address sea level rise and recurrent flooding? The recent budget passed by the House of Delegates included an additional $10 million for the Virginia Beach Regional Stormwater Management Facility. I will continue to work with Virginia Beach to fund flood mitigation projects, pumping stations, and ensure that we maintain adequate open lands and wetlands to stop flooding in our neighborhoods.

How will you support public education? As a member of the Education Committee, I see firsthand the effects of lowering the standards has done to our students. We need to increase the standards in our public schools and provide students the resources to meet them. I voted to increase funding to schools and support teachers inside and out of their classrooms. I also carried legislation that gave teachers a tax deduction for up to $1,000 in out of pocket expenses. 

Do you support access to sexual and reproductive health care for women, including birth control and legal abortion access in Virginia? I support the governor’s consensus bill that limits abortions at 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. During my time in the House of Delegates I have voted for increased funding for women’s healthcare across the Commonwealth.

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? Before making any changes to charters or general law, I consult the stakeholders and my constituents and look for the intended and unintended consequences of making that change. I cannot predict how I will vote until I am able to read the final draft that is submitted to the House, but always strive to bring everyone to the table to build consensus and deliver results.

MICHAEL B. FEGGANS [D]

• Residence: Avalon Hills, Virginia Beach
• Age: 40
• Occupation: Tech entrepreneur & small business owner
• Military Service/Education: 20 year U.S. Air Force/retired Master Sergeant (E-7); B.S., healthcare administration; M.S., Cybersecurity
• Endorsements: Virginia AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia and VoteVets
• Phone: (757) 971-9140
• Website: michaelfeggans.com
• Email: info@michaelfeggans.com
• Social Media: Michael Feggans for Delegate on Facebook and @mikefeggans on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter

What are your specific qualifications to serve in the General Assembly? As the son of a public school teacher and firefighter, I grew up here in Virginia Beach around dedicated public servants. Because of them, I have a deep sense of calling and understand the importance of serving our community. That’s why I immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Tallwood High School. My career spanned two decades and included a deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. During my time in the Air Force, I served as a military intern for U.S. Senator Mark Warner where I learned the importance of constituent outreach & community engagement. Now, after retiring from the military, I run a cybersecurity tech business. With the creation of the new 97th House District, I stepped up to provide a fresh voice for my home. My unique experiences and long history of public service qualify me to serve in the General Assembly.

What, to you, is the most important issue facing your district and how will you address it in office? Our public school system has operated without the resources it needs for far too long. We must address this chronic underfunding of public education. Educators and support staff have been paid far below the national average and well below their worth, students are forced to use limited or outdated materials, and class sizes are often too large. As a proud graduate and supporter of Virginia Beach Public Schools, I will always do what is best for our students. In Richmond, I will ensure that not just teachers but all public school employees receive the proper pay so we can attract and retain the very best staff. With proper funding, our schools will have smaller class sizes so students can obtain higher-quality instruction. I will never stop fighting for our kids to get a world-class education.

What are your three main legislative priorities? 

1. First, the General Assembly must work to protect and defend reproductive freedom. I support the current law in Virginia and the statutes created under Roe v. Wade. Virginians have been clear about where we stand: politicians shouldn’t come between a woman and her medical provider. In Richmond, I will back legislation codifying existing abortion laws and protections into our State Constitution.
2. Second, I will support legislation to raise pay for educators and school support staff. After years of chronic underfunding, our public education system needs more resources to ensure our students get the best possible education. That begins with attracting the best and brightest staff with the pay they deserve. With adequate funding, our students will have smaller classes and the highest quality education.
3. My third main legislative goal is to address gun violence with comprehensive firearm reform. As a responsible gun owner, I understand the importance of enacting common-sense measures that respect gun owners’ rights while keeping firearms out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. These reforms include passing safe storage laws that prevent minors from accessing firearms irresponsibly, supporting red flag laws, and closing background check loopholes.

How will you help ensure job creation and economic vitality? As a Delegate, I will help lead Virginia Beach’s economy into the future, encouraging growth in emerging sectors while protecting and uplifting our workers. Technology and green economy jobs will be vital pillars in Hampton Roads’ next chapter. 

In Richmond, I will encourage growth in these sectors and incentivize investments in Virginia Beach, bringing high-paying jobs to the district. While we move forward, I will continue to fight to protect workers, ensuring they receive fair wages and the benefits they deserve. By welcoming new industries and defending workers’ rights, Virginia Beach will become an economic leader in our Commonwealth.

How will you support local efforts to address sea level rise and recurrent flooding? Virginia Beach is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels and recurrent flooding. Without continued action, we will experience worsening effects and increasing costs. First, we must ensure our residents can access the available resources to prevent and respond to flooding. In Richmond, I will help constituents protect their communities from flood damage by connecting them to the funding options available.

Second, we must create a comprehensive approach to address these alarming incidents. As Delegate, I will partner with community leaders to build upon their historic investments in coastal resilience so we can develop the infrastructure necessary to combat climate change.

How will you support public education? At a time when our public schools are under attack, the system needs resources now more than ever. We must raise teacher and support staff pay and provide the most updated, top-of-the-line instructional materials students need. Our students deserve a world-class education, but they cannot get it if the Commonwealth continues to underfund public schools. In Richmond, I will fight for schools to get the resources they need for our kids to thrive.

It takes a village to ensure a child’s future. To support our public education system and our students, I will continue my work as a mentor with Virginia Beach Public Schools. 

Do you support access to sexual and reproductive health care for women, including birth control and legal abortion access in Virginia? I fully support access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. The best place for these decisions to be made is in a medical provider’s room, between a woman and her physician. These should be medical questions, not legal ones. No patient should ever be denied access to critical medical care because of unnecessary and burdensome restrictions. Across the nation, extreme bans and vague language have left many women unable to receive life-saving healthcare, and now many Virginia politicians are pushing those same radical policies here. As Delegate, I will defend access to these services.

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? The switch to the 10-1 district voting system was a welcome change, and local and state leaders should work together to keep it. Virginia Beach citizens deserve a responsive and diverse representation in elected positions. In just one election under the updated system, our city council was transformed into the most diverse it has been since its inception.

District voting also undercuts the influence of special interest groups and helps ensure city leaders are accountable to the voters — not just major donors. As Delegate, I will work to approve the change of the city charter to the 10-1 voting system.

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