In the 50th District, incumbent Republican Jackson Miller is facing off against Democrat Jeanette Rishell for the third time.
Although Rishell has become a better candidate with each campaign, the third time is not the charm.
Rishell shows a much better grasp of the issues and the details of legislation; however, she still has not demonstrated knowledge that approaches the level of Miller’s.
Also, she shows a level of ambiguity that is unsettling in a potential representative.
Seeming contradictions regarding her stance on stimulus money and on “Right-to-Work” laws make us wonder if she acts out of political expediency or in willful ignorance.
She says that she is for both “Right-to-work” laws and collective bargaining for public employees, and although the two may not be mutually exclusive, they can at least be mutually antagonistic; to
imagine that both can coexist comfortably in Virginia is magical thinking.
On stimulus, Rishell seems to think that the state can take money to expand unemployment benefits without making that expansion permanent, despite the fact that the majority in the House voted
against the money because they did not believe that to be true.
Part of the deal if the state took the money was that the expansion would continue after the federal money ran out. Perhaps it would be possible for the state to go back on that deal, but we don’t think
that is an honorable or honest thing to do.
In his time in the General Assembly, Miller has shown himself to be knowledgeable, proactive, extremely well prepared and honest.
This is the point at which critics will point out his vote on autism legislation. He voted with the majority to prevent an autism bill from leaving a committee and going to the full floor of the House. The vote
effectively killed the bill.
Miller’s position on this legislation bothers us too, but we understand his reasoning when he points out the need to go along with General Assembly protocol on that vote. The legislature is a place where
compromise and devil’s bargains happen, and if Miller did not toe the line from time to time, he may find himself ineffective in the way that other legislators, such as Del. Bob Marshall, have.
On other issues, like alternative energy, Miller has shown himself to be a leader — he sponsored legislation that can help bring wind energy companies to Virginia.
Also, Miller is not arrogant enough to think that he will solve big problems like transportation on his own. However, he approaches such issues with an open mind and does not appear to strictly follow
party lines in his reasoning.
He is a flexible and straightforward delegate. We hope you will cast your vote for Jackson Miller on Nov. 3.
