Carl Genthner Will Focus On Job Creation, Economy

Candidate provided profile:

Born in upstate New York, Carl was adopted as a baby by Ed and Grace Genthner. With a younger brother and older sister, he grew up in a middle class family with a hard working blue collar dad and a stay at home mom. He was still in junior high school when he heard John Kennedy’s call to “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

In 1968, shortly after graduating high school Carl answered that call, enlisting in the US Air Force. During his 20-year career, he served throughout the Pacific and across America before retiring in 1988. It was also in 1988 that Carl completed his academic career earning his master’s degree in human resources from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, and moving to Virginia to begin the next phase of his professional life.

In 1988 Genthner followed his military career with another as a defense contractor supporting the U.S. Navy. During this 21-year career, Carl worked on a wide range of projects culminating in his work for the Program Executive Office (PEO) Aircraft Carriers. Among the projects he supported was acquisition of America’s newest carrier, the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Over the years Carl earned a reputation as a man who would take on any challenge, and through team work, imagination, leadership, and persistence bring the project to a successful conclusion.

In December 2008 Carl formed The Gainesville Group, a community based organization dedicated to improving Prince William County and specifically the Western end. The Gainesville Group has raised over 3200 pounds of food for the SERVE foodbank, conducted their first Pak-A-Back drive to collect school supplies for needy children, and adopted Heathcote Blvd from Route 29 to Old Carolina Road. The group picks up trash along this section 3-4 times a year. Carl also is a member of the Gainesville-Haymarket Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Manassas, as well as American Legion Post 10.

Carl lives in Gainesville with his wife June.

Carl Genthner's Official Campaign Website

What is the top issue facing residents of the 13^th District and how do you plan to address this if elected?

The issue I hear about most from residents in the 13^th are concerns about the economy and job opportunities. They are worried their children and grandchildren won't be able to find the kinds of good paying jobs here in Northern Virginia that they have. With reductions in Federal spending there are certain to be fewer government and related contracting positions in the future. They understand the need to diversify our economy. A truly diverse economy will take time. It will depend on two critical elements, the quality of our schools and the state of our transportation system. The kinds of 21^st century, high-tech employers we seek for Virginia need to know the graduates of our high schools and colleges have the skills and knowledge they need. They also need to know that their employees are not going to be stuck in traffic for hours wasting productivity and increasing costs.

In recent years the legislature has drastically cut education funding. In the 2010-2012 budget the House of Delegates voted to slash 652 million dollars from education. Prince William County and Manassas Park have some very good schools, but how long can they maintain that quality if class sizes are allowed to steadily increase and funds are cut year after year. Education is an investment in our future and must be given the same priority here that it is given in our competitor nations around the world. We need to have the best schools in America. I will work to restore education funding and ensure that we continue to invest in our future and our childrens future.

The second key to our economic future is our road and rail network. Quite simply, transportation requires a secure reliable revenue stream. Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton identified this need in a recent interview. There is only so much to be gained by increasing efficiency and realigning departments. I will propose a “Double Lock Box”constitutional amendment to prevent funds being taken from the transportation funds into the general fund, but more, will prevent general fund money being shifted to transportation funds. I believe this will force the legislature to find a fix for transportation funding, something they have so far been unwilling to do.

What ideas do you have to help improve traffic in the route 28 corridor?

The most obvious means of drawing traffic off route 28 would be the Tri-County Connector. I would prefer it over the bi-county options because it spares the Rural Crescent while minimizing impact on the Manassas battlefield. Unfortunately, due to decades of inaction, our new construction transportation funds are virtually non-existent making any construction with state funds unlikely. I am opposed to building any such road as a toll road. I do not want to see a situation where traffic on the toll roads flow swiftly for those prosperous enough to afford the fees while the rest of our residents are relegated to clogged roads and stalled traffic.

This fiscal year, Prince William County will contribute 15.54 percent to employees' retirement funds or $13.6 million. But the VRS advised PWC officials that future contribution rates will rise to 20.9 percent in fiscal year 2013 and more than 23 percent in fiscal year 2015. What plans do you have to try and remove the financial burden from all employee pensions without destroying morale?

The state has made a commitment to its employees that it must honor. The problems with the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) are of the state's own making. For years the state has paid less than the required payments into the fund resulting in a steadily growing liability.

The data is clear. States that use realistic rates of return and pay the required payments every year are not in trouble. Only states that kick the can down the road as Virginia has done, must now scramble to make good on the promises they made to their employees.

In addition the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, in its report “Pension Plan Reform in Virginia”, shows us a way forward in the case of West Virginia. Facing far greater challenges than our fund, they were able to restore the defined benefits plan and secure solvency. Virginia can do it too. Our employees deserve it.

I believe by learning from the West Virginia experience we can restore full funding and secure benefits for all our retirees, now and in the future while easing the burden on localities.

Foreclosures continue to be a problem for the district. What new ideas do you have that would protect residents from losing their homes?

I stand with Senator Chap Petersen (D – Fairfax) in his efforts to bring reasonable reform to the forclosure process in Virginia. The fully documented inability of big banks and mortgage lenders to accurately trace ownership, and their relience on “foreclosure mills” where paperwork is signed unread, cry out for reasonable reforms such as those proposed by Senator Petersen.