Tom Gordy Wants Tax Credits For Businesses That Hire Unemployed Locals

Editor's Note: This Q&A has been re-featured for readers as the election is Nov. 8. 

Candidate supplied profile:

Tom Gordy is president of the Armed Forces Marketing Council, which works to enhance the military resale benefit for active duty, Reserve, National Guard and military retiree families by engaging with congressional and resale industry leaders. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and served as a congressional affairs advisor to U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Commander, Multi-National Forces in Iraq. Gordy served for six years as a staff member for two congressmen who represented Virginia.

He owns and manages River Woods Retreat, a log cabin vacation rental businesss in the Shenandoah Valley. He has served as an associate pastor at Glacier Valley Baptist Church in Juneau, Alaska.

Gordy received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at
Monroe and a Master of Arts in Political Management from Regent University. He Lives in Bristow with his wife, Theresa, and their daughter and son. They attend Grace Life Community Church.

Tom Gordy's Official Campaign Website 

Question 1: What is your district's No. 1 issue and how will you address it if elected? 

The number one issue of concern to voters in the 29^th District is bringing high-paying jobs to our community. To that end, I will support tax incentives that attract new businesses and tax credits for existing businesses that hire unemployed workers. I will also act as salesman for our community to get businesses to locate here. I will also protect Virginia’s Right-to-work law that is essential to keeping us a business-friendly state.  Right now, businesses need certainty as it relates to taxes and regulations.  I will oppose tax increases on families and job creators while seeking opportunities to provide regulatory relief, removing the red tape that gets in the way of job creation.

Question 2: Manassas Park is said to have one of the highest property tax rates in the Commonwealth, partially because of the lack of businesses in the city. When elected, do you plan to work with locals to help spur any economic activity, or do you feel that's something that needs to be handled by local government?

I have already been discussing with leaders in Manassas Park on ways that we can work together to bring businesses and jobs to the city. As State Senator, I will work with local government leaders, business leaders, commercial real estate owners and others interested in bringing businesses and jobs to Manassas Park. I will not be passive in these efforts.  As State Senator, I will be proactive in reaching out to partner with local leaders to support their economic development efforts.

Question 3: What is your view of the No Child Left Behind Law? VA-educators are pushing back and saying the law has outlived its usefulness.

From Manassas Park to Richmond to Washington, the consensus is No Child Left Behind needs significant reforms. In an age of global competitiveness, our future as a community, Commonwealth and nation, and, more importantly, the futures of our children, depend upon them receiving the best education possible that prepares them for the jobs of the 21^st century.  President Obama and Congress continue to bicker over the future our national education policy, playing politics over the education of our children. My view is that the federal government needs to reduce its role in public education. Federal education dollars should be provided to states and local school districts for programs with the flexibility to address their unique needs without being overwhelmed by federal regulations. Educators should have the freedom to innovate, challenge and motivate students based upon the individual needs of the child, not upon a test.  I also believe parents should be empowered to choose the best educational options for their children, through charter schools, scholarships, open enrollment policies, to name a few.  

 
Question 4: Do you have any ideas to help traffic on Rt. 28?  

I see Rt. 28 as a Corridor of Opportunity. At one end of Rt. 28 is Dulles and Chantilly. At the other end is George Mason University and Innovation Park.  In between are the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park with vast amounts of empty commercial real estate. I see Rt. 28 as an asset by which we can attract businesses and jobs. But we must make the corridor more easily traveled.  Extending the corridor improvements that took place north of I-66 to the I-66/Rt. 28 interchange and south towards Manassas Park is something I believe will help alleviate traffic congestion while helping us attract businesses and jobs to our community.

Question 5: Do you support the early efforts to study the feasibility of extending rail into Prince William County?

I support the feasibility study of extending VRE into western Prince William County. I support VRE’s phased approach that allows the VRE Board and Prince William County to reevaluate the project as more concrete cost estimates become available.