District 36: It's Time For Change

Each week, Ken Plum puts out his E-news commentary. The last was posted in Reston Patch on October 20th, titled; "Which Way Virginia". I usually dismiss these musings. However, now that I'm challenging Ken to represent District 36 as Delegate, I think it's time for me to respond to Ken's blatant attempts to mislead and sugarcoat his claims that the past two years in Virginia have been a "success."

While there is no doubt that the past two years have been transformative, as Ken states, this transformation is anything but positive.

As I've found out from speaking with district residents over the past year, Ken has made a career out of championing his causes, not the causes of the 36th District. While he claims to be solving problems, he's really just painting over rotting wood - it might look good on the outside, but the house is about to fall apart.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've no doubt heard about the situation in the Loudoun County Public School system. Most Democrats, including Ken Plum, supported House Bill 257 during the 2020 legislative session. This bill, supported by our esteemed Delegate, removed the requirement for a school to report certain misdemeanors as well as certain levels of sexual assault.

This bill is what allowed the Loudoun County School system to keep two instances of sexual assault "in-house." Friends, you don't keep sexual assault in-house. This is something that needs to be brough to light. As a parent with kids in the public school system, the last thing I want is for my children to be going to school with a sexual predator.

The term “outrage” doesn’t even begin to describe my emotions about this situation, but that’s the most appropriate term I can think to use. What’s even more outrageous is that our current Delegate, Ken Plum, hasn’t come out and denounced this bill or shown any sign of sympathy for these two young children.

Instead, he’s stayed holed up in his house, refusing to comment on the bill he voted for that allowed the public school system to stay silent on sexual assault. Ken isn’t a leader, he’s a special interest functionary, who’s out of touch with how his policies actually affect people. The lack of response to this situation shows us the lack of character we can expect from him.

This election cycle, the choice for Delegate is crystal clear.

You can vote for a 40-year incumbent who will do the bidding of party leadership and vote for bills that put our children in danger.

Or

You can vote for me - a veteran, a former law enforcement officer, a man who is committed to protecting our kids and our community.

I've been told over the years that my candidness and honesty are a mixed blessing and curse. I don't sugar coat or apply polish to anything that doesn't stand up to the test. That's the choice you need to make this year, honesty, or the same watered-down story that you've heard for 40 years.

Matt Lang is the Republican candidate for Delegate in Virginia's 36th District of the House of Delegates. He is a Reston resident and lives with his wife, Patricia, and three children.