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Editor’s Note: The Suffolk News-Herald sent the same slate of questions to House of Delegates District 76 candidates Mike Dillender, Clinton Jenkins and Craig Warren. You can see the questions and their answers here. The candidates were advised that responses would not be edited, except to truncate answers at the end of the 100-word limit.

Why are you running for the House of Delegates, or why are you running for re-election to the House of Delegates?

Constituents within the 76th district expressed their satisfaction regarding the service I provided during my first term in the General Assembly. My initial work in the General Assembly assured all Medicaid recipients had access to dental and eye care, carried legislation to support small businesses during the COVID pandemic, and led the push to increase access to vaccinations across Suffolk and Chesapeake. I also supported pay increases for teachers, State employees, State troopers, and increased the minimum wage. The spirit of service has always motivated me. I was raised in the heart of the 76th district and have been deeply.

What would be your top three priorities if elected, and why?

During the next session I plan to work to add aural care for All Medicaid recipients. To assure medical assistance for issues like vertigo and persons in need of hearing aids. I also plan to work towards improving the infrastructure on our highways. We invested billions of dollars for improvements to I64 and the Hampton Roads Tunnel. The improvement needs to be extended to Highway 58 and 460. I have studied the plan and understand how we got these improvements through the General Assembly. I have met with VDOT and HRTAC Representatives. We are ready to go forward with the.

What would you highlight as your top legislative achievements, or if you haven’t held office, what professional accomplishments and experience would you point to?

I think I was in the right place at the right time: Healthcare; assuring eye and dental care for all Medicaid recipients, reducing the cost of insulin, and improving tele-healthcare. The need for medical services was magnified during the pandemic. Funding to improve and expand broadband services, especially for tele-health, virtual learning for students, and persons teleworking from home. I carried legislation to assist small businesses. That legislation set the stage for the availability of fundings for small businesses during the pandemic. Pay increases for teachers; Suffolk Public Schools received 42 million in funding, increases to the minimum wage, and.

What are your views on how Virginia has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, and how would you handle the continued vaccine rollout?

During the pandemic children were learning virtually. Children in rural Virginia struggled far more due to limited resources and access to broadband. This divide, along with the impact that the pandemic had on healthcare was brought to light. Virginia needs to make sure that in times of crisis all Virginians have equal access to essential services. That is why during the pandemic I assisted with vaccine education and assisted Individual Healthcare Providers with obtaining approval to issue the vaccine. When the City of Suffolk was only allotted approximately 400 vaccines per week due to their operating space, I intervened and.

What are the most critical issues facing the state over the next two years, and how would you address them?

I have learned that legislative priorities change based on the political party that has the majority in the General Assembly. Therefore the voters must determine what issues are the most critical by voter participation.

1. However, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, education funding declined 15.5% from 2008 – 2018 in Virginia. Developing a ten-year plan that gets us back to pre-recession levels by 2030 or 2031 is a start. The cost of inflation needs to be considered when creating this plan.
2. As a state our infrastructure problems still need to be addressed. The General Assembly.