Rishell takes on Miller for third time in 50th

Will the third time be the charm for Jeanette Rishell?

The Democratic challenger to Del. Jackson Miller (R-50th) will for the third time since 2006, when the two first spared in a special election to fill the vacancy left by the late Del. Harry Parrish (R).

"I don't think this is about Jackson and I certainly don't want to diss him in any way, but I believe I can do the job in the way the folks of this district need it to be done," said Rishell during a phone interview last Wednesday.

Rishell, a Manassas Park resident, grandmother, and self-described "community activist" on her Web site, is coming off of a 21-point thumping in 2007 after losing narrowly in 2006, when she carried Manassas Park and ran about even in the Prince William County precincts of the 50th. Miller, a former Manassas City councilman, ran up a big victory in his home turf of Manassas to capture a 52-47 win during their first campaign.

Recent wins in 50th district precincts by Democrats like President Barack Obama and Sen. Mark Warner, as well as an expanded volunteer base, has Rishell and other local Dems optimistic about their chances this year. Rishell raised $101,630 in the first quarter while preparing for her run, which she made official last week.

Transportation and the economy are the primary issues Rishell is focusing on this year. The main funding mechanism for the only major transportation bill passed in the last four years, HB 3202 in 2007, was ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court as it would have allowed non-elected officials to raise and levy regional taxes.

During that same time, the unemployment rate more than doubled locally and Prince William County became the epicenter for home foreclosures in the country.

"You can't run a transportation plan on debt alone. There has to be some sort of revenue stream," said Rishell, warning of Virginia turning into a "maintenance-only state" if new funding does not come into the commonwealth's transportation coffers soon.

How that money comes into the state is where the General Assembly has stalled for the last 23 years. The Republican-led House of Delegates has rejected tax-increases supported by the state Senate, which is currently led by Democrats after years of Republican control.

But the Republicans in the Senate tend to be much more moderate than their GOP counterparts in the House. Transportation bills tend to make it out of the Senate with overwhelming support only to be crushed by the House, which supports bonding and locking up the transportation trust fund over tax increases.

"Well, I'll tell you, all options need to be on the table. And I'm willing to talk to any one, any time any where for ideas," Rishell said, regarding transportation funding.

Rishell said she thought it would be "unwise" for the state "to incur further bonding for transportation. And that's because we have to be so concerned about our AAA bond rating."

When asked whether the phrase "all options need to be on the table" is just political-speak for her supporting tax increases, Rishell replied, "No, that is not true. No one goes to Richmond to raise taxes. Nobody. There have been circumstances that have made that necessary in the part and there will be circumstances like that in the future."

Something she does not favor is an increase in the gas tax as "it burdens those who can least afford to pay it." Such a tax increase would also be reliant on a fossil fuel at a time when Virginia needs to be exploring alternatives forms of energy, she said.

However, at least talking about a gas tax would be one of the options on the table for Rishell because "I would know the Senate would want to talk about that and if the Senate wants to talk about a gas tax, we would have to discuss that."

Regarding the economy, Rishell favors state leaders focusing on bringing in more so-called green-collar jobs to Virginia, such as in wind, solar and wave-energy off the coast if that is feasible, along with retro-fitting old buildings with energy-friendly technology.

Rishell did not speak specifically about which incentives she supports to bring in new jobs to the state and the 50th district, but she said, "I will meet with or talk with any one any time any where" because "only by bringing in business will we have the revenue to fund transportation" while protecting the core-services provided by the state.