New Legislator Bios

HD 2: Jennifer Carroll Foy -D (Dudenhefer)

I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you my story because I think you deserve to know more about me and what I believe.

When I was growing up, my grandfather always said, “If you have it, you have to give it.” Those words stuck with me when I was at VMI; they were the reason I served as a foster parent; and they are a guiding principle I live by as a public defender.

Giving back has been, and must continue to be, the foundation of Virginia. That is why I’ve made it my life’s work.

When I was at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), I knew I had to defy the odds and graduate in order to have the opportunity to give back. I enrolled in the third class of female cadets to attend the historically all-male college. On my first day, they shaved my head and said, “Welcome to VMI.” My best male friend bet me a dollar that I wouldn’t last a year. Well, I won that bet and graduated with a degree in English.

I know the deck seems stacked against us. Washington is a mess and politicians prefer gridlock over results.

But every time I look my kids in the eyes, or walk into work as a public defender, I know we have to fight toward a fairer, stronger, and more just Virginia.

I’m running for delegate to continue to give back to the community that has given me so much.

HD 10: Wendy Gooditis – D (Minchew)

Wendy was raised to work hard and serve others. She grew up in Cranbury, New Jersey with two older brothers. Her father spent his childhood in rural Alabama during the Great Depression, where his family had scraped and saved to buy milk for him as an infant. As an adult, he rode in a commuter van over two hours each day to work, but still found time to teach Wendy how to play the piano and work hard for what she believed in.

Her mother and grandmother were public school teachers. In the 1930s Wendy’s grandmother pushed social limits to earn her graduate degree, and Wendy’s mother followed suit. From them, Wendy learned early the importance of education, perseverance, and working women.

In college, Wendy applied her equestrian background to service. She worked as a student mounted marshal for the Rutgers Police, logging 30 hours a week with a full course load. After graduating, she applied her details-oriented mind to technology. Following in her family's tradition of strong, working women, Wendy went on to lead a team of mid-career men at Bell Laboratories when she was 26 years old.

After she met Chris, her husband of 25 years, Wendy made the move to Virginia. When she had kids in the mid-1990s, she became enamored with education. Wendy received her Masters in Education from Shenandoah University, taught in the Clarke County public school system, at an area private school, and partially homeschooled her children. As her kids entered college, Wendy knew that she would need to help pay the tuition bills. She joined RE/MAX as a realtor in 2013, and has been there since.

Like millions of other Americans in 2017, Wendy decided that she had to get off the sidelines. She co- founded an Indivisible chapter in the predominantly red Clarke County, and grew the organization to over 300 members. Now, she’s running for the Virginia House of Delegates to take her wide-ranging experiences and two decades in the district to advocate for us in Richmond.

She believes that our government should give everyone a fair shot. Virginia should be a place with job opportunities, safe roads, clean air, and equal opportunity. Wendy has the experience, perspective, and heart to represent District 10 in the Virginia House of Delegates.

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HD 12: Chris Hurst – D (Yost)

I’ve dedicated my life to public service and giving a voice to the people of southwest Virginia. When I came here almost a decade ago as a reporter, I quickly identified with our shared values of strong families, a strong faith and personal integrity. I fell in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the people living in small towns with big hearts.

As a journalist, I’ve been a fierce advocate for families struggling for access to mental health care and equality in education for students with special needs. I’ve investigated reasons why our workforce must adapt for the careers of the future. I’ve documented the dramatic rise of child abuse and opioid addiction. And I’ve held government leaders accountable while showing how our first responders are left without vital resources.

I decided to leave journalism and run for office after recovering from profound tragedy. In 2015, I was just beginning a new life with my late girlfriend, Alison Parker. Alison and Adam Ward’s murder on television shocked the country and set me on a different path. My career in news was fulfilling but instead of asking questions, I became focused on finding solutions. Your continued prayers and support now give me the strength to move forward and be a courageous fighter for all Virginians.

I was raised outside of Philadelphia. My father works in advertising and was a small business owner and mechanic. He’s also published two books on racing photography! My mother was a teacher and worked for non-profits, including as Director of Programs for the National Constitution Center. (They are my personal heroes, if you couldn’t tell.) I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from Emerson College and love to read, kayak, and hike the Blue Ridge Mountains with my lab-border collie mix, Sophie.

HD 13: Danica Roem – D (Marshall)

When I was a kid, my grandfather told me, "The basis of my knowledge comes from reading the newspaper every day."

After a while, mine did too. In fact, I ended up majoring in journalism and spent the last 10.5 years reporting the news, including nine years in Prince William County, my lifelong home area as a resident of Manassas.

I was born at Prince William Hospital in Manassas, attended Loch Lomond Elementary School (K-3), All Saints School (4-8) and Paul VI (9-12) before heading to western New York for college at St. Bonaventure University - where my aunt and uncle graduated - for a total of 13 years of Catholic schooling.

I started working for the Gainesville Times a month after graduating college in 2006 and reported for the Prince William Times too once our paper expanded to the eastern side of the county. I started transitioning while working at the newspaper in 2012, began hormone replacement therapy Dec. 3, 2013, changed my name, gender and byline in 2015 and no one cared. It was great. I could just keep doing my job.

If you're from Prince William County, Manassas or Manassas Park, you might have seen me at high school sports games, debates, hearings or events, or at least recognized my hideous car in the parking lot.

I covered games at every public high school in the county. I saw the best in people tackling poverty and homelessness and the worst in people killing each other. I wrote stories about schools, business, development, and, of course, transportation. Lots and lots and lots of transportation: Bi-County Parkway. Tri-County Parkway. Sudley Manor. Vint Hill. Linton Hall. That little bridge in Nokesville (Aden Road).

If you ran for office in western Prince William, we talked transportation. My job was to know enough about the issues to hold elected officials accountable for what they did, or didn't do, about them.

As a reporter, I had to listen to what people were saying and understand their reasoning, regardless of my own opinions. That’s something I had reinforced to me as the news editor of the Montgomery County Sentinel in Rockville, Md., where I worked from August 2015 until the end of 2016, when I left my post to run for office. It's a lot easier to judge people than understand them. Anyone can just spout off stuff but what makes journalism special is you have to actually pay attention, vet your facts, receive an earful from your editor and improve your work while reporting the news as a neutral, disinterested, third-party observer. Likewise, I want to bring to bring a reporter's sensibility to Mr. Jefferson's Capitol.

I'm running for office to help improve our quality of life by working on the issues I spent nine years reporting about for the newspaper.

At the same time, my number one job for the campaign isn't to speak... it's to listen to the residents, write down their concerns, ideas and questions, follow-up with them, and work what they tell me into my policy platform. That's how I took notes and wrote news stories and that's how I'll craft public policy: Research. Question. Listen. Report.

When I was growing up, my legislative role models were Sen. Chuck Colgan (D-29) and Del. Harry Parrish (R-50), the independent-minded "dynamic duo" who represented Manassas in the General Assembly.

You didn't have to agree with them on every issue to see that they worked hard to build consensus, govern with a results-oriented approach and reach across the aisle to build a better Manassas, all while being among the most genial, well-respected and powerful members of the General Assembly. They weren't bomb-throwers or ideologues; they were effective committee chairmen who secured the money to develop our local infrastructure.

HD 21: Kelly Fowler – D (Villanueva)

Kelly Fowler is a Virginia Beach local running for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 21st District. Kelly and her husband Dave were raised in the 21st District in military families and are now raising their two daughters here as well. Kelly is a former Virginia Beach public school teacher who now leads a team of real estate agents who specialize in military relocation. Dave is a deputy with the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Department.

Kelly's grandfathers were from the Philippines and served in the U.S. Navy, which allowed them to become US citizens. Raymond Ramirez passed in 2011, while Francisco Sacdalan was laid to rest in Arlington in the fall of 2012. With the exception of an aunt who lives in North Carolina, the rest of Kelly's family still lives in the 21st District! Uncle, aunt, and grandmother live in Brigadoon. Cousin and family in Stratford Chase. Even her in-laws are in Indian Lakes, where her husband grew up and attended Salem High School. Kelly's knowledge of and commitment to the district are strong.

Kelly attended Tallwood High School and began working at age 15 to save money in order to realize her dream of being the first member of her family to attend college. Working her way through school, she graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College, where she majored in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She then attended Old Dominion University where she obtained her Masters in Education and went on to serve the needs of Virginia Beach families as a well loved teacher at Lynnhaven Elementary, a Title 1 school.

Kelly's husband received a Bachelors degree from The College of William and Mary, before working for several years at the Virginia Aquarium and later joining the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office. He is actively involved in the New Castle Elementary PTA, where their oldest daughter attends school.

While teaching, Kelly followed a dream and started a business based on her lifelong love of history. After a great deal of research and planning, she began purchasing distressed Victorian homes and lovingly restoring them so that new generations of Hampton Roads families could make their own history in them. Kelly's successful home renovation business gave her firsthand experience with the kinds of challenges small business owners face every day. Additionally she developed and sharpened a variety of important skills that will allow her to serve the 21st District well in the House of Delegates. For example, she became a great listener and learned to negotiate creative, win-win solutions in the face of obstacles.

Kelly is on the Board of Directors of her Home Owners Association and is an active volunteer in the Hampton Roads region. She is passionate about fairness and ensuring that government works for everyone, not just the rich and well connected. Kelly is an energetic, progressive leader who will make a difference in the community when she is the Delegate for District 21!

HD 28: Bob Thomas – R (Howell)

Bob was born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio. Shortly after graduation, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps in 1995 and at age eighteen left Ohio to begin serving his nation. He spent nearly four years stationed in Okinawa, Japan until he was transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico in January of 2000. Bob and his young family loved the Fredericksburg area so much that after he was honorably discharged from the Marines in 2003 they decided to call Stafford County home and Bob entered the private sector.

Following active duty, Bob spent three years working for a large government contractor. In the fall of 2006, Bob and a fellow Marine started their own company, Capriccio Software. Bob is the President/CEO and has lead the company through the sometimes rocky road of small business to where it is today. Capriccio provides high quality jobs to nearly thirty people. Bob has the unique perspective of knowing how it feels to have nearly thirty families depending on the success of a company you must lead. Bob, like most small business owners, believes his company’s success is only possible through the hard work and dedication of its employees. The company celebrates our success together with an annual trip to an amusement park.

Bob is a graduate of the following institutions: • Graduate – Virginia Association of Counties – Certified Supervisors Course • Graduate – National Association of Counties – County Leadership Institute • Graduate – Northern Virginia Community College – Associate in Applied Science – Information Technology • Graduate – Excelsior College – Bachelor of Science – Information Technology

In 2011, Bob was elected to serve on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for the George Washington District. In 2015 he was re-elected and continues to serve his community. He served as Chairman of the Board in 2016.

Bob currently serves as the 2nd Vice-President of the Virginia Association of Counties where he represents nearly all of Virginia’s counties in Richmond on important legislative issues.

Bob serves on several boards and committees including: • Stafford County Board of Supervisors – 2012 – Present (Chairman 2016) • Board of Supervisors Community and Economic Development Committee – 2012 – Present (Chairman 2017) • Board of Supervisors Finance, Audit and Budget Committee – 2012 – Present (Chairman 2015) • Board of Supervisors ByLaws Committee 2012 – 2016 (Chairman 2012-2016) • Virginia Association of Counties Executive Committee – 2nd Vice-President 2017 • Virginia Association of Counties Finance Steering Committee – 2012 – Present • Virginia Association of Counties Budget Committee – 2014 – Present • Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board – 2014 – Present • Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) – 2012 – Present (Secretary 2016) • Rappahannock Regional Library Board – 2012 – Present • Potomac Watershed Roundtable – 2012 – 2016 • Rappahannock River Basin Commission – 2012 – 2016 • Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce – Military Affairs Council – 2015 – 2016 • Stafford County Telecommunications Commission 2010-2011

Bob and his wife Christi have been blessed with a large family. In his free time, Bob enjoys bodybuilding and especially mentoring friends and family, helping them better their lives through healthy living and fitness.

Bob enjoys travelling around the country with his wife and their eight children in their motorhome and serving as a volunteer for the Stafford Senior High School “Tribe of Pride” Marching Band. Bob and his children have a flock of fifty Katahdin hair sheep. They enjoy caring for the sheep especially “Rocky” who was abandoned by his mother and has to be bottle fed.

HD 31: Elizabeth Guzman – D (Lingamfelter)

Elizabeth Guzman is a public administrator and a social worker who resides in Dale City. Elizabeth and her husband Carlos have four children and live in Ridgefield Estates. In between ballet and tap lessons, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts activities, judo practices, and swimming lessons at the Dale City Recreation Center, Elizabeth works tirelessly as a Court Appointed Service Advocate for CASA CIS to prevent child abuse, a PTO representative for Penn Elementary School, and as a "Cookie Mom" for her youngest daughter's Girl Scout troop. The Guzman family are active and long-time members of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge. The Guzmans also attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Elizabeth came to the United States from Peru as a single mom, looking for a better future for her oldest daughter. She remembers those early years; working three jobs in order to afford a one-bedroom apartment for her and her daughter. Despite graduating with honors from high school in Peru, Elizabeth's parents could not afford to send her to college. With her love of learning Elizabeth persevered, and enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College, obtaining her degree in Office Administration and Management. Elizabeth also holds a Bachelor's in Public Safety from Capella University, a Master's in Public Administration from American University, and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Elizabeth is a long time resident of Prince William County, living in the community for more than 15- years - in spite of elected officials like Chairman Corey Stewart, who worked to divide the community and threaten the Hispanic community, which Elizabeth is a proud member of. She fell in love with Prince William County because of all of the opportunity the area offered to her as a community leader and homeowner, and her desire to raise her children in a diverse, engaging environment.

Elizabeth has been working in the public sector for 10 years, and currently works as the Division Chief for Administrative Services for the Center for Adult Services for the City of Alexandria. Her personal and professional experience have given her strong insight into the needs of the 31st House of Delegates district, and Elizabeth cares about the many challenges residents in Prince William County and Fauquier County face. Elizabeth will fight as a strong advocate for the needs of the 31st District, whether that's legislating for change in Richmond, or attending a community meeting in Catlett.

HD 32: David Reid – D (Greason)

In 1972, my family moved from Rockbridge County, Virginia -- where we lived in a four-room house without an indoor bathroom -- to the United Methodist Children's Home in Richmond, Virginia. My three siblings and I were each placed into a "cottage" based upon our age and gender. I lived at the Children's Home for six years, before moving to Tahlequah, Oklahoma with foster parents.

My first paying job was at the Children's Home, where I helped maintain the 40-acre campus for 35 cents per hour. The children would cut the grass with tractors and push mowers, pick up trash, trim bushes, edge sidewalks, and maintain all the equipment. I didn’t earn much money, but I learned the value of a hard-earned dollar and the importance of hard work.

The lessons I learned at an early age prepared me for the hard work that would be necessary for me to become the first person in my family to graduate from college. I was able to afford college thanks to the availability of Pell Grants, Guaranteed Student Loans, College Work Study, and academic scholarships.

Out of a deep desire to give something back to the country that has given me so much, in 1988 I joined the US Navy Reserve. I served our country as a Naval Intelligence Officer for 23 years until 2011, when I honorably retired as Commander.

While in the Navy, I made two deployments to South Korea and one to Iceland, and a field deployment with the US Army. I participated in a NATO exercise onboard the USS Mount Whitney. I was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on three occasions.

My experience in the Navy gave me the tools needed to become a business professional in strategic management, banking, global telecommunications, and the defense industry. In 2014, I founded my own small business, Rockbridge Consulting, which specializes in studies and analysis.

My wife, Barbara, and I have been married for 23 years and have lived in Ashburn since 2000. My family and I have been involved in our community. I have been a recreational and travel soccer coach and a certified soccer referee. My wife and daughters have volunteered at the Loudoun Interfaith Relief food pantry. We attend the Arcola United Methodist Church.

Our two daughters, Elizabeth and Rebecca, attended Loudoun County Public Schools; they received an outstanding education at Mill Run Elementary School, Eagle Ridge Middle School, and Briar Woods High School. Our eldest daughter is now a junior at UVA and our youngest is a sophomore at Lynchburg College.

HD 42: Kathy Tran – D (Albo)

Kathy Tran and her parents fled Vietnam as boat refugees when she was just seven months old. On the voyage, she grew so sick she almost died at sea. Although many other countries offered them asylum, they waited 13 months for the United States to accept their application. Kathy's family risked everything to come to America because this country has always represented hope, opportunity and freedom. Now, she's running for the Virginia House of Delegates to fight for the American values that brought her family here.

Kathy has devoted her career to ensuring that all working families have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. During her 12 years of service at the U.S. Department of Labor, she served in numerous leadership positions, including as the Acting Administrator for the Office of Workforce Investment and the Director of the Division of Policy, Legislation, and Regulation. In these roles, she provided strategic national leadership and technical assistance to the public workforce system, implemented the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and helped veterans acquire the job training and employment services they needed to transition into the civilian workforce.

Kathy went on to work at the National Immigration Forum, one of the nation’s leading immigration advocacy organizations. There, she advocated for policies that prepare immigrants in the workforce to reach their full career potential.

Kathy graduated from Duke University and earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. The president of her local PTA, she and her husband Matt live in West Springfield with their four children, Daven (8), Charlotte (6), Quinn (4), and baby Elise. They are avid Washington Nationals fans.

HD 50: Lee Carter– D (Miller)

Lee Carter is an IT specialist who lives in the City of Manassas. Lee, his wife, and daughter moved to the area more than a year ago after falling in love with the community. Lee originally moved to Virginia in 2011, after completing five years of service in the United States Marine Corps.

He is an active member of the Manassas City Democratic Committee, and spends much of his time working as a community organizer and activist — particularly in the areas of affordable housing and worker protections. He is also a graduate of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership. The Carter family are involved members of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalists congregation in Manassas.

Lee joined the Marine Corps during the beginning of the 'Global War on Terror', and worked in technological repair in a Special Operations-capable support unit, completing tours in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. His unit was also one of the first to respond to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake in 2010.

Throughout Lee's career and civic engagement his focus has been on helping others — whether that was in his service in the Marine Corps, helping provide cancer patients with consistent care by maintaining biomedical radiation therapy equipment, or assisting small local businesses with IT support.

Born in North Carolina, Lee was raised in a military family, and traveled across the country during his father's service in the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. Lee is proud of his family's service to our country, and his family has served in all five branches of the United States military. For Lee, spending a life in service to others began in his childhood as a military brat and continued through his own service in the military and beyond.

Lee is committed to the 50th district, and will fight hard to address the challenges that residents in the community — and across the Commonwealth — face. He knows that a large part of public service is being active in the community and listening to constituents, and is committed to doing that for all residents in the 50th.

HD 51: Hala Ayala– D (Anderson)

As a member of Prince William County community for over 35 years, Hala Ayala is running to give a new, needed voice for the 51st House District of Virginia.

An Advocate for Working Families

Hala has personally experienced the challenges of single motherhood and lack of access to affordable health insurance. She understands the concerns of working families today. She has fought for raising the minimum wage, equal pay and affordable access to health care as the founder and former president of the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

A Dedicated Public Servant

Hala worked her way up from a service job without health insurance to become a cybersecurity specialist with the Department of Homeland Security. For over 17 years, she worked to protect our nation’s information systems, enforce security measures, and prevent attacks by safeguarding computers, networks and data from criminal intrusion and security breaches. She’s ready to use that same determination and work ethic to ensure that Prince William County families can flourish.

A Champion for Women’s Rights in Virginia

Hala helped organize Virginia for the Women’s March on Washington in January. She helped organize buses to transport people to DC and raised money to help with the expenses for those who may not otherwise be able to participate. As former president of the Prince William County chapter of NOW, she fought for equal pay for equal work so that women get paid equally for the same work. Hala also currently serves on Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s Council on Women.

Only 17 of Virginia’s 100 state delegates are women. Hala believes that that number should be higher to make sure that all voices are heard, in order to create a better future for all Virginians.

HD 56: John McGuire - R (Farrell)

When I was five, my mother left me on a street corner in downtown Richmond and drove away. I bounced from one foster home to the next and attended nine elementary schools. During this time I never lost my faith or determination.

Instead of becoming a statistic, I graduated from Henrico High School and sought to serve our country. I was told I was too small and not strong enough to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. I learned firsthand that the only limits are those that you put on yourself. Two hundred men began my Navy SEAL training class - only 19 graduated. I was one of them.

After my decade of service as a U.S. Navy SEAL, I founded SEAL Team PT, Inc., in my hometown of Richmond. It is our mission to help teams and individuals become stronger, healthier, and more confident. SEAL Team PT will celebrate 19 years of service to our community this fall.

In 2006 I broke my neck in an accident. Doctors were almost certain I would not survive. It took me a year to learn how to walk again and three years to write my name. My faith and my family helped me through those times and with relentless hard work, I overcame adversity and continue to look for more ways to serve.

I believe God gave me a second chance. Reaffirming my commitment to serve, I will work just as hard for you in the House of Delegates as I have overcoming my own obstacles.

As a husband and father of five I know the importance of building a true partnership between our families, our communities and our state government. As your delegate, I will use my background and skills to strengthen and protect the Commonwealth. I would be honored to serve you and humbly ask for your vote in the General Election November 7th. Hoo Yah!

HD 64: Emily Brewer - R (Morris)

Emily Brewer is a fighter for the values and principles of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As a conservative, Emily will stand up for your rights and liberties as the next Republican Delegate from the Sixty-Fourth District.

Emily Brewer understands the concerns of families in Western Tidewater because she has spent a lifetime in the region.

She has a heart for community service and helping others. Emily currently serves on the Paul D. Camp Community College Foundation Board, where she fights to make sure the next generation has better education opportunities than the last. She also serves on a local domestic violence shelter board making sure women and children who are victims of domestic abuse have a safe-haven and the resources to seek the help they need.

Emily spends time across the region as a board member of Suffolk Business Women who work in Isle of Wight, Southampton, and Suffolk to raise money for various charities and nonprofit organizations.

Emily and her husband, Joey, are lifelong residents of Western Tidewater. They currently live in Holland, Virginia and attend church at Tucker Swamp Baptist Church.

Emily is a small business owner, not a politician. She started her career training first responders, law enforcement, and public safety officials. She now owns and operates a small wine and craft beer shop in Suffolk.

Emily is committed to ensuring a future for the next generation. She will work to lower taxes, stop job-killing regulations, and cut red tape to make the region more competitive. Emily will be a strong advocate for our farm jobs; supporting pro-small business policies and removing government barriers to create jobs.

Emily is committed to advancing policies that reflect the priorities of the Sixty-Fourth District. She will also fight to keep government small, and bring your tax dollars back to the Sixty-Fourth

HD 67: Karrie Delaney- D (LeMunyon)

Karrie Delaney has always been committed to strengthening the community for everyone.

The daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, Karrie saw firsthand the importance of supporting our returning heroes. Her dad came home from Korea in the late 1950’s to get his GED and a good- paying job in a VA Hospital.

After college, she worked at a group home for foster children, helping kids move out into the world with real life skills. She saw firsthand how state policy can affect the lives of vulnerable children.

Karrie also volunteered as a sexual assault counselor and became Board President of her county’s crisis counseling organization, after being appointed and serving on the West Melbourne City Council. Because of her deep involvement in the community and working with people at a crossroads in their life, she was hired by a Republican States Attorney’s office to work with juvenile offenders, teaching them life skills and how to make restitution to their victims.

After moving to Northern Virginia, Karrie became the Communications Director for Shared Hope International, a non-profit dedicated to ending sex trafficking. There, she took her community engagement to new levels, working with local communities and international NGOs to end the brutal abuse of women around the globe.

After leaving Shared Hope to focus on raising her family, Karrie has since started her own small consulting firm and gotten even more involved in local Fairfax issues. Republican County Supervisor Michael Frey appointed Karrie to be a member and later a chair to the Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council, which focuses on emergency preparedness . She was also appointed to the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees, where she currently serves as Chair.

Now Karrie is running to represent the people of Virginia’s 67th District; to stand up for our Northern Virginia values, put aside the political games, and bring about real solutions for our community.

Karrie and her husband, Patrick, met in college and have been together ever since. They live in Fairfax and are the proud parents of Kaitlyn and Ethan.

HD 68: Dawn Adams- D (Loupassi)

Dawn Adams has dedicated her life to serving her community, solving problems, and improving lives. She’s lived and worked in the Richmond area for more than 20 years as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, access to care researcher, health advocate and most recently, as the Director for the Office of Integrated Health for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).

Dr. Adams grew up in a home dedicated to public service. At a young age, Dawn learned the importance of community with her mother working a registered nurse and her father serving as a Captain in the US Coast Guard and working as a Search & Rescue pilot. At age 17, Dawn left for college and has since received degrees from four Virginia public universities. She has an unparalleled work ethic, often working more than one job, or working and attending school at the same time. Since becoming a nurse practitioner, she has been a pioneer in every role and job she’s held.

Dawn’s passion for people and health was augmented by her doctoral education and a renewed understanding of the direct link between policy and our day-to-day life. This relationship was the basis of her research project that focused on nurse-led clinics and their potential to drive down healthcare costs. Dawn’s insightful research led her to win the Old Dominion University (ODU) Nursing Scholar award.

Prior to beginning her tenure as an adjunct faculty member at ODU, Dawn worked alongside nursing advocates in Richmond. Dawn’s role afforded her the opportunity to engage in community stakeholder meetings concerning Medicaid expansion, advocate for healthcare access, and attend the 2014 General Assembly (GA) session. This experience led Dawn to author a proposal for a Health Policy Fellowship for nurses—a fellowship that is currently available to nurses who attend graduate programs within Virginia.

While at the GA, Dawn was asked to join the DBHDS team in order to develop a network of health supports and services across the Commonwealth for the developmentally disabled. Her experience in the public sector spawned her interest in public office, where she has seen both the amazing work of State employees as well as the archaic and fragmented systems that create an inefficient government and wasteful spending.

Through her career, Dawn has worked to build relationships with all people irrespective of backgrounds. She is deeply concerned with the partisan rhetoric that has replaced healthy public discourse. She believes that all people inherently want the same things: well-being, safety, love, inclusion, job security, healthy food and to be happy. That is why Dawn stresses the importance of finding common ground from which to start conversations. HD 72: Schuyler VanValkenburg- D (Massie)

Schuyler VanValkenburg grew up thirty minutes north of Albany, NY, in the small city of Johnstown, nicknamed the “Glove City” for its leather tanning mills in the 19th century. He watched as the city’s economy continually suffered when factory jobs left for overseas factories. Early on, his family impressed on him the importance education would have in this changing world.

His mother knew how important it would be for him to do well, and the role education would have in his future.

After high school, he moved down to Richmond, enrolling in the University of Richmond in 2001. His maternal grandparents had invested in his education by setting aside money to help alleviate the growing costs of university education, and, fortunately, this allowed him to offset the costs. Again, his family’s insistence on bettering himself through education pushed him to excel in the history department and complete teacher licensure. During his undergraduate studies, he also met his wife. They eventually started a family and he began his teaching career in Henrico County Public Schools. He has been a teacher for twelve years, first at Short Pump Middle School, and now at Glen Allen High School. Schuyler is a lifelong learner, always looking for ways to better himself and improve his teaching. He finished his Master of History at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2008. He is also a National Board Certified teacher and the We the People constitutional competition coach at Glen Allen. He lives with his family in Lakeside, Virginia.

Schuyler VanValkenburg’s experience growing up in small industrial town, attending the University of Richmond, and teaching in Henrico County, have all invigorated him in the fight to make Virginia a national leader in education in order to expand opportunity for all Virginians. He knows firsthand the immeasurable impact a high quality education can have, and is committed to ensuring that for every child across the commonwealth. He also knows how important it is provide equitable access and opportunities for every citizen, whether it is ensuring a democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counted, increasing job growth, or blocking bills that are discriminatory and that threaten our constitutional right to equal protection.

HD 73: Debra Rodman- D (O’Bannon)

Debra is advocate who has committed her life to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. For the last 13 years, Debra has served an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women’s Studies and Director of Women’s Studies at Randolph-Macon College, teaching anthropology and women’s studies, and eventually becoming Director of Women’s Studies

Debra has also put her scholarship to work in the community. Propelled by her passion for strengthening communities and making policies work for people, Debra advocates for families fleeing violence and persecution in Central America. In this role, she regularly serves as an expert witness for U.S. Federal immigration courts, helping women, children, and LGBT refugees seeking political asylum.

After 8 years of advocating for vulnerable people in Federal Court, Debra decided the time was right to put her skills to work for her neighbors. Seeking to expand access to affordable healthcare, fully fund public education and create good jobs in growing industries, like renewable energy and STEM, Debra is running to return the voice of real people to Virginia’s House of Delegates.

Debra is a graduate of the University of Miami and the University of Florida. She is also a Fulbright Scholar, a fluent Spanish speaker and was named one of Richmond Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40. Debra is a mom to two beautiful boys and the wife to Darryl Lowery, a Richmond native and member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina. Debra and her family are active in the JCC and attend Temple Beth-El.

HD 85: Cheryl Turpin- D (Holcomb)

Cheryl grew up in an active military family. After serving in the Army for 23 years, Cheryl’s father retired from service and her family resided in Fairfax County, Virginia. For the past 18 years, Cheryl’s family has called the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach home. Her two adult daughters – Ellison and Patricia – attended Virginia Beach City Public Schools and are graduates of Kempsville High School. Cheryl received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and earned a Master of Education Degree from the University of Virginia. Cheryl has invested herself and her appreciation of education into the lives of local students for the past 24 years while serving as a High School Science teacher. For the past 8 years, she has taught Advanced Placement Environmental Science. In 2016, Cheryl was nominated for the prestigious honor of Teacher of the Year by her fellow teachers at Frank W. Cox High School. Cheryl has served her community for many years offering her leadership in a diverse range of organizations. Cheryl has served as a Board Member for the Make a Difference Foundation, as Activities Coordinator for several school PTA’s, a Girl Scouts Troop Leader, a coach for the Neighborhood Soccer League, and a member of the Sierra Club. Cheryl has spent much of her career working with at-risk students. She is a partner in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) community. AVID is dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college. Cheryl is a long-time member of both the Virginia Education Association and the National Education Association.

HD 89: Jay Jones- D (Hester)

Jerrauld “Jay” Jones is running to be the 89th District’s representative for the House of Delegates because of his deep and abiding love for the City of Norfolk. Jay is a lifelong resident of the 89th House District and he strives to make a positive impact in his community each and every day. Jay has served as a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and served as a tutor and mentor to local schoolchildren. Jay completed his undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary, where he was a double major in Government and History, and obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia. Upon graduation from law school, Jay began practicing law in Norfolk. Prior to attending law school, he was an associate with Goldman Sachs where he focused on risk management and rating advisory. Jay’s family has a long history of service to the city. His grandfather, Hilary H. Jones, Jr., was a pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement. A lawyer, he became the first African American appointed to the Norfolk School Board and subsequently the State Board of Education. Both of Jay's parents are longtime public servants. Jay's father, Jerrauld C. Jones, served eight terms in the House of Delegates representing the 89th District. He stepped down in 2002 to accept an appointment by Governor Mark Warner to serve as the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jay was raised in a family that believes deeply in public service and devotion to our city and its people. Currently, Jay serves as a member of the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Virginia. He is also a board member of Festevents, Ltd., the private not-for-profit organization which is the official event marketing and production agency for the City of Norfolk. Jay also serves on the Old Dominion University Athletic Foundation’s Next Generation Board and is a lifelong member of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. In his spare time, Jay enjoys attending Tides games at Harbor Park, attending festivals, concerts, and other events around Norfolk, and spending time with friends and family.