The Virginian-Pilot
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Del. Lynwood Lewis and challenger Melody Scalley agree that job creation is one of the biggest issues for the Eastern Shore. But from there, the 100th House District candidates part ways on how to create those jobs.
They also disagree about school vouchers – Scalley is for them, Lewis is against them – as well as how to address safety concerns on U.S. 13, the main highway through their district.
Lewis, a Democrat, has represented the Eastern Shore for nearly six years in a district that also includes a sliver of Norfolk. Scalley, a Republican who’s new to politics, is Lewis’ first challenger since he was elected to the House of Delegates in 2003.
Lewis said he should be re-elected because he helped attract two major economic development projects to the district, including the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and a project to build broadband cable infrastructure down the spine of the Eastern Shore.
“I’ve done a lot to lay the groundwork for creating jobs on the Eastern Shore,” Lewis said.
But Lewis hasn’t done enough, Scalley said. Reducing business taxes and fees will be the key to economic development on the Eastern Shore, she said. If elected, she would help the state enact tort reform, which she said would cut down on frivolous lawsuits and unnecessary expenses for companies.
Scalley, who owns a title and settlement company, said she decided to challenge Lewis after hosting a three-hour radio talk show in the first half of 2009.
“Folks across the board were not happy” with their representation, Scalley said. “I don’t feel he has been an outspoken advocate for the Eastern Shore.”
Lewis replied that “most people would disagree with that.” He said the Eastern Shore is being heard on the state level, and that he helped put residents from his district on state medical and agricultural boards, as well as Virginia’s arts commission.
The two also spar on the issue of U.S. 13 safety. Both agree that the road needs extra guardrails and rumble strips. But Scalley accused Lewis of doing little to improve conditions there and said she would help get the road designated as a highway safety corridor.
“Which bill did he put through to increase safety” on U.S. 13, she asked.
“You don’t put through a bill to do anything with any particular road,” Lewis said. When the stimulus program was created, Lewis said, he contacted Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer and met with transportation officials in Suffolk. He believes the effort could help get money for guardrails on U.S. 13.
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ignorance is bliss
I don't really care about a candidate's marital status, as long as they're not hypocritical about preaching family values while living otherwise. And as far as good-looking, well, to each his own, although personally I would rather clean out my ears with a clam rake than listen to that shrill voice for more than 30 seconds. I don't have a personal grudge against Scalley, but I've spent enough time in her presence to realize that the extent of her ignorance about the legislative process and the issues a delegate actually has to deal with is vast and breathtaking. Unfortunately, many of her supporters apparently suffer from the same gaps in education. Energetic, now,that I'll give you. My black lab is energetic too, but I don't think he belongs in the General Assembly.
Spaceport and Broadband
annam39331 - Why has it taken so long to get Broadband access to the Eastern Shore? Most other parts of the country and the state have it already. So Lyn is going to brag about getting something accomplished that should have been done at least six years ago that still isn't finished. That would hardly be an accomplishment to brag about.
As for the Spaceport - Lewis had very little to do with it because it was a Congressionally funded program. Congress was going to put it here anyway. I think Barbara Mikulski had more to do with it than Lynwood Lewis.
So what else has he done? I've heard his talking points repeatedly and it comes back to those two points. How many businesses have LEFT in the last six years? Answer: A whole lot more than what he started with. That is definitely not leadership.
GOP vs. DEMS
Scalley is running on the GOP ticket IE: McDonnell. Lewis the Democrat IE: Deeds. The GOP is clearly out ahead and gaining. Maybe because We The People are just a tad FEED UP with our Representatives, I sure am.
To ESGal, let's talk family values. Lewis is a Dem which I take to go against family values. BTW, is he married or isn't he, that is the question.
Under Lewis's watch the schools are worse, Rt. 13 is now a death trap, Lewis is taking credit where he shouldn't, he sure hasn't helped the waterman, State troopers & Police are maxed out with less coverage, he's against school vouchers/tax credits but yet he went to a private school.Gimme a break.
Why did the payout for the crabbing licenses go to the General Fund? Why hasn't he fought for them, he turned a deaf ear to my friend who still has not rec'd his check from the State for his license buy out. He wrote Lewis twice and called; NO RESPONSE from Lewis. We don't want that type of Representative! Give Lewis the pink slip.
'To Joe the plummer
First of all, Scalley is about as Eastern Shore as I am, only I've been a "comehere" longer. What proof do you have that school's are worse? Accomack county schools are all accredited. Lewis has nothing to do with schools accreditation or State Troopers being assigned.
Family values? Republicans should practice what they preach. "We the People" has a "We" so you don't speak for all of us. Check your facts.
Scalley-Lewis Debate
I'm curious why this reporter didn't mention the resignation of the third candidate John Smith, and the reasons he gave for deciding to run against Lyn Lewis. The reasons Smith asserted certainly deserve to be investigated, violation of civil rights and selective prosecution are pretty disturbing issues.
Regarding school vouchers.. I belive Scalley said either school vouchers or tax credits. So what's wrong with that idea, other areas do it, quite successfully. The quality of the schools here on the shore, or lack of quality I should say, is what keeps business development off shore. In fact, those who are coming in to work at WI.. often elect to live in MD. That's a fact and the reason is.. the poor school systems here on the ES of VA. Since Lewis has been in office the system has gotten worse, not better. Our teachers are paid over $10,000. less than our nearest neighboring county to the north, and the upper level staff are paid on par with areas of much higher density. Private and religious oriented schools are a great option, and yet with the tax credit or voucher system only a percentage of the money would follow the child, leaving more money PER CHILD in the public sy
John Smith
Do you know John Smith? Ask the people who live in Hallwood. You may receive some answers!!!!
Lewis VS Scalley
Scalley for vouchers. That means choice of schools if parents don't like the school their children are attending. Tell me, what choices do Eastern Shore children have for choice of school? Accomack - Four high schools and four middle schools which includes Chincoteague and Tanger Combined. There are five elementary school including the islands.
Northampton - Northampton High and Middle. There are two elementary schools. There is Broadwater Academy which is private and several Christian schools. I would like a detailed plan as how she plans to hand out these vouchers. I mean detailed!! How does she handle the overcrowding of one school over another. Suppose we all want our children to go to Tanger Combined. I think that would be great. Great people over there. How many boats do we need?
Employment - I think that's great. I have listened to Ms. Scalley on her radio show. How many oil rigs are we going to have off our Eastern Shore. She does believe in oil drilling. How many years will it take for them to come in before money can be made. How many persons on the Eastern Shore have the expertise for that kind of job? They can learn but that takes some time. Who's she
Drilling for gas or oil off the coast of VA.
And why NOT.. its done successfully in the Gulf.. and it can / with state of the art technology, be done here. Off shore are the key words here.. they are not in your face. Depending on foreign supplies of either is something we should get away from. And yes, it will create jobs.. and yes, it will keep our taxes low. And yes, we should make sure that it does not conflict with WI. But to say NO, without careful consideration is NOT a wise choice.
Wind and solar are good too, but the data on how it affects wildlife is not all so good..
Nuclear.. is another good option.. and should be explored.
Back a proven winner - Lewis? You gotta be kidding!
How can you call Lewis a proven winner when he ran unopposed in his last two races? Winning 98% of the vote while unopposed is pretty well to be expected. We'll see in three weeks how proven he is when the votes come in.
UNOPPOSED no longer..
I found it particularly interesting the amount of people in his own home town who are putting up SCALLEY for Delegate signs. He must have really gotten his home town constituents upset. He represents them as their town attorney, and he also represents Hallwood. Wonder how many other towns he represents? Maybe other towns will reply!