A Democratic divide in the 91st House primary
In a sense, the story of the race to be the Democratic candidate for the 91st House District in Hampton and Poquoson is a one of a changing political map and a party's still-evolving politics.
It pits a longtime stalwart of Hampton Democratic politics, city School Board member Martha Mugler, against a new-style Democrat, Michael Wade, who talks of working-class Virginians and their needs — a turn of phrase not often heard in Virginia in recent decades.
And the district, once a rocksolid Republican haven before a court-ordered redrawing of lines to correct what federal judges called racial gerrymandering, now appears to lean Democratic. The winner of the primary will face Republican candidate Colleen Holmes Holcomb, a lawyer making her first run for elected office.
Retiring Del. Gordon Helsel, R-Poquoson, had been unopposed in all four of his general election races before Wade challenged him in 2017.
“After failing to find someone willing to run in opposition, I decided to run myself,” he said.
Mugler had just come off reelection to the School Board at that time, and the first bill she'd offer if elected arises from her experience on that board: a scholarship program aimed at recruiting teachers for high-need locations and subject areas.
“After serving 11 years as an elected School Board member in Hampton, I have clear knowledge and understanding of the issues that matter most to teachers, administrators, and children in our public schools,” Mugler said in response to a Daily Press questionnaire sent to candidates.
Wade's first bill proposal underscores a major difference between the candidates: His would repeal Virginia's “right to work” law, which says employees don't have to pay dues to the union that wins them a labor contract and handles their grievances with an employer.
“My top priority is making sure that working class people have a voice in Richmond. Virginia's minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour, forcing so many Virginia families into abject poverty. Landlords freely evict tenants and often leave them homeless. Corporations suppress their workers' attempts to organize,” Wade said.
Education generally is Mugler's top priority.
That, she said, translates to tackling the state's critical teacher shortage, investing in new school buildings and facilities, boosting state financial support for K-12 education (which she says is currently one third less than the levels of the late 1990s) and expanding pre-K funding so all Virginia children can participate.
Mugler said she's also concerned about health care, including Virginia's low level of public funding for women's health services and the state's struggle to offer accessible and affordable mental health care.
She also said economic development and jobs are a priority. Pushing for continued state funding to create a clear zone around Langley Air Force Base would help make the case for moving the F-22 Formal Training Unit and various intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions there, she said.
Wade's other priorities are a bit different. He wants to keep Virginia from restricting women's access to reproductive health care and said the state needs to act to protect that access in case the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion is overturned.
And, he added, “when I look around Hampton, I am outraged by what mass incarceration has done to our African-American communities.” He said he would push to legalize marijuana and for other measures to end the “school to prison pipeline.”
Martha Mugler
Current occupation: Executive Administrative Assistant, Old Point National Bank.
Age: 57.
Education: BA Communications, Radford University.
Previous public office: Hampton School Board Member (2008present), Chair (2012-2016).
Michael Wade
Current occupation: Information technology and cybersecurity professional.
Age: 40.
Education: Associate's in computer science from Thomas Nelson Community College, completing a B.S. in computer science at Old Dominion University.
Previous public office: None. Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com