Democrat John Douglass, who seeks to challenge U.S. Congressman Robert Hurt, R-Charlottesville, this November, held a town hall meeting yesterday evening at the Downtown Mall to discuss gun control, women's reproductive health, the prison system and other policy issues.
Douglass is vying for the Democratic nomination for the fifth district against Charlottesville resident Peyton Williams.
Speaking to an audience of about 50 community members, Douglass fielded questions about his stances on campaign financing, health care, veterans' assistance and other topics.
Douglass is running on a platform which seeks to improve policies affecting working families instead of enacting laws benefitting the "one percent," he said.
"This is a time about families versus greed," Douglass said. "This is a time when we all need to serve together."
Douglass said town hall meetings offer an opportunity to explore politically salient issues because "they are where the action takes place" between candidates and voters. The meeting took on a conversational tone as Douglass exchanged opinions with Charlottesville citizens.
During the meeting, Douglass emphasized issues which he said would ultimately impact students, such as health care and debt management. "Our job, the best thing that we can do as Americans, is leave [young people] with a strong government that works and a fair government where all of them have the opportunity to be whatever they want to be in their lives," he said.
A retired Air Force brigadier general, Douglass also drew attention to his experience as a veteran in his opening remarks, highlighting the fact that for the first time in history, no generals or admirals currently serve in the U.S. Congress,
"One of the things I really bring to this ticket is my long history of national security," he said.
In his military career, Douglass worked with the Reagan, Clinton and Obama administrations and served as a military representative to NATO. He currently works as a farmer in Fauquier County.
College Republicans member Alex Reber, a second-year Engineering student who attended the town hall meeting, said he was troubled by Douglass' comment that he does not want to be a career politician.
"Maybe we should elect someone who is going to be there for the long haul to push legislation for Virginia," Reber said. "I think [Hurt] knows legislative procedure very well and has been doing a good job there representing the fifth district."
University Democrats President James Schwab, a third-year College student, said Douglass and Williams are both good candidates.
"I think John Douglass is very impressive as a candidate," Schwab said. "He has a lot of experience. He is a veteran and a farmer, and that could be very helpful in representing Virginia's fifth district and connecting with the voters of this district."
Neither the University Democrats nor the College Republicans plan to express support for a candidate until the Democratic caucuses are held April 21 in Charlottesville and April 23 in Albemarle County, Reber and Schwab said.
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