My name is Mario D. Haggerty, and I'm a 22-year Navy Veteran. I'm running for House of Delegates—District 67 to help you address some significant and timely issues that directly impact both local and national concerns.
1. Defunding Public Schools
Impact on Rural Virginia: Public schools in rural areas often face budget challenges due to lower populations and fewer resources. Defunding public schools could exacerbate issues like overcrowded classrooms, lack of educational resources, and underpaid teachers. This is a hot-button issue, especially in rural districts where quality education is critical to long-term success. Defunding public education could harm rural students' futures, potentially leading to a workforce less equipped to handle an increasingly complex world.
As a Navy veteran, I understand the importance of training and preparing the next generation for success. Strong public schools are essential for providing the skills and knowledge needed for service, both in the military and civilian sectors.
2. Tariffs
Impact on Rural Virginia: Tariffs will undoubtedly raise the cost of imported goods, including materials used in farming or exported goods. Rural economies, heavily dependent on agriculture, could be particularly vulnerable to international trade policies. Farmers may face challenges if tariffs disrupt their access to foreign markets or raise the costs of necessary goods. As your Delegate, I will explore solutions-oriented approaches, bringing military discipline to trade policies that are fair to local producers and consumers.
3. Defunding USAID for Farmers and Agriculture
Impact on Rural Virginia: USAID (United States Agency for International Development) often helps improve agricultural methods and practices domestically and abroad. If funding is cut, it could lead to less support for farmers who rely on federal programs for research, subsidies, and market access. These cuts could hit rural areas in Virginia, where agriculture is a key part of the economy. Cutting aid to farmers and agricultural programs, domestically and internationally, weakens the economy's foundation and reduces America's global influence in farming technologies and practices. I am committed to keeping America's agriculture strong to ensure food security.
4. Dismantling the Federal Government and Impact on Federal Workers
Impact on Rural Virginia: Many rural areas rely on federal government programs for jobs and services, from the Department of Agriculture to the Veterans Administration. This also includes Dahlgren, where federal workers work long days designing, developing, and fielding weapon systems that keep our nation safe. Policies targeting key federal programs might directly impact federal workers in our communities. Cuts to federal agencies could mean fewer services or reduced economic activity in rural regions that depend on these agencies for employment and support.
As a veteran and DoD contractor, I am especially well-placed to speak on behalf of federal workers, particularly military veterans who work for the government. Dismantling the federal government without understanding the full impact on local economies and families would disproportionately hurt rural communities, especially the Northern Neck of Virginia, where federal jobs may be some of the few stable sources of income.
The Big Picture:
These issues inspire in me a strong sense of duty and responsibility, drawn from my military service and a sharp focus on protecting the needs of rural communities as a family man and working-class rural American. As your representative, I pledge to stand up for working families and veterans, advocate for a strong national defense while ensuring economic policies don't hurt rural industries, and maintain government services supporting federal workers and local agricultural economies.
Together, we can stand up to these cruel policies that hurt our farmers, our schools, and our working class.