Editor’s note: Between now and Election Day, the Free Press is inviting candidates for state office whose constituencies include the Fredericksburg area to make their case in their own words through a candidate questionnaire. The following responses have been edited only for formatting.
Please provide a brief bio outlining your background and qualifications for office.
Born and raised in a small Alabama county in between Selma and Montgomery, AL. I enlisted in the US Army in 2000 and later retired. Some of my assignments included the White House Communications Agency (WHCA), US Northern Command/NORAD, and I spent years in 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. I served two combat tours with one being in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and one in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
I currently reside in Spotsylvania County, VA and I’m married to my amazing wife Jamie Miller, who is a veteran and former law enforcement officer/school resource officer. We also have two children, who attend public school in the County. I hold a Masters in Network and Communication Management, a Bachelors of Science in Technical Management and an Associate of Applied Science in Network Administration.
Why are you running for office?
In full transparency until recently, I would have told you that I was a moderate Republican; however, today that is no longer the case. I just could not follow where the Republican Party has been heading over the past few years. In my military career, I learned how important values such as honor, respect, integrity, and selfless service are. I believe that these are fundamental characteristics that make us all Americans and are hard to find in today’s Republican leadership.
True leadership begins with the foundation that you take care of people by using the values listed above. Everything else is built off this principle first. Also, some of our current leaders have called empathy a weakness. I disagree. Governing begins with empathy. The ability to see an issue from someone else’s perspective is a critical skill in leadership and decision making. From my perspective, my former party is purely driven from the top down, with very little of their policy decisions being made with the benefit of their constituents in mind.
Our government should work from a bottom-up approach, where I take the needs of the district to Richmond. I would like to be the conduit that District 63 needs, so its voice is heard all the way to our Capital. Government is supposed to be a PUBLIC conversation consisting of creative, problem-solving solutions that address the needs of the people. It’s time we put the service back into public service and give government back to the people instead of corporate or personal agendas. Right now, we are all emotional about what’s happening in Washington and throughout the Country. I know I am. I think our challenge is to turn that emotion into motivation.
My goal is to get this message out to the Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between that lives in District 63. I am seeking to become the Democratic Representative for Virginia House of Delegates in District 63, due to my unwavering support for the Virginia and US Constitutions. In today’s political environment, it is critical now more than ever, that we remember that “all people are created equal” and each one of them is entitled to “certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Press the Issue
For more information on Forrest Miller, visit his website.
What is one piece of legislation you plan to introduce if elected?
My goal is to introduce legislation that will bring down the cost of living first and foremost. HB1313 that was vetoed by Gov. Youngkin would have cleared a path for developers to increase the housing inventory by allowing localities to amend their zoning ordinance. These amendments would allow the adoption of an affordable housing dwelling unit program in order to promote construction of moderately priced housing by providing optional increases in density and other measures to boost housing supply. This bill needs to be reintroduced and passed. This bill is just first of many I plan to introduce that have the people’s needs in mind as well as our democracy.
What role should the state, and particularly, the General Assembly, play in regulating data center development in Virginia?
I believe we must shift our fundamental standing on developers wanting to build data centers in Virginia and take a look at the “why”. The Commonwealth is uniquely situated at a convergence point between transatlantic fiber lines and east coast/inland long-haul fiber lines. This should be considered a unique resource to Virginia meaning the developers need these data centers physically in Virginia to take advantage of the low-latency connections. We should hold them to build these in a responsible manner.
I have toured “green” data centers, so I know offsetting the resource footprint can be done. I would support a task force that looks at working with these developers to find more creative solutions that helps Virginians and our environment while setting us up for future growth.
Please provide an example of an issue that is unique/specific to your district and how you plan to represent your constituents’ interests on said issue if elected.
The water supply and quality must be addressed in the rural parts of District 63. My first goal on this topic will be to identify the stakeholders within this issue and make sure there is a reasonable plan to get right not only for our present situation but for decades to come.
In terms of incumbent members, the House of Delegates currently has 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans. How do you plan to reach across the aisle as a legislator?
As a former Republican, I believe I possess the background that is needed during this hyper-partisan environment we find ourselves in. The only way forward is together, and we must bring ourselves back from the ends of the spectrum to do the work of the people.
