In only six short weeks Virginia voters will go to the polls and select state Senators and Delegates. This is an especially critical election.
In only six short weeks Virginia voters will go to the polls and select state Senators and Delegates. This is an especially critical election. Republicans are in the majority in both bodies, a flip of 1 seat in the Senate makes a tie – which is broken by Lt. Gov., Northam, a Democrat, giving the left narrow, but effective control, thus bringing balance back to the state Senate.
One of the candidates running in this election is Don Shaw, democratic candidate for delegate. Shaw is running against longtime incumbent Bob Marshall. Long before this race however, Shaw led a distinguished career in the public sector.
Born and raised in Appalachia, Shaw was the son of a railroad diesel mechanic. After graduating high school in Ashland, Kentucky, he joined the military, where his service included listening to sensitive Russian communications and interpreting during international arms control inspections. After 15 years on active duty, he transitioned from the Army to the Air National Guard, and retired five years later. Shaw then worked eight years as a senior manager in the federal government before entering the private sector.
Residing in Prince William County since 1997 (where the family’s three children all either graduated from or attend county schools), Shaw’s decision to run for delegate consisted of a myriad of factors, two of which were his wife.
“She has a great way of encouraging people to do things,” Shaw said.
Another factor was the record of current delegate Bob Marshall. The stances that Marshall takes, particularly those concerning the LGBT community, women’s health issues, and individuals with special needs. For Shaw, these stances hit close to home. Shaw’s daughter has special needs and his 23-year-old son is a member of the LGBTQ community.
“He wants to live, raise a family, and contribute to the economy of Virginia,” Shaw said. “He shouldn’t be discriminated against because of who he is. “When we start to institutionalize discrimination where do we stop? You can pick a group and go from there.”
On the issues Marshall is most vocal on, women’s rights and LGBTQ rights, Shaw offers a sharp contrast.
“I’m a firm believer in marriage for all,” said Shaw, who also believes that one “shouldn’t be discriminated against for who you love.”
On the topic of LGBTQ rights, Shaw brought up the lack of workplace protections for LGBTQ workers. “My son could be married in the morning and fired in the afternoon,” he said.
Women’s rights also represent an opposing view to Marshall. The most recent census data shows that women make 78 percent of what men make in the workplace. Recent census data as well as statistics from the Labor Department show the wage gap has shortened, but it hasn’t gone away.
Shaw’s campaign believes in equal pay for equal work, noting that “if a woman puts in a dollar’s worth of work, she deserves a dollar’s worth of wages.”
Marshall has held his seat for 11 years, but for several reasons, Shaw believes this time could be different. Society has progressed significantly since Marshall took office. According to Pew Research in 2001, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a 57 percent to 35 percent margin. Today, Pew Research shows a majority of Americans (55 percent) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39 percent who oppose it. All in all, the mix of recent legal and social change has helped pave the way for a challenge to Marshall’s tenure.
Along with his fighting for LGBT Rights, Shaw’s platform includes fostering a business-friendly environment that brings high-paying jobs to the district; reducing the burden of commuting and increasing the funds available for a quality education. Alluding to Marshall’s paltry attendance record, Shaw said he plans to not only attend sessions, but to be more accessible to his constituents.
“The average citizen has a good fundamental understanding of government,” he said. “If you were to ask them who their delegate is however, they probably wouldn’t know.”
Shaw places a high priority on communication and plans to “hold regular town halls” and well as establish various constituent outreach programs.
