Del. Tim Hugo, Republican, of the 40th District, is known for opposing the Bi-County Parkway, being strong on business, education, conservative values and supporting legislation he feels will help those in his district.
Hugo has represented Fairfax constituents in his district for 10 years, and during this last election cycle also those Prince William County constituents living in north Gainesville towards the Fairfax line. On Tuesday, Hugo is running for reelection in his district.
On the Bi-County Parkway
Hugo has been passionately opposed to the Bi-County Parkway, saying, “It’s been a huge issue people are very, very concerned about.”
He has taken the lead in opposing the road he thinks will bring more traffic problems than solutions to the area, and create a “ripple effect” of increased traffic congestion throughout Northern Virginia.
“When you close Sudley Road by the battlefield, it’s a problem. When you calm traffic on Route 29, that’s a huge problem too,” Hugo said. “ have said we’ll drop that traffic on Route 66. That’s creates a debacle. I’ve never heard we’ll build one road and close two.”
Hugo said another major reason he opposes the parkway is to protect the way of life in the Rural Crescent. Hugo believes people’s homes could be taken away and their access to church and local businesses severely impacted should the parkway be built.
From a financial standpoint, he also calls the project a “misallocation of resources,” since the road is estimated to cost a billion dollars or more, which he would rather have spent on easing east-west traffic.
On the Transportation Bill
Hugo voted against the bi-partisan transportation bill, although he said he was originally in favor for it. Ultimately he felt it had become too much of a tax hike.
“It was the biggest tax increase in Virginia history,” he said.
On Business
Hugo believes he has been strong on business, being able to work well with both conservative and moderately liberal groups to bring businesses and prosperity to the Commonwealth.
“I think of what we have done. Virginia has been rated the best state in America to do business (by Forbes Magazine]; it was number one, then three, now one again,” Hugo said.
Hugo called his opponent a “nice man,” but criticized his stance on business, saying he would increase taxes on businesses, even services, which would ultimately hurt Virginians.
“I’m opposed to that,” said Hugo, explaining that businesses want to locate to states that have a stable business climate and raising taxes is not conducive to creating that environment.
On Education
The Virginia Education Association (VEA) has endorsed Hugo. He said he earned the support of educators by supporting advocating for public education first and foremost. He also advocated for a bill that would allow more Virginia students to attend Virginia colleges.
Hugo said he was concerned that up to 40 percent of seats at some Virginia state colleges were going to out-of-state students. He supported a bill to give more money to those higher education institutions so they could accept more Virginia students, and thus help those students receive an affordable, quality education.
On Standardized Testing
Hugo said he would support efforts to reduce standardized testing in schools.
“I think there is going to be a bi-partisan effort to make sure the SOL are as effective as they could be,” Hugo said.
“Is it too much testing now?” he asked, concluding that it very well may be, saying, “We want kids meeting high academic standards but we want them to think independently.”
On Mental Health Service
After the tragedy at Virginia Tech., which affected families in his district, Hugo passed a bill to work with colleges to identify students who might need mental health services.
“I worked with the Angel Fund to help sponsor better mental health laws for college students. Basically it forces the colleges to work with the mental health groups,” he said.
Although the bill did not pass right away, it was introduced to the house a second time until it was approved.
On Gun Safety
To also keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, a few years ago he helped sponsor a bill to make sure those with a history of mental illness could not purchase a gun in Virginia.
“I was one of the few to sponsor that bill,” he said.
On Lyme Disease
Hugo noticed that many people in his district were suffering from Lyme Disease. After talking with friends and constituents, he realized that Lyme Disease had affected them so badly, often because initial tests for the disease turned up negative.
One friend of his was so badly ravaged by the disease, after a false negative, that her doctors thought she had MS.
In response, Hugo worked to pass a bill that required doctors to inform their patients of the high false negatives associated with the disease. He believes this will help people not rule out the disease after initial testing, but return for a second test and then treat the disease before it does severe damage to the body.
On Autism
Hugo heard the story of parents whose health care wouldn’t provide for more than one autistic child, even though they had two young children with autism. In response, he sponsored a bill requiring Virginia insurance carriers to offer autism coverage up to the age of six. He said early intervention is crucial time because it could make a life-long difference.
“My take on government is that government should help those who can’t help themselves,” said Hugo, explaining why he voted against business interests for this bill.
On Pro-life Legislation
Hugo is a pro-life candidate, but he said that does not mean he is against contraceptive methods. He said that while he voted for the 'personhood' bill, the idea it was anti-contraception is “a lie.”
“The Supreme Court said that contraception is a right,” said Hugo, who believes the essence of that bill has been misconstrued. "I have four children, not fourteen," Hugo said.
However, he would vote to limit access to legal abortions in Virginia.
On Marriage Rights
Hugo said marriage should be between a man and a woman. He said he voted for the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in Virginia for that reason.
“I voted for the original bill,” he said. “I respect everybody and their individual lifestyle choices but I just believe marriage is between a man and a woman.”
Hugo said he has supported other laws which offers some legal protections to individuals in same sex relationship, such as those that allow same sex couples to designate their partner as a next of kin for visitation and inheritance purposes.
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