House District 91 candidates: Elijah Colon and Cliff Hayes

Republican Elijah Colon is challenging incumbent Cliff Hayes, a Democrat, for House District 91, a seat that represents parts of Chesapeake and Portsmouth, with a heavy Democrat leaning.

Elijah Colon

Age: 42

Occupation: Account manager, Coca Cola Consolidated

Education: Some college, Tidewater Community College

Party affiliation: Republican

Previous elected offices held (if any): None

Website: None provided

What piece of legislation would you most like to see passed in the next General Assembly session?

One of the most pressing issues I see facing our Commonwealth today is the intersection of mental health and policing. It is vital that we focus our legislative energies on amplifying the resources allocated to mental health services and concurrently refining the training protocols for our police force. Our officers should be adequately trained, not just in the general facets of law enforcement, but also in recognizing and appropriately responding to mental health crises. This is especially critical in an era where encounters between law enforcement and those with mental health issues are unfortunately common. By investing in more comprehensive training, we aim to equip our officers with the tools and knowledge they need to de-escalate situations, potentially reducing the need for force.

Virginia allows abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, or up to about 26 weeks, and limits circumstances under which third-trimester abortions are permitted. Should the rules under which the state allows abortion be changed? If so, until what week/trimester should abortion be allowed in the state and why do you feel that limit is appropriate?

The topic of abortion, given its deeply personal and complex nature, necessitates a thoughtful and compassionate legislative approach. From my standpoint, I believe we should contemplate adjusting the permissible window to a maximum of 15 weeks, underpinned by specific, well-defined exceptions. This proposed duration is an effort to strike a delicate balance. On one hand, it recognizes a woman’s right to make critical medical choices, particularly when guided by expert health consultations. On the other, it aims to acknowledge and respect the evolving considerations associated with fetal development. Any potential amendments to our existing framework should be a collaborative discussion involving medical professionals, ethicists, community representatives, and policymakers.

The state is set to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which has provided millions of dollars in flood and resiliency funding to municipalities in Hampton Roads. How would you like to see flooding and resiliency programs paid for if RGGI is no longer an option and what is an adequate amount of money for the state to contribute?

I believe in our state’s ability to make decisions that are right for our unique circumstances without being influenced by broader coalitions or states with different priorities. While RGGI has provided resources in the past, Virginia must prioritize fiscal responsibility, ensuring that we’re using taxpayer dollars efficiently. Private sector innovation, combined with state-led initiatives, often yields the most effective and efficient solutions. Instead of turning immediately to government-funded programs, we should explore opportunities for public-private collaborations where the private sector can bring innovative solutions to our environmental and infrastructural challenges, reallocating and optimizing our existing budget, rather than imposing new financial burdens on Virginians.

___

C. E. Cliff Hayes Jr.

Age: 55

Occupation: Chief Information Officer, Portsmouth, Virginia

Education: Norfolk State University; Cambridge College (didn’t provide degree info)

Party affiliation: Democrat

Previous elected offices held (if any): Chesapeake City Councilman (2004-2012); Virginia State Delegate (2016-2023)

Website: www.CliffHayes.com

What piece of legislation would you most like to see passed in the next General Assembly session?

Given the awful, selfish rash decision for an individual to shoot his co-workers as they pleaded for their lives last November 20, 2022, our community seeks remedies to lessen the opportunity for such a tragedy to re-occur. Our constituents asked for a waiting period for gun purchasers. During the 2023 session, I introduced legislation to create a three-day waiting period that failed to pass, in a subcommittee. I will sponsor this legislation next General Assembly session.

Virginia allows abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, or up to about 26 weeks, and limits circumstances under which third-trimester abortions are permitted. Should the rules under which the state allows abortion be changed? If so, until what week/trimester should abortion be allowed in the state and why do you feel that limit is appropriate?

No. The law should not be changed. I believe personal health care decisions need to be decided between the doctor and the patient.

The state is set to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which has provided millions of dollars in flood and resiliency funding to municipalities in Hampton Roads. How would you like to see flooding and resiliency programs paid for if RGGI is no longer an option and what is an adequate amount of money for the state to contribute?

Since joining RGGI, Virginia has benefited from approximately $590 million from carbon auctions. The funding has been very useful in reducing emissions and enhancing our investments in clean energy. Therefore, at a minimum, we would need to find an equivalent, dedicated revenue stream equal to, or greater than, the forecasted amount of resources expected from our participation in RGGI going forward.