Preview: In 91st House District, incumbent faces two challengers

In the 91st House District, which includes the eastern half of Hampton, all of Poquoson and three precincts in York County, Democrat incumbent Martha Mugler is challenged by Republican A.C. Cordoza and Libertarian Charles West.

Mugler, who served for more than a decade on the Hampton School Board, makes education policy and the environment top priorities. A member of the House Education, Finance and Counties, Cities and Towns committees, she pushed unsuccessfully for a measure requiring Virginia teachers to be compensated at or above the national average, but was successful with measures on tax credits for research and development work, and tightening regulation of credits for controlling sediment and nutrient flows into state waters.

Cordoza wants to freeze the gas tax increase, reform the Virginia Employment Commission and work with the Hampton Roads Workforce council to connect employers and workers. He said Virginia needs to prioritize mental health services and said he would push to increase funding for community services boards and for the state to work with community partnerships. He said he supports pay increases for teachers, bus drivers, and school counselors.

West said his top priorities include government transparency and stepped up anti-corruption efforts. He also wants to expand school choice for families and teachers and would ensure that every law enforcement officer in Virginia is equipped with a body camera.

“I decided to run as I was on the way to work after voting in 2020,” he said, adding “I have had enough of seeing my friends and neighbors forced to choose the least worst candidate year after year.”

A.C. Cordoza (R)

Age: No reply

Occupation: Cybersecurity expert for Newport News Shipbuilding

Education: Associates degree, Thomas Nelson Community College

Previous public office: None

If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?

We must reduce the cost of living in Virginia, we can freeze the gas tax increase, reform the Virginia Employment Commission, work with the Hampton Roads Workforce council work to connect employers and workers seeking opportunity, continue to modernize our government institutions for online services without hindering in person services, like the DMV, and ensure that we practice safety measures in the workplace to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Martha Mugler (D)

Age: 60

Occupation: Executive assistant, Old Point National Bank

Education: BA Radford University, communications major

Previous public office: Hampton City School Board, 2008 to 2019; member House of Delegates since 2020

If re-elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?

My top 3 priorities will be to continue improving our economy for both our workers and small businesses as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, making affordable health care more accessible by capping the cost of prescription drugs and protecting those with preexisting conditions and focusing on public education by increasing teacher salaries to align with the national average, funding public school infrastructure, adjusting standards of quality and expanding universal pre-K for every 3 and 4 year old in need.

Charles West (L)

Age: 26

Education: Thomas Nelson Community College, degree in social sciences

Occupation: No reply

Previous office: None

If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?

My top priorities will include transparency/anti-corruption in government, expanding school choice for families and teachers, and ensuring every law enforcement officer in the commonwealth is equipped with a camera on their chest!