Preview: Alex Askew facing Karen Greenhalgh in 85th House District
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Democrat Alex Askew is being challenged by Republican Karen Greenhalgh in the 85th House District, which includes the Virginia Beach neighborhoods Larkspur, Aragona, Mt. Trashmore, Fairfield and Arrowhead.
Askew was elected in 2019. Most recently, he’s served on the Communications, Technology and Innovation Committee; Counties, Cities and Towns Committee; and the House Privileges and Elections Committee. He successfully worked to expand workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters and implement a lead water testing process in public schools and day cares in Virginia.
If reelected, Askew said his priority will be to put a cap on the price of asthma inhalers. He co-sponsored a 2020 bill that became law and capped co-pays for a 30-day supply of insulin for those with state-regulated health insurance and on the Virginia health exchange.
Greenhalgh founded Heritage Woodworks Inc., a custom cabinet manufacturing facility, and Cyber Tygr, a health care privacy and cybersecurity company. She’s volunteered at a Virginia Beach pregnancy crisis center.
If elected, Greenhalgh said she wants to decrease the gas tax, eliminate the grocery tax and repeal regulations that have increased the cost of electricity.
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Alex Q. Askew, Democrat
Age: 36
Occupation: Business development coordinator, The ELOCEN Group, LLC; member, Virginia House of Delegates, District 85
Previous office held: Virginia House of Delegates, 85th District, 2020 - present
Education: Hampton University, B.A. in History, 2007
Website: AlexAskew.com
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
My number one priority as delegate has been lowering the cost of prescription drugs for Virginians. During my first term, I proudly co-sponsored legislation that placed a price cap on insulin. I also introduced legislation to cap the price of asthma inhalers. Unfortunately, the asthma inhaler bill died in the Senate. As such, my first priority next session will be to ensure that we are able to cap the price of asthma inhalers.
Acute asthma is easily treatable. But a majority of people who are hospitalized as the result of suffering an asthma attack report not having an inhaler on them. Undergirding this fact is the prohibitive cost of asthma inhalers. We must fix this, and I look forward to working with my colleagues next session to successfully pass a price cap on asthma inhalers. No one should have to go into debt to breathe.
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Karen S. Greenhalgh, Republican
Age: 65
Occupation: Small business owner, Cyber Tygr
Previous office held: None
Education: GED
Website: https://www.karengreenhalgh.com/
If elected, what would be your top priority and how would you get it done?
My top priority in office would be to introduce legislation to reduce the cost of living for hard-working Virginia families. I would accomplish this by decreasing the gas tax, repealing regulations that have increased the cost of electricity, and eliminating the grocery tax — all of which are taking a toll on Virginia families due to policy changes made by career politicians in Richmond.
