Senate District 21 candidates: Giovanni ‘Gio’ Dolmo and Angelia Williams Graves

Experienced Norfolk legislator Angelia Williams Graves is seeking a seat in the Virginia Senate against an independent Giovanni “Gio” Dolmo. The winner will represent District 21, which includes the majority of the city of Norfolk.

Giovanni “Gio” Dolmo

Age: 41

Occupation: Home Pastor

Education/Degree: Bachelor’s degree, Excelsior College

Party affiliation: Independent

Previous elected office: N/A

Website: www.facebook.com/people/Giovanni-Dolmo-for-State-Senator/100092264627269/

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

Legislation that allows caring fathers to not be alienated from their children and are allowed to spend more time with them.

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?

Abortion decisions should be between the individuals and God.

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?

The flooding in Hampton Roads has been an issue for years. No amount of money seems to be fixing the issue. I don’t believe you can put an adequate amount on something no one can find a solution to.

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Angelia Williams Graves

Age: 51

Occupation: Small Business Owner and Realtor, Homes by Angelia Realty

Education/Degree: Bachelor’s degree, Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University

Party affiliation: Democrat

Previous elected office: 2010-2021 Norfolk City Council, 2021-Present Virginia House of Delegates District 90

Website: angeliawilliamsgraves.com

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

I would like to see legislation codifying a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions without political interference, passed by the General Assembly. Across the country attacks on reproductive healthcare has made it a priority for us to codify those protections that respect women’s rights here in Virginia.

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?

I’m not a doctor. I firmly believe that these conversations should be had by women and their medical providers. It isn’t up to elected officials to dictate what is appropriate and what isn’t.

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?

First of all, it’s a travesty that thanks to a purely political decision made by our governor that we are having to discuss this. Moreover, the members of the General Assembly voted to participate in RGGI and the governor, despite his best efforts, cannot overturn that decision with the stroke of a pen. But more to the point, the commonwealth has a huge surplus that could be allocated to the region to help flood mitigation and resiliency. I would support budget appropriations to that effect and hope we could accomplish this for the region.