House of Delegates District 35: Arthur G. Purves

Party: Republican

Age: 56

Residence: Vienna.

Education: BA, natural science, MA business, MS systems engineering, University of Pennsylvania.

Occupation: Senior technical manager, General Dynamics.

Elected offices/civic activities: President, Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance; member, Fairfax County Republican Committee and Fairfax Committee of 100; former member, Fairfax County Public Schools professional technical studies advisory committee, superintendent's advisory committee for the Fairfax Framework for Student Success, family life education advisory committee; past president, Thomas Jefferson High School Crew Boosters; former scoutmaster.

What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?

"Traffic congestion, due to inadequate transportation funding. Virtually none of our state income taxes are spent on transportation. We spend the same, per person, on transportation today as we did in 1979. Meanwhile state public school funding has increased nine times faster than enrollment, even after adjusting for inflation. Despite the extra funding, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that two-thirds of Virginia public school students score below grade level. We could have lower taxes, better roads and much better schools if schools taught basics instead of always demanding higher taxes. Higher taxes reward mismanagement."

Why should voters elect you?

"Of the three anti-tax candidates, I am the only one identifying where the waste is: public schools, family-destroying welfare and government meddling in health care."

Web site: http://members.cox.net/votepurves

E-mail address: votepurves@cox.net