Marianne Horinko (Photo: Horinko for State Senate)
Marianne Horinko is one of three candidates attempting to replace Virginia’s Attorney General-Elect Ken Cuccinelli in the 37th district of the State Senate. An attorney by trade, she served as an advisor to former President George H.W. Bush. She is also a small business owner and former acting administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"I am running because I have been blessed by a healthy family and career that I love," Mrs. Horinko explained to examiner.com, "I want to give back to my community." She has been a Chantilly resident for 17 years.
While public service is certainly something she is accustomed to through the EPA, this is her first attempt at running for elected office. Her business, the Horinko Group, is a consulting firm dedicated to helping, "clients using innovation, flexibility, and strategic partnerships to advance environmental stewardship."
On the environment she opposes the federal cap-and-trade bill and supports tax credits for Virginia residents who choose to make their homes more energy efficient.
While the environment is her main area of expertise she insists that her top three issues in this race are spending, roads, and schools.
Mrs. Horinko proposes a 10% tax cut for small businesses to help jumpstart Virginia’s economy. She also believes that using new technologies will streamline government regulations and serve as a greater tool for transparency. Another part of her platform includes a pledge to never vote for tax increases.
On transportation she has called for changing the current funding formula which currently does not give the biggest tax revenues to the biggest contributors in the state. With over one million people living in Fairfax County, roughly 1/7th of the total Virginia population, the revenues distributed are clearly disproportionate to other parts of the state. She also supports public-private partnerships, creating internet-based work programs, and improving mass transit to alleviate the consternation of commuters in northern Virginia.
Mrs. Horinko wants more tax dollars to reach northern Virginia schools. She supports charter schools and easier procedures for in-state students to get into our colleges before out-of-state students.
She is also a major donor to Republican candidates having donated over $24,000 to local and statewide races this year.
Even though Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell captured Fairfax County in the November 3rd election, this area is still heavily targeted by the Democrats. The surrounding Senate Districts are all held by Democrats and Ken Cuccinelli barely won reelection in 2007 by less than 100 votes to Janet Oleszek, who has announced that she will not run.
41st House District Delegate Dave Marsden will most likely be the Democratic nominee. He hung onto his seat this year narrowly defeating Republican candidate Kerry Bolognese by just over 200 votes. Defeated Democratic Delegate chuck Caputo from the 67th House District is also apparently considering a run for the seat.
Mrs. Horinko likes her chances in this election. "I am the candidate with the most leadership experience," she told examiner.com. As Acting Administrator of the EPA she oversaw over 18,000 fulltime employees. Her opponents Will Nance and Steve Hunt are formidable and anything can happen in such a short race. As the nomination process rapidly approaches there is little time for any Republican candidate to run a detailed campaign.
The nomination process will be a "firehouse primary" on December 1. Voters may cast their ballots between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM at Centerville High School which is located at 6001 Union Mill Road, in Clifton, VA 20124. The general election date has not yet been set. The Governor must schedule a date after Attorney General-Elect Cuccinelli officially resigns his seat, which he is yet to do.
For more information on Marianne Horinko please visit her website: http://www.horinkoforstatesenate.com/
Stay tuned for candidate spotlights on Mrs. Horinko’s primary opponents later this week.
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