Delegate, Virginia’s 30th House District Candidates

Rob Banse

Rob Banse is a church leader who has served Western Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties for 17 years. Banse attended Georgetown University and later trained at the Theological Seminary. Since his retirement from Trinity Church in 2018, Banse assists in nearby parishes and serves on the Board of the Windy Hill Foundation, where he works alongside community leaders to increase affordable housing options in Loudoun and Fauquier. Banse lives in Delaplane with his wife, Janie. They have three grown children, Holland, Lee, and Will.

Blue Ridge Leader: Do you support Virginia’s current law which allows abortion until the third trimester?

Rob Banse: The current law reflects the protections afforded to women under Roe vs. Wade for nearly 50 years. Virginia legislators must uphold its current laws on abortion.

As a pastor, I’ve sat shoulder to shoulder with women making difficult decisions about their pregnancies. I have seen, first hand, the anguish that goes into these very personal choices, and I know that reproductive health decisions are best made between women, their loved ones, and their doctors.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Virginia Republicans have worked to roll back women’s reproductive rights. A recent bill moved to ban “nearly all abortion.” Two separate bills that would criminalize doctors for performing abortions, rendering the procedure a felony. Virginia legislators should protect the basic rights of women and allow physicians to care for patients without fear of being jailed.

BRL: Should parents have a say at the elementary and middle school level on sexually explicit books and instruction in public schools?

RB: Parents should absolutely have a say in their child’s education – I believe that is their right. We know that students see better outcomes when their parents are engaged in their learning. As Delegate, I will fight for our students, parents, and teachers. I will work hard to fully fund our schools, raise teacher pay, and lower class sizes.

BRL: Should police departments be fully funded?

RB: Yes, police departments should be fully funded. We must provide law enforcement officers with the resources they need to protect our communities. That should extend to training, mental health resources and personal benefits to support our officers through the very difficult situations they manage on a daily basis.

BRL: What are your top priorities?

RB: My priorities are: 

Invest in our Schools: Our children deserve the very best education we can provide. As Delegate, I will work to fully fund our schools, raise teacher pay, and lower class sizes.

Protect Reproductive Rights: Reproductive health decisions should remain between women, their loved ones, and their doctor. As Delegate, I will work to protect women’s reproductive freedoms.

Preserve Northwest Virginia: We must preserve the beauty and nature of Northwest Virginia for generations to come. As Delegate, I will work to protect clean air and water and preserve our parks and open spaces.

BRL: How would you protect your constituents through zoning legislation?

RB: Zoning is an important tool for our communities to maintain the majesty of Western Loudoun. Many zoning issues fall under the purview of local elected officials, but as a legislator I will pledge to work hand in hand with our local officials to ensure we can preserve our land and our communities.

Geary Higgins

Geary Higgins served two terms on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and one term on the Loudoun County School Board. He recently retired as Vice President of Labor Relations for the National Electrical Contractors Association. He graduated from Clarion University with a Business Administration Degree and a double major in management and marketing. He and his wife, Gail, live in Waterford.  They have three daughters who graduated from Loudoun Valley High School and six grandchildren.  Geary and Gail attend Cornerstone Church in Leesburg.

Blue Ridge Leader: Do you support Virginia’s current law which allows abortion until the third trimester? 

Geary Higgins: Virginians want fewer abortions not more and I support working to find consensus on a commonsense bill to protect life at 15 weeks, when a baby begins to feel pain, with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. I also support the expansion of additional services and counseling for women and men affected by abortion, parenting, and adoption choices. 

BRL: Should parents have a say at the elementary and middle school level on sexually explicit books and instruction in public schools? 

GH: Absolutely.  As a Loudoun County School Board Member, and a parent of three daughters who graduated from Loudoun Valley High School, I know full well that parents are the first and primary educators of our children. Parents should absolutely be in tune with what their children are learning in school. 

COVID exposed the truth about was going on in our schools.  From the extended and unnecessary shut down to the lack of focusing on academics, which has resulted in lower reading and math scores in LCPS to the availability of sexually explicit books that have no place in our schools. 

Frankly, it amazes me that this is an accepted practice within our school system.  It is time to get our schools back on track and focused on an excellent education to prepare our children for life. 

BRL: Should police departments be fully funded?

GH: Police, Fire and Rescue and other first responders are our front line of defense against crime and other emergencies. They should receive competitive compensation and all the tools and equipment necessary to perform their tasks effectively and keep us safe. However, money and equipment are one thing and respect is another. We need to support and respect those in law enforcement. They put their lives on the line for us every day. 

Efforts to defund law enforcement like the leadership of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors pursued in their effort to eliminate the Loudoun County Sheriff’s office in 2020 must be stopped.  Thankfully. We were able to do just that by organizing almost three-hundred people to protest prior to the Board of Supervisors vote.  

BRL: What are your top priorities?

GH: When elected my top priorities are: 

First, we need to get Virginia’s economy working again along with lowering the tax burden on our citizens. The average family cannot afford a $500 emergency doctor’s bill. With the current administration’s incredibly high inflation rates, we need to get relief to Virginia’s families now. I plan to do that by reducing state income tax, eliminating the grocery tax, rolling back gas taxes, lowering tolls, reducing the car tax, and returning tax surplus to taxpayers. 

Second, we need to return to excellence in our schools. When I served on the Loudoun County School Board, we adopted the current mission statement that says in part: “The mission of the Loudoun County Public Schools is to work closely with students, teachers, families, and the community to provide a superior education, safe schools, and a climate for success. The educational programs of LCPS will strive to meet or exceed federal, state, and local requirements for assessment of achievement and to promote intellectual growth, individual initiative, mutual respect, and personal responsibility for productive citizenship.” We have strayed far from these goals and need to return to the mission of providing “a superior education.” Parents matter and in Richmond I will support parental rights and policies, and legislation that will return educational excellence to Virginia.

Third, as a father of three daughters, who were all athletes, I have seen up close how hard women practice and work to excel. I have watched them struggle and encouraged them. I have driven them to practice at 5 a.m. I have been with them at athletic events all over the state of Virginia. I will fight to preserve women’s sports and scholarships, and their rights to privacy in locker rooms, bathrooms, and wherever.

BRL: How would protect your constituents through zoning legislation?

GH: In general, I believe that zoning decisions should be left to the local authorities and jurisdictions, because they are the closest to and most knowledgeable about what is going on in their jurisdiction. 

I have worked my entire time on the BOS to preserve and protect the beauty, history, and rural landscape of Western Loudoun. My intention would be to support efforts in Richmond to continue that mission through policy or legislation. Zoning protects important County assets especially for historic preservation. I put Bluemont on the Historic Registry, restored two historic homes, obtained funding for the purchase of Loudoun’s new Sweet Run State Park, the Waterford Mill renovation, and the restoration of John Lewis bridge to list a few of my efforts. 

My commitment and record of historic and rural preservation is one that I am very proud of.  Depending on the situation, an overzealous interpretation of the zoning ordinance can protect but can also harm constituents.  For instance, Morven Park attempted to upgrade an existing farm lane on their property and was prohibited from doing so by an overly restrictive interpretation of the zoning regulations. At their request, we intervened with the zoning department and were able to get a correct interpretation of the zoning ordinance.

I will work hard to serve you and I ask for your vote on November 7, and in early voting.