Scott Lingamfelter
Encyclopedia
L. Scott Lingamfelter is a Republican
member of the Virginia House of Delegates
(31st district), a position that he has held since 2002. He serves on the Appropriations, Education, and Militia Police and Public Safety committees. Prior to his political career, Lingamfelter served as a United States Army
colonel
.
introducing himself to the voters, and in October began sending out negative advertisements against Lingamfelter, accusing him of being aligned with southern Virginia Republican
s who were failing to address northern Virginia
traffic congestion
.
s, having introduced a bill allowing tolls on any Virginia interstate highway, with the proceeds being set aside to "[p]ay or finance all or part of the costs of programs or projects, including without limitation the costs of planning, operation, maintenance and improvements incurred in connection with the toll facility provided that such allocations shall be limited to programs and projects that are reasonably related to or benefit the users of the toll facility"; this is a position for which he has been attacked by Day in campaign literature as a contradiction of his self-portrayal as a fiscal conservative. Lingamfelter believes that tolls are a logical way to link road use with road financing. He defended his decision by saying, "We need to build some roads, okay?" He also pointed out that tolls capture revenue from out-of-state travelers. Lingamfelter's toll bills require the use of automated toll collection.
Despite the criticism, Lingamfelter's website calls attention to the toll bills, saying, "Virginians who travel throughout the country pay tolls in other states which go to make necessary improvements to the highway systems within those states. Travelers who come to our Commonwealth leave behind no money as they pass through—money that could go to relieve congestion and improve the conditions of Virginia’s roads. This bill would enable the collection of tolls in Virginia that will go back into improving our roads".
. However, he changed his position in the face of a growing political firestorm, sending mailings to signatories of the online petition against the fees explaining his reversal. Day has sent mailings to voters criticized Lingamfelter for supporting the fees in the first place, describing them as "abusive driver taxes," a reference to the revenue-generating purpose of the fees.
. Lingamfelter opposes providing state and local governmental services to illegals. Day focuses more on sanctions for employers of illegals, saying that this issue comes down to jobs.
in the past 15 months. Day responded that he let his counseling license expire in order to devote himself to the campaign and that he has switched to fox hunting
and fishing
. Both fishing and fox hunting require licenses which William Day did not acquire.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
(31st district), a position that he has held since 2002. He serves on the Appropriations, Education, and Militia Police and Public Safety committees. Prior to his political career, Lingamfelter served as a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
2007 campaign
Lingamfelter ran against Bill Day, a part-time psychotherapist, in the 2007 general election scheduled for November 6. Day began sending out mass mailings shortly after Labor DayLabor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
introducing himself to the voters, and in October began sending out negative advertisements against Lingamfelter, accusing him of being aligned with southern Virginia Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
s who were failing to address northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
.
Toll roads
Lingamfelter is a supporter of toll roadToll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
s, having introduced a bill allowing tolls on any Virginia interstate highway, with the proceeds being set aside to "[p]ay or finance all or part of the costs of programs or projects, including without limitation the costs of planning, operation, maintenance and improvements incurred in connection with the toll facility provided that such allocations shall be limited to programs and projects that are reasonably related to or benefit the users of the toll facility"; this is a position for which he has been attacked by Day in campaign literature as a contradiction of his self-portrayal as a fiscal conservative. Lingamfelter believes that tolls are a logical way to link road use with road financing. He defended his decision by saying, "We need to build some roads, okay?" He also pointed out that tolls capture revenue from out-of-state travelers. Lingamfelter's toll bills require the use of automated toll collection.
Despite the criticism, Lingamfelter's website calls attention to the toll bills, saying, "Virginians who travel throughout the country pay tolls in other states which go to make necessary improvements to the highway systems within those states. Travelers who come to our Commonwealth leave behind no money as they pass through—money that could go to relieve congestion and improve the conditions of Virginia’s roads. This bill would enable the collection of tolls in Virginia that will go back into improving our roads".
Abusive driver fees
Lingamfelter supported the enactment of the Virginia abusive driver fees. After citizens began protesting the fees (which do not apply to out-of-state drivers), Lingamfelter initially defended the fees, in an opinion piece in the Fauquier Times-Democrat and Potomac NewsPotomac News
The News & Messenger is a daily newspaper that is published in Manassas, Virginia and is one of a number of competing local papers covering the Washington, D.C. suburbs and exurbs in the region...
. However, he changed his position in the face of a growing political firestorm, sending mailings to signatories of the online petition against the fees explaining his reversal. Day has sent mailings to voters criticized Lingamfelter for supporting the fees in the first place, describing them as "abusive driver taxes," a reference to the revenue-generating purpose of the fees.
Immigration
Lingamfelter accused Day of being insincere in his opposition to illegal immigration to the United StatesIllegal immigration to the United States
An illegal immigrant in the United States is an alien who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa....
. Lingamfelter opposes providing state and local governmental services to illegals. Day focuses more on sanctions for employers of illegals, saying that this issue comes down to jobs.
Personal issues
Lingamfelter also pointed out that while Day describes himself as a licensed counselor and avid hunter, Day's counseling license actually has expired, and he has not had a hunting licenseHunting license
A hunting license is a regulatory or legal mechanism to control recreational and sports hunting.Hunting may be regulated informally by "unwritten law", "self restraint", or "morality" and by laws "enforced by government authority."...
in the past 15 months. Day responded that he let his counseling license expire in order to devote himself to the campaign and that he has switched to fox hunting
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. Both fishing and fox hunting require licenses which William Day did not acquire.