Cooke C Harvey
IndependentQ4 Southside Virginia has seen growing investment in new agricultural technologies, including vertical farming and industrial hemp cultivation, as the region works to diversify its economy beyond traditional crops like tobacco. What is your view on the role of agricultural research and technology in Virginia’s rural economies, and what policies, if any, would you support related to it?
I support initiatives that increase regional food security, nutritional density, expansion of small farms, and the reduction of subsidies that hurt these small farms opportunities to be profitable for their families and communities.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q9 Healthcare affordability and access are major issues for Virginians. A 2025 survey by Altarum found that 72% of Virginians worry about paying for healthcare in the future. If elected, what action would you take to address healthcare affordability and access?
I would support healthcare as a right in America and this includes mental, dental, and vision. 60% of bankruptcies are due to medical bills and 80% of those individuals had private health insurance. I think a minimum care for all people in America is within our capabilities and it is represents an American ideal. The ACA was a great step forward for millions of Americans by ensuring coverage of “pre-existing conditions,” but we can move forward by signaling and incentivizing doctors and nurses with loan forgiveness programs, and creating a public option that utilizes the proven economics of collective bargaining. We need a resurgence in these fields which have been abused by for profit corporations squeezing our most dedicated and caring Americans, those who provide care in the most stressful scenarios in life.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q10 Healthcare access and affordability can also vary by demographics and need (e.g., rural areas, maternity care, mental healthcare). Are there any targeted programs you would support for specific needs or populations?
I am for a balanced budget, but I do not believe we get there by cutting medicare and snap benefits. I would support reversing the changes that have reduced access to food and healthcare in the fifth. I do not believe Americans will save money in the near future by exacerbating health conditions and contributing to food insecurity. I believe it is representative that we strengthen the economic possibilities for the fixed income individuals in the fifth. This includes the solvency of social security through an end to the cap on its tax. This includes removing the barriers to work that older individuals experience. Almost countless times I have learned of the preclusion to work by my elders because they would lose their benefits. It was literally causing a shortage in bus drivers because they are older and will get kicked off benefits if they worked too many hours. This is an affront to Americans worth ethic, to have benefits taken because they wanted to work more. This may be fixed with a sliding scale rather than a firm cutoff.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q11 Virginia hosts the largest data center market in the world. Dominion Energy has proposed a 14% rate increase for residential customers in 2026, citing data center growth and AI-driven demand. What is your view on how the costs and benefits of data center growth should be divided between developers and residential ratepayers, and what policies, if any, would you support on this issue?
If businesses need more power, they should pay for the infrastructure and the electricity. Absolutely no exercising of emminent domain laws should be permitted to take private land for private gain, this is a clear demand from constituents in the fifth district. I am appalled at the $30,000,000 annually (approx.) that dominion takes from consumers and pays out to candidates and representatives to buy influence over constituents. We have no choice in power buying, which signifies a monopoly and I support greater transparency and citizen involvement for the SCC as they sit and operate in downtown Richmond in their giant glass skyscraper. There needs to be more public input and oversight concerning the 3 elected commissioners, their ability to authorize changes, and the ability of citizens to participate, which currently feels ceremonial or a token position.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q12 According to the Virginia Department of Education, there are currently overall fewer vacant teaching positions in public schools than in years’ past. However, teacher shortages are still a major concern, particularly in areas such as special education, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and early childhood. Through what policies, if any, would you address teacher shortages in Virginia’s K-12 schools in these high-demand areas, particularly in STEM?
I think incentives, like loan forgiveness programs are effective when the repayment work is focused first in the areas of most need. We need educators and graduates need to pay back loans. I think this also grows a pride in service which is an important component to a healthy society.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q13 As a member of Congress, you would vote on appropriations for federal science agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health. What priorities, if any, would guide your decisions on federal science funding?
Education and in my estimation STEM is an increasingly important focus in our ability to raise the quality of life in America. My desire to pay our debt and reduce the deficit spending that our elders have ignored would guide my desire to fund federal science initiatives. The immediate concern for the NSF and the NIH is artificial intelligence and its impacts on human civilization and this appears paramount to all other concerns.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q14 As a member of Congress, you would also vote on appropriations affecting federal civilian positions, and the availability of these positions. Specifically focusing on workforce positions related to public health, science, and research and development, how would you approach appropriations/funding for federal civilian positions?
Deficit spending and the greed of our past generations has direct impacts on appropriations and I support the slow and concerted effort to bring our representatives moral terpitude into alignment with the people they represent. Funding these positions is important and should be free of political litmus tests.
KEYWORDS: independent
Q15 Scientific and technical expertise can inform decisions related to healthcare, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and emerging technologies. What role, if any, should scientific evidence and expert input play in your policymaking process, and how would you communicate scientific uncertainty or evolving evidence to the public?
There should be no closed doors, and I would offer first person communication everywhere possible. All meetings with experts; questions, answers, and discussions should be live and recorded for posterity so a constituents continuity of understanding can be reached by observing past insight and the identified unknowns. There need be no secrecy between a representatives meetings, briefings, or information and their constituents. Rare exceptions with concerns of security can be identified, but sunlight is the best disinfectant and we have a virus of distrust and conspiracy laden thinking that can only be cured with transparency and accountability. We need the expertise shared with the people and not only in the fancy restaurant between investor, regulator, and representative. I can not think of an issue that I would not seek expert advice on before voting for our constituents.
KEYWORDS: independent