| Col. L. Scott Lingamfelter | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 31st district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Jay Katzen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 27, 1951 New York, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Shelley Elizabeth Glick |
| Children | Amy, John, Paul |
| Residence | Woodbridge, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Virginia Military Institute, University of Virginia |
| Committees | Appropriations; Education; Militia, Police and Public Safety |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1973-2001 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit |
L. Scott Lingamfelter (born March 27, 1951 in New York City) is a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates (31st district),[1] a position that he has held since 2002. He serves on the Appropriations, Education, and Militia Police and Public Safety committees.[2] Prior to his political career, Lingamfelter served as a United States Army colonel.
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Lingamfelter was not challenged in 2009. He received over 95% of the vote [3]
Lingamfelter ran against Bill Day, a part-time psychotherapist,[4] in the 2007 general election scheduled for November 6.[5] Day began sending out mass mailings shortly after Labor Day introducing himself to the voters, and in October began sending out negative advertisements against Lingamfelter, accusing him of being aligned with southern Virginia Republicans who were failing to address northern Virginia traffic congestion.
Lingamfelter is a supporter of toll roads, 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";[6] 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?"[7] He also pointed out that tolls capture revenue from out-of-state travelers.[8] 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".[9]
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 News.[10] 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.[11] 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 accused Day of being insincere in his opposition to illegal immigration to the United States.[12] 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.
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 license 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.[13] Both fishing and fox hunting require licenses which William Day did not acquire.
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