Background
Delegate John Bell served in the Air Force for 26 years, first as an enlisted man and later as an officer, retiring in 2007 with a major’s rank. While in the service, he served as a Finance Officer all over the world, including tours in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bell currently works in the finance industry with a team of professionals focussed on helping institutions with cost efficiencies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Regis University and both a master’s degree in Organization Development and an MBA from George Washington University. He has also been a high school tennis coach, turning around the boys’ program at Freedom High School. He believes we need to celebrate diversity and condemn hateful remarks, speaking at many “Faith over Fear” events. In the House of Delegates he serves on two committees: County, Cities and Towns and Militia as well as Police and Public Safety.
How Close is this Race?
In 2016, Clinton carried this district by nearly 25%. This district has run extremely competitive races because Democratic voters have not shown up to the polls, despite their majority. It’s critical that we keep this district democratically represented with Democratic incumbent John Bell.
November 2016 Presidential Race
| Clinton (D) |
Trump (R) |
| 22,634 | 13,272 |
| 59.6% | 35.0% |
2013 House of Delegates Race
| Bell (D) |
Ramadan (R) |
| 10,087 | 10,274 |
| 49.4% | 50.3% |
Why this Race Matters most:
It’s critical that incumbent Democrat John Bell continue his work on behalf of the citizens of District 87 and progressive Virginians. With a conservative Republican opponent running in a majority Democratic electorate, this race has a strong chance of staying Blue, if enough Democrats show up to the polls.
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Why Incumbent Democrat John Bell?
- John Bell wants to prioritize transportation investments to relieve choke points, is pushing for bus rapid transit and more ride sharing, cutting tolls and establishing a new pricing system for Dulles Greenway road.
- Bell believes that education is the key to economic success. He voted for pay raises for teachers. Among his top priorities are getting state funds to establish full-day kindergarten for all students.
- He helped craft and pushed many of the 15 bills to help those with opioid addiction, has sponsored a bill requiring a tax exemption for the surviving spouses of disabled veterans, and also voted for pay raises for law enforcement.
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Why NOT Republican Subba Kolla?
- Kolla has provided little transparency on where he stands on critical issues affecting Virginians.
- His campaign displays a conformity with conservative Republican values: pro-business, blame the poor for not working hard enough, and reduction in government “interference” and protections.
- Despite coming to America so his daughters would have more opportunity for success, he cast his Republican delegate vote for sexist, womanizing-candidate, Donald Trump. He associates with conservative candidates that are trying to change legislation against taxes and protections.
Side by Side on Key Policy Issues:
| Democrat Position | Republican Position | |
| Education
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Reinvest in our schools to remain competitive and prepare the future generation. Increase teacher salaries. Champion for early childhood education and full day Kindergarten. | Vague tweet about reducing class room size and increasing teacher pay with no specifics. |
| Economic Development | Advocates investing in growing industries such as cybersecurity and green technology and public-private partnerships to reduce dependence on Federal Government. | Vague tweets on “creating jobs and improving infrastructure”, “everyone deserves to live the American Dream” and “a basic foundation of hard work, determination – and one’s ability to succeed based on their own efforts” are his proposals for district 87. |
| Transportation | Supports finding cost-effective transportation solutions, prioritizing transportation investments to relieve choke points, pushing for bus rapid transit and more ride sharing. | Vague tweet about “improving infrastructure”, easing congestion and tolls. |