Deb Rodman is the Democratic candidate for Delegate for Virginia’s 73rd District, in Henrico County.

Deb’s Story:

“I have spent the past 15 years of my life as an educator and the past ten years helping refugees seeking political asylum in federal courts. I looked around me and said to myself, ‘if I can help the most vulnerable, why can’t I help my own neighbors? What does the future hold for their children and mine?’ It seemed that it was time for me to step up and make a difference. That’s why I am running for office in Virginia’s 73rd House district.

“As a mom with a special needs child, I’m frustrated with the way that politicians have attacked our schools and jeopardized our kids’ futures. I’ll be a voice and a vote for giving our schools, colleges, and universities the funding they need.”

Bio: Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women’s Studies and Director of Women’s Studies at Randolph-Macon College. Regularly serves as an expert witness for U.S. Federal immigration courts for families seeking political asylum, mostly women and children, and LGBT individuals. Named as one of Richmond Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Former Fulbright Scholar. Fluent Spanish speaker. Mom to two beautiful boys and wife to Darryl Lowery, a Richmond native and member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina.

Issues: Deb wants to make real progress towards more jobs for Virginia, through more job training programs, not budget cuts. Better employees attract more businesses attract better employees. Facing financial disaster when you or your child needs to see a doctor is unacceptable. Deb supports giving more access to crucial health care for Henrico County families, including expanding Medicaid. Deb strongly believes that a woman should always be able to make her own decisions about her health care. While working as an expert witness assisting refugees fleeing violence and terror at home and seeking political asylum in federal courts, Deb was struck by how much discrimination they now face here. That’s why she’ll continue her 15-year mission to speak out and take action against prejudice and discrimination to ensure that all Virginians are treated equally and fairly under the law.

Opponent: incumbent Republican Delegate John O’Bannon. O’Bannon led the opposition to Medicaid expansion in Virginia that is costing the state of Virginia billions of dollars and denies almost a half a million Virginians access to healthcare. He voted in 2017 to defund Planned Parenthood and earned a 100% pro-gun score from the Virginia Citizens Defense League. In 2016, O’Bannon earned a grade of “F” from the Sierra Club and a 33% score from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

Recent elections: Hillary Clinton won this district with 7% more of the vote than Trump received.

Website: http://www.rodmanfordelegate.com
Phonebank:  Indivisible Virtual Phonebanking Team (facebook group); read the pinned post
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/rodmanfordelegate/
Twitter: @deboradora
Contact: rodmanfordelegate@gmail.com
Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Debra_Rodman

Thank you to Nancy Broff for drafting this candidate profile. Thank you to all sources of information linked and provided in this profile.