J.C. 'Chap' Petersen Answers Patch's Candidate Questionnaire For June 20 Primary

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Incumbent State Sen. J.C. "Chap" Petersen is facing fellow Democrat Saddam Azlan Salim in the June 20 Democratic Party Primary.

The last time Petersen was on the ballot was in November 2019, when he was re-elected to represent the 34th District in the Virginia Senate.

This current election cycle is the first time that candidates will be running in newly redrawn districts. Petersen and Salim are competing to be their party's candidate on the November ballot in the 37th District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, the Town of Vienna, and parts of Tysons, Oakton, and Merrifield.

A resident of Fairfax City, Petersen is an attorney, who has served in the General Assembly since 2002. Prior to that, he was a member of the Fairfax City Council.

Early voting for the primary got underway on May 3 and runs through June 17, which is the Saturday before the primary. More information about voting in Fairfax City, Falls Church and Fairfax County is available online.

Patch invited each of the candidates in the 37th District race to fill out a questionnaire about their campaign. The following are Petersen's responses.

Name

J.C. "Chap" Petersen

Position Sought

Virginia State Senator

Age (As of Election Day)

55

Campaign Website

www.fairfaxsenator.com

Family: Names, ages and any pertinent detail you wish to share.

Sharon Kim Petersen (52), Eva Emmeline Petersen (24), Mary Walton Petersen (21), Thomas Henry Petersen (18), Ida Grace Petersen (11)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No.

Education

Fairfax High School (1986), Williams College, Mass. (1990), University of Virgina Law School (1994)

Occupation - Please include years of experience

Attorney, licensed in Virginia since 1994

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Virginia State Senate (2008-present), Virginia House of Delegates (2002-2006), Fairfax City Council (1998-2002)

Why are you seeking elective office?

To be a voice for the ordinary citizen and taxpayers in the General Assembly.

The single most pressing issue facing District 37 is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Public school education. For the past two years, I have led the fight to raise teacher salaries and increase opportunities for children. My goal in the next two years is to "reinvent" the final years of K-12 education by permitting school credit for 12th grade internships and re-imagining our community college system as a platform for vocational training. This way we can create a pathway to success for a generation of kids that may otherwise drop out.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm a senior member of the Democratic Caucus with a record of reaching bipartisan solutions on certain issues, while being the "Brick Wall" on others. I've also knocked on over 100,000 doors in my career to directly speak to voters. Nobody else can say that.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Another critical issue is inflation. My 2023 legislation (SB 957) sought to control the rising price of prescription drugs by using Federally-negotiated price limits to save money for seniors as well as others. Then there's public safety. In addition to passing a ban on the sale of AR-15's, we need to address the root causes of harm which is increasing use of fentanyl and other dangerous opioids. I support stronger criminal penalties for dealers of these lethal drugs. Finally, as Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, I'm focused on preserving Virginia's environment by passing legislation to preserve water and open space. We will leave Virginia a better place than we found it.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In 2021, I formed a bipartisan coalition to pass SB 1303 which reopened schools and got the kids back in class. In 2022, that same coalition passed SB 739 which finally brought kids "back to normal" after two years of disruption. I did it despite some very intense criticism, even from my friends. That's what it means to be a leader.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Take pleasure in other people's success. It takes the pressure off yourself.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I view every issue in terms of its impact on my constituents, the Commonwealth and our constitutional rights. It's a never-ending balance. But that's the joy of living in a democracy.

READ Saddam Azlan Salim's responses to this candidate questionnaire.

Related:

• Deadline Passes; No Lawsuit Filed By Petersen Campaign Against Salim
• Chap Petersen Campaign Threatens To Sue Opponent Salim Over Websites
• Democrats Petersen, Salim Tell Personal Stories To Define Who They Are
• Yalowitz Drops Out Of 37th Senate Race, Leaving Petersen Facing Salim
• Petersen Outraises 2 Primary Opponents In Virginia Senate Race: VPAP
• Petersen Touts Record, Looks To Step Into Leadership Role In VA Senate
• Salim Defeats Petersen In Fairfax Democratic Committee Straw Poll Vote
• Saddam Azlan Salim To Challenge Chap Petersen In June 20 Primary
• Erika Yalowitz Third Democrat Running For VA Senate In 37th District
• Petersen Touts Advocacy For Children, Elderly, Small Business
• Gun Control, Reproductive Rights Top Priorities For Senate Candidate