Mental health dominates forum for House of Delegates hopefuls....

House of Delegates lawmakers and a handful of challengers pledged their support for mental health treatment and services Tuesday night during a 90-minute forum in Newport News.

The evening forum was a largely subdued affair as incumbent legislators and House hopefuls took turns affirming their commitment to community-based care, drug courts and funding to cut down on the waiting list for patients waiting for medical health care.

With state tax coffers still struggling thanks to the global economic slowdown, state services have faced a series of budget cuts under Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Revenue estimates suggest that lawmakers are likely to confront even more budget holes when they return to Richmond in January.

But the forum featured some pointed moments, as local candidates looked to draw differences between themselves and their opponents. Del Phil Hamilton, R-Newport News, had clear command of the issues as the chair of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions committee and the House GOP's go-to lawmaker on mental health issues.

Hamilton noted that he has passed numerous pieces of legislation to help give mental health advocates and patients a stronger voice in Richmond, creating an inspector general's office for the intellectually disabled, championing reform following the Virginia Tech massacre and opposing cuts to funding for mental health waivers.

"I have been a strong voice," Hamilton said. "I'm proud of my record setting priorities."

Hamilton's opponent Democrat Robin Abbott detailed her personal struggle after her first son, Nicholas, was born with severe cerebral palsy. Abbott said she would work tirelessly for patients and families dealing with few options and difficult decisions.

"I've dealt with mental health issues day after day for 29 years," Abbott said.

Del. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News, noted that in January a tax credit designed to help offset the costs of making homes more accessible will be increased to $2,000 from $500. 

"There's not a lot you can do for $500," Oder said. "I wish we could do more."  

Democrat Gary West said that he supports the trend towards more community care for mental health problems which has happened in recent years because overarching institutions cost significant amounts and have been known to isolate patients.

But West said that lawmakers must work to make sure that no one falls through the cracks.

Poquoson Mayor Gordon Helsel is running against Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton, who wasn't at the evening forum. Helsel said that try to get offenders with substance abuse problems into treatment instead of prison, and he said that means having enough judges on the bench - a clear shot at Gear who has been a central figure in some longstanding Peninsula judicial disputes.

"We have to appoint judges in a timely manner," Helsel said. Delays "back the system up and waste taxpayers money."

Democrat Sam Eure is also running for Gear's seat. Eure said that the judicial system is clogged with people who need drug treatment, and he said the state could save money by focusing on getting addicts off drugs rather then locking them up.

"We incarcerate way too many people simply on drug charges," Eure said.

Del. William Barlow, D-Isle of Wight, is facing a Republican opponent and an independent challenger, but Barlow was the only one in attendance. He said that lawmakers need to be protective of the state's main bank account - the General Fund - which is used on public education, public safety and health care. Barlow noted that some transportation plans would dip into the General Fund.

"It sounds innocuous when you say General Fund, until you think about what the General Fund pays for," Barlow said. "It's going to be a huge issue in the campaign."    

Comments

[NotAnnCulter]

Laura how in the world did Robin Abbott get a law degree. What an embarrassment to the alumni of William & Mary

[NotAnnCulter]

Laura, give me a break! Your first post mentioned CORRUPTION. Now you reference waste and fraud. Hamilton never said anything about waste and fraud IN RICHMOND. He challenged your candidate to specify the waste, fraud, and abuse that she wants to eliminate to pay for DD waivers. Your effort to REVISE what was actually said is typical of a desperate campaign. I noticed you ignored the contribution to another legislator during the 2009 session. Is this why your satory changed to waste and fraud?

[Jimmy]

Mr. Brandon, This post is discussing Mental health issues pertinent to everyone in Hampton-Newport News, not people like you pushing a fringe political agenda.

There is no record in the city of Newport News of you ever being associated with any party. There is probably a reason that Delegate Oder was in the reviewing stand: It is because he is the elected Delegate from the 94th, not some Democrat attorney ready to tax and spend. What Republican party were you ever part of that accepted that?

[laura]

I attended the forum as I said earlier. Hamilton did talk about waste and fraud in Richmond. Stop being so one sided.

[NotAnnCulter]

I do not know what mental health forum Laura attended, but she didn't attend the one I attended. It was Robin Abbott who mentioned eliminating waste, fraud and abuse, not corruption, as a way to pay for DD waivers. Hamilton stated that candidates who make such statements should specify what waste, fraud, and abuse they want to eliminate. Hamilton never mentioned corruption, but he could have questioned Abbott about if she was the lawyer in her law firm who offered a contribution to another legislator to withdraw HB 1687 during the 2009 General Assembly session. Maybe Laura thinks such contributions to legislators during a legislative session is appropriate.

[Pricillia E Burnett]

As someone who attended the forum and as a write in candidate for Sheriff in Newport News, like or dislike Hamilton, he knew about mental health. I agreed that training was necessary but not only for law enforcement but anyone in the criminal justice system, police, sheriffs, magistrate, and Judges. Since the delegates are who appoint the Judges, Judges should be on the top of the list for training not only for mental health but also with substance abuse. Pricillia E Burnett write in for sheriff

[Ron Brandon]

I did not attend the forum, but did go to Denbigh days. Let me say that I live in the 94th House district and have voted Republican for many years. But not this year. Gary West walked the parade route, shook hands and talked to people. Oder, my delegate sat in the reviewing stand and did nothing! Also found it odd, that Hamilton walked the parade route, shook hands and talked to people and stayed for hours after the parade to talk to people. West had a slew of volunteers with signs and literature, Oder had one person in the Republican booth and Oder only hung around for about half an hour and split.

Robin Abbott sat in the back of a dirty convertable, waved like Queen Victoria, and never shook one hand or talked to one person. If this is her tactic for beating Hamilton, she's going to lose. I will vote for Gary West, as the Republican party has left me, not me leaving them. But in the case of Hamilton, so far, I haven't seen that he violated any law and he's been forthcoming about making a mistake. But the fact that the democrat running against him is so arrogant that she can't even bother to walk and shake hands, says a lot more about her, than anything she has to say about Hamilton.

[laura]

As someone who attended the forum, the quote of the night was when Hamilton said we had to get rid of corruption in government. That was amazing.

[James P]

I also attended the public forum and enjoyed hearing comments from both sides, however I have to side with Delegate Hamilton because of his dominant voice of knowledge in the 93rd district. His responses were directly related to the topic at all times; where his opponent, Mrs. Abbott tended to direct her answers toward her own unfortunate expierences or toward Delegate Hamilton's response, instead of actually adressing the actual question itself.

[Sally Walker]

Robin Abbott never directly answers questions and this results in caddy, inappropriate responses to serious questions. Now I know why she is so invisible at public events, such as the Denbigh Day festivities. She doesn't want to be faced with questions because as soon as she starts talking, her incompetence in discussing the issues becomes painfully obvious.