KEYRIS MANZANARES: Thank you, Delegate-elect, for having us in your home today.

We just want to get to know you a little bit better, so can you tell us about yourself and also the district that you serve?

VIRGIL THORNTON: I grew up in Newport News, moved over to Hampton when I got in the apprenticeship, and that's at Newport News Shipbuilding.

That's been a part of the reason as far as my background and running for office.

I went through the apprenticeship, worked as an electrical nuclear test technician after graduating from the apprentice school, and then from there moved into the automotive industry.

Started selling cars and then worked my way up to be general manager, operating dealerships.

And my wife and I own our own executive coaching and leadership firm, so that got me into the business realm because I have a heart for small businesses, which of course is the backbone of our economy.

And then we also do a lot of community service.

I'm a foster parent for special needs children.

I also do mentorship for at-risk young boys to keep them out of trouble, because if we can get to them when they're young, hopefully we can direct them into a more positive path.

And then we also do training for women who have experienced homelessness with children, as far as in a transition stage, getting them back into society and viable citizens again.

So that's my background.

Running for office, of course, all of that experience over 35 years of leadership, mentorship and, of course, community service.

So, I want to take that background from my community service and add it to my background and my professional experience, take it to Richmond, advocate for educational funding, also expanding our health care, bringing the costs down, and helping out our economy.

So that's the, I call it my triangle, as far as my campaign.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: And when you were campaigning, what were some of those top issues that you heard from the everyday residents of this area?

VIRGIL THORNTON: What I've heard on the doors and conversations, mainly affordability.

Affordability when it comes to health care, affordability when it comes to housing.

And then, of course, Poquoson and York and Hampton, they're all concerned about education, as far as funding the schools.

Because in research, it shows that our schools in this district are paid less than the national average.

So if we're going to retain our teachers we have and attract other educators, then we have to pay them.

They can have a heart for it, just like I have a heart for the community, but in their situation, they definitely want to make sure they're getting paid.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: When you're in Richmond, VIRGIL THRONTON: Yes.

what are your top priorities?

VIRGIL THORNTON: Top priority for me, and of course, even in coming to Richmond, is the three amendments, which of course is the reproductive rights, voting rights and marriage rights.

Because by us having the majority now, we can all work as a team to try to get that across the finish line, as far as those amendments onto the Constitution.

Of course, the process of first getting it on the ballot.

So that's a huge priority of mine.

Also another priority of mine is getting the minimum wage — as far as getting that up to that $15 over time.

And of course, that's one of the bills that, I call her my sister, because I have part of Hampton in the 86th district, and Delegate Ward has 87.

And she's actually carrying that bill to get the minimum wage up.

So those are definitely high priorities for me in Richmond.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: In line with your priorities for the amendments, where do you stand on redistricting?

VIRGIL THORNTON: That is a big concern.

And of course, I stand in line with the speaker.

And of course, that is something that we need to address, as far as leveling the playing field.

It's no secret that those are things that were happening around the country, basically spearheaded by our president.

And here in Virginia, we're going to do what's necessary to level the playing field.

So I'm definitely a supporter.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: What do you think has really prepared you for the role of delegate?

VIRGIL THORNTON: It actually brings me to a scripture of mine, I've got to use it.

And that's Romans 8:28, and it says that all things work together for good.

So all of the things in our background, from working in the automotive industry, working at the shipyard, working with at-risk children, all of those have prepared me to address the needs of the community.

Because they're in the community, and all those things you will see.

For instance, one door I knocked on I — I just love knocking doors.

Because you talk to the constituents, eyeball to eyeballs, what are the issues that are going on?

And with her, it was affordable health care.

Because I told her that was on my platform, part of my triangle, and she started crying.

And I didn't understand why.

And then she got herself together and she said, "Hey, we're selling our personal heirlooms because the medication that I have to get for my husband, who we recently found out had four-stage cancer, we can't afford it.

Even with the insurance we have.

So she's selling these things for his medication.

And that hits hard.

So yes, I want to go to Richmond to help out families like that.

And then, of course, I get to see firsthand what it's like to have an underserved community where you have to go outside your community to get health care.

So part of my platform is to bring in clinics and things of that nature into neighborhoods that are marginalized that don't have access to health care.

And of course, things like that help bring the cost of health care down.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: What will be your guiding principles when deciding on funding?

And what should be taken in account?

VIRGIL THORNTON: When I think about my trifecta, as far as my triangle with health care, affordability, also with our economy and growing it and also with our education, I've been asked before, of the three, what is the most important?

And same thing with the budget for me, the most important of those things that center around health care.

Because if you're not healthy, it doesn't matter about education.

If you're not healthy, it doesn't matter about the economy because you're not going to go to work.

So my goal is to go to Richmond and advocate for those things that have to fill those holes.

Because it's going to be difficult as far as some of the programs.

We just don't have enough money to fill all the gaps because of the federal cuts.

So it's going to be a matter of getting with my colleagues and figure out with the task force that the Speaker of the House put together to go around the state and find out what programs need the most funding and what's most important and then coming back and then we voting on those things to get the things that are most important.

And unfortunately some things will be cut, some programs will get some funding [and] some programs may not get any funding.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: What's the big takeaway here from you?

What do you want people to get to know about you?

VIRGIL THORNTON: I'm a fighter for them.

That I'm going to Richmond to get the resources that they need in my communities so that they can be a more thriving community.

Because, of course, affordability is huge right now and it's a lot of chaos coming out of Richmond and I feel that this election is important and what I do there is important because there's — we want to get back to community over the chaos.

And of course at the same time, send out a message to the rest of the country that our citizens want affordability and they want to get back to community.

KEYRIS MANZANARES: Thank you.