by Jessica Smocer
JOBS JOBS JOBS!
After talking to Carole Pratt for five minutes, it is pretty clear why she has been so successful generating support so early in her campaign. She’s straightforward, gutsy, incredibly qualified, knowledgeable about the issues, and cheerfully inexhaustible. Carole Pratt is the Farm Team endorsed candidate for the House of Delegates in the 6th District.
What keeps her moving in the race? The rejection of the stimulus money. “The unemployment in this district has doubled over the past 12 months,” Pratt says seriously. “One in ten people are unemployed and I found the vote to reject the unemployment stimulus funds unconscionable.”
The 6th district in rural southwest Virginia includes parts of Wythe, Tazewell, Pulaski, and Giles counties, and all of Bland. Pratt, a lifelong resident of the area, is from a farm family and shared a dental practice for 32 years with her husband, Rick Mansell.
Her community service resume is rich and comprehensive and includes serving on a broad range of job creation and economic development boards, and education advocacy organizations. She has served as president of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, and chaired both the New River Economic Development Alliance and Virginia’s Small Business Advisory Board. Pratt currently serves as a member of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Board, Women and Leadership in Philanthropy Council, and the Va. Tech Alumni Association Board.
Pratt is determined to be the voice for rural healthcare issues in the General Assembly. She served as chair of Virginia’s Board of Health and vice-chair of the Virginia Medicaid Board. She is one of eleven National Rural Health Association Fellows in the U.S. The Association focuses on issues such as access to healthcare for rural populations, and she is working to establish a database of rural health professional educational programs. One of Pratt’s top-tier concerns is the shortage of primary care physicians in her district. She supports local residency programs as an initiative to solve this problem.
For the community, the benefits of a strong healthcare system are exponential. “Jobs, jobs and jobs,” Pratt says, “and the economic multiplier rate is really great.” Small hospitals in rural communities are generally one of the largest employers and offer the best paying jobs. “One of the few sectors in the country’s economy where jobs are being created is healthcare,” Pratt added. She also noted that medical residents tend to stay in the area where they do their training, so having the training programs available is incredibly important.
Pratt also understands the nuances of the small business economics of her district, and would seek to level the playing field for the “homegrown” business owner with development incentives specifically adapted to support the economic growth of smaller businesses. “Rural areas in general aren’t competitive for mega-businesses, which get incentives for economic development.”
Pratt explains the local community colleges offer a ready supply of qualified workers to support new jobs and businesses. “Our district’s largest exports are graduates from two community colleges,” Pratt says with frustration. “We export our brightest and best young people. Community colleges can be responsive to the job market in ways that a large university cannot – offering specific classes to address most current want ads.”
Pratt is also clear on her advocacy for the local farming industry. “We need to make sure our farmers are able to get their goods to market in the most productive, efficient, and economical way.” She says, “There are some impediments to farmers selling their goods and services. I want to be sure that farmers are being helped instead of held back.”
“Meeting the demand for new jobs, supporting those jobs that are already here, making sure the people have good doctors both now and in the future, investing in excellent education at every level. This is the formula for our success.”
For more information on Carole Pratt or to donate to her campaign, please visit her website. Carole Pratt is a Farm Team endorsed candidate.
3 Responses to “Carole Pratt – Candidate for 6th House District”
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Pratt says she will work to level the playing field for local businesses, but in the same breath says she would have accepted money from the Federal government for unemployment. If anyone bothered to research this issue, you would find that this Federal money also brought with it several other things that VA would have to do to fulfill the Federal mandate. After the money ran out, VA employers would have to still pay the same amount from their own pocket. The fact that this would cost a penny a day comes from unemployment figures from years ago, obtained using a heavily democratic panel. Before I support Pratt, I want to hear something real she will stand for instead of half-truths engineered to make her look good.
Carole,we haven’t met but I feel like I know you–through listening and reading about issues that are important to you and through mutual acquaintances-Tom Brewster,Martha Jackson and especially Linda Diyorio.I am vice chair of the Wythe co. Democratic party so I have known and worked with Linda and John for a long time. I have been very busy and haven’t been able to come to any of your events but I would like to make a contribution of money,hoping you can use it to bring you on to your final victory.If I don’t see you sooner, I will see you at the bar-b- q on oct.31st. We’re looking for a big crowd.
Filling cavities and serving on a few boards does not a good politician make. For some reason, Mrs. Pratt’s assertions are not being examined and facts ignored. For instance, the statement about federal dollars creating a huge unfunded mandate that Virginia cannot afford is a fact which Mrs. Pratt refuses to address.
Mrs. Pratt repeatedly makes statements about Ms. Crockett that are completely unfounded and, in fact, lies. Yet, it seems the media and Pratt supporters are content to ignore them.
Democrat or not, liberal or not, it is time for voters to take a stand against candidates and politicians who speak untruthfully, won’t directly speak to issues, and hide their true agenda.