Campaign Website:
https://leightonforcongress.com/

Campaign POC:

Phone Number: 571-379-6502 

Campaign Email: contact@leightonforcongress.com

Vetting Panel Selected: Pending

Structured Interview Completed: Pending

Biography: I’m a librarian at George Mason Law Library. Before that I was an attorney but I prefer to work out solutions rather than argue with people. That’s why my campaign slogan is, “Let’s Get Things Done.” I’ve been volunteering for campaigns since 1998, so I’m a lot like other politically-minded people who are involved in the process. I always wanted to run for office so when this chance came along (untimely as it was due to the incumbent’s illness). I decided to jump at it.

Why you?  I’ve been involved in Democratic campaigns for a long time and seen some great ideas about how to deal with certain issues get brushed off or ignored, only for those exact issues to pop up later on. It made me wonder what might have happened if we had adopted those ideas back then. But as a volunteer, you aren’t the one making the decisions about which idea gets pushed in Congress. That’s why I want to get up there and speak up for these issues that we’ve been neglecting far too long.

What are your priorities? I want to lower college tuition by requiring colleges to keep tuition within the rate of inflation, or lose access to federal student loans. That’s why college is so expensive, because we are basically subsidizing the price of tuition. I want to break the link between your job and your employer, and allow people to shop around for their own health plans. When insurers compete, consumers win. I want to lower gas prices by helping friendly countries produce oil more cleanly and efficiently. I have a lot more ideas listed on my website.

Endorsements: Did not answer.

Education: B.A. in History and Classics from Connecticut College, and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
 

Relevant Employment History: 
English Teacher in China, 1996-1997
Attorney, 2005-2011
Librarian, 2011 – present

Military Experience / Branch / Years of Service / Rank / Type of Discharge: Did not answer.

Past Offices Held and Tenure: High School Student Council

Community Service:
I’ve volunteered for campaigns since 1998.

Leadership Experience: 
Leadership is not about telling people what to do. It is about building consensus and moving people toward the goals they want.

Personal Strengths: 
I grew up in a big family with several close members being Republicans. I think I understand where they are coming from, which will make it easier for me to work with them. I also have been a studious person all my life, which will come in handy studying obscure federal policy

What is the most important thing Virginians need to know about you? I am a very honest, sincere, well-intentioned person who genuinely wants to sit down and solve problems.
 

How would your friends and family describe you? My dad once said, “You’re always reading!”

What are your thoughts on the Constitution as the Law of the Land?  I will always be loyal to the Constitution.
 

What are your thoughts on religious liberty? Religious liberty is a basic tenet of society and must be protected and preserved  
 

What are your thoughts on the preservation of our history? As a history major, I am very aware of the importance of preserving and expanding knowledge of our history
 

What are your thought on government transparency?  It is essential to have citizens be able to trust their government. I am very open and transparent. I filed an FEC report even though it wasn’t required.
 

What are your thoughts on national defense? I am a strong backer of the military. My time teaching in China showed me what an authoritarian regime is like, and I have been a close watcher of that country ever since.
 

What are your thoughts on the free enterprise system? Free enterprise is vital and non-negotiable and will always be preserved. I am trying to open up our health care system to more free enterprise, for example.

What are your thoughts on the protection of the unborn? I would like to work out an acceptable way to remove the issue of abortion from endless debate, and allow it to become a matter of settled, stable law that will satisfy most people.
 

What are your thoughts on the role the family plays in America? Family is wonderful, and while there are many forms it may take, it is a bedrock of our society.
 

What are your thoughts on equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity, as opposed to equal outcomes? I think most people understand why the Declaration of Independence says “the pursuit of happiness”, and not just “happiness,” and I think that wording is well-chosen.
 

What are your thoughts on the 2nd Amendment? I believe in gun safety, not gun control.

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