Filler-Corn: 'I'm Taking Every and Any Opportunity to Talk to People'

When Delegate Dave Marsden (D-41) won a special election to be state senator, local Democrats turned to long-time activist Eileen Filler-Corn to fill the seat that covers much of Burke and Springfield.  "I definitely was recruited, I received a lot of phone calls," Filler-Corn said.

While Filler-Corn may be new to the statehouse, she is no stranger to Northern Virginia politics.  The 20-year Fairfax County resident has been active in the PTA and local non-profits and served in the Washington, DC offices of Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.  She even ran for her current position in 1999 against long-serving incumbent Jim Dillard (R-41).  This time around, Dillard crossed party lines to endorse her. Marsden, then a Republican and legislative assistant to Dillard, first met Filler-Corn during that race a decade ago.  "I found her to be a thoughtful and compelling candidate and after that race we became friends," he said.

Running in a special election, Filler-Corn only had six weeks of campaigning followed by serving the last 10 days of the House of Delegates session. With over a year to go until the 2011 election, Filler-Corn is regularly canvassing the district, trying to meet and hear from constituents who may not have gotten to meet her in the brief campaign. She also holds regular office hours at the Springfield Panera.  "I'm taking every and any opportunity to talk to people," Filler-Corn said, "[Constituents] want someone who's available and accessible."

As a mother of two teenagers, Filler-Corn is especially concerned about education.  "We have the best and brightest as far as teachers go," Filler-Corn said.  "The number one issue I heard about is cuts to education.  I think the last thing to be cut should be education."  Despite her work to save education dollars, this year's fiscal situation forced her to swallow some cuts to schools. "While the budget was much improved, it was hard for me to support, as there were cuts to education," Filler-Corn said.

Filler-Corn is hoping Virginia can find savings by auditing state agencies and reducing government waste, but admits this is an uncertain prospect. "We can hope.  I'll perhaps know when I get down [to Richmond]," she said.

With the state budget looking lean already, Filler-Corn is wary about Governor Bob McDonnell's plan to privatize state liquor stores.  "I'm concerned about losing that funding," she said. Still, she has not ruled out the idea and looks forward to getting more information from the McDonnell's administration.  "It's all about how can we work together," Filler-Corn said.

Filler-Corn was opposed to the recent law that allowed concealed handguns in bars and restaurants. "I support the Second Amendment, but guns and alcohol should not mix," Filler-Corn said.  She fears that the presence of concealed handguns will not allow patrons to evaluate a situation the way the previously mandated open carry did.

As Filler-Corn, a long-time Democrat, knocks on doors and talks to constituents, she likes to emphasize that she is focused on results, not partisanship. She only won her March election by 37 votes.  "The key really now is being open-minded and working across party lines, especially when you talk about the forty-first [district]," Filler-Corn said. "They want someone who can further their goals."