John Bell for Virginia

“My time in the Air Force taught me a lot about priorities,” Bell said. “If elected as your delegate, my priorities will be to focus on commutes, jobs and schools.”

Throughout the one-hour debate with Del. Bob Marshall, Bell highlighted his experience as a waste-cutter in the Air Force, his commitment to public education and his experience as a commuter in Northern Virginia. Bell said he will spend his time in Richmond focused on everyday issues that impact our daily lives and not the social wars that have defined Marshall’s career.

Marshall acted like a candidate in the fight of his political life. Normally articulate and even mannered, Marshall was decidedly aggressive and repeatedly attacked Bell.

“I’m not surprised that Bob Marshall decided to go negative tonight and attack my record as a Finance Officer in the Air Force, because simply put, Marshall doesn’t have a record of results to stand on,” Bell said after the debate. “After 18 years in the House of Delegates, Marshall hasn’t unclogged our roads, he hasn’t grown our economy and he hasn’t improved our schools.”

One reason why Marshall may have been so aggressive is that the Bell campaign’s momentum is apparent. Recently, the national organization DLCC highlighted the race and commented that “Bell’s consistent fundraising and relentless field program have to have the Marshall campaign nervous."