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Mark Sickles

DEMOCRAT

Mark Sickles is running for Virginia State Delegate, District 17.

Personal background

Mark has a bachelor's degree in forest management from Clemson University, a master's degree in industrial management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a master's degree in technology and science policy. He is Presbyterian.

Professional background

Mark used to work for corporate and government relations at Weeks Marine, Inc. He also used to be the director of Environmental Affairs at the American Association of Port Authorities.

Political background

Mark Sickles is currently the state delegate representing District 43. He was first elected in 2003 and has been in office for ten terms.

Energy & the Environment

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices.

As a state delegate, voted against a bill that would have banned Virginia’s government from banning or restricting the use of natural gas.

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Economy

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease.

As a state delegate, did not vote on a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp products to 0.3% of the product and 2 milligrams total. Possession of marijuana is decriminalized in Virginia but there is no legal market for sales of THC products.

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Healthcare

As a state delegate, voted against a bill that would have let patients sue hospitals that weren’t transparent about their prices for services.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

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Education

As a state delegate, voted against a bill that would have required school principals to tell parents if their child tells a school employee that they don’t identify with their gender assigned at birth or asks to be identified by another gender.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

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Public Safety

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027.

As a state delegate, voted against a bill that would have let drug dealers be charged with murder if one of their customers dies of a drug overdose. The punishment would have been 5-40 years in prison.

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