About News Batten Hosts Candidate Forum with Democratic Contenders for Virginia’s 5th District Seat Jun 10, 2020 Batten Hosts Candidate Forum with Democratic Contenders for Virginia’s 5th District Seat Earlier this week, Batten professors moderated a discussion between the four candidates on issues ranging from racial justice to gun control On June 7, Batten professors Andy Pennock, Gabe Adams, and Peter Johannessen moderated a virtual candidate forum between the four Democrats vying to challenge Republican incumbent Denver Riggleman for his seat representing Virginia’s fifth congressional district. "Convening public conversations is an important part of the Batten School's mission,” said Pennock. “The pandemic has made public conversations both more important and more difficult to have. This forum was an opportunity for us to serve the voters of the Commonwealth. We were grateful to have the resources on Sunday to execute it well. We look forward to hosting virtual debates throughout this election season and to have them in person when we are able to so safely." Answering questions on everything from racial justice and policing to former Vice President Joe Biden’s options for running mates, the four candidates mostly focused on distinguishing their platforms and relevant personal experiences, rather than directly sparring with each other. Former Rappahannock County supervisor John Lesinski highlighted his track record of election in a rural district and his ability to “reach across the aisle,” as well as his 35 years of business experience. R.D. Huffstetler, who was raised in a rural family and attended Harvard’s Kennedy School with help from the G.I. Bill, emphasized his intimate knowledge of the district and his experience “living the American dream” as a first-generation college student. Ex-Marine Claire Russo characterized herself as “a leader and a fighter,” calling attention to her experience in the military and her advocacy for women as a sexual assault survivor. Cameron Webb, a lawyer, educator, and physician at the University of Virginia, focused on his ability to connect with people of all backgrounds and attend to a hurting nation: “I’m a healer by vocation, by inclination, and by calling,” he said. All four candidates professed their commitment to taking on the racial inequities that the murder of George Floyd has illuminated for many people in our country. Lesinski noted the need for white people to reflect more deeply on race. “The level of racism within us—we have to acknowledge that, because only when we shine a light on it can we really begin to address it,” he said. Russo and Huffstetler stressed the systemic nature of racism and its influence on policy. “It’s about the right to have your voice heard, the right to protest, the right to equitable health, the right to water that essentially isn’t being poisoned, the right to be safe in your classroom,” Russo said. Huffstetler noted the need for reforms in many areas, including policing. “If we can train service members overseas, who are protecting us in the gravest of circumstances,” said Huffstetler, “we can certainly make sure that that knowledge and intuition is used stateside so that African Americans can be safe on the street in our country.” Drawing on his experience working at the White House, Webb also focused on potential policy changes, outlining two primary recommendations for addressing police brutality: implementing the Obama administration’s “21st-century” policing approach throughout the country and changing the U.S. Criminal Code to hold officers accountable. Since policing falls under the purview of individual states, Webb said that Congress needs to be asking a key question: “How do we help mold what local law enforcement looks like?” The atmosphere of the debate was collegial and civil; participants frequently expressed respect for their fellow candidates and generally refrained from criticizing each other’s platforms. The main exception was Lesinski, who objected to Russo’s assertion that she would tackle the country’s most fraught issues “head on” and “not shy away from having tough talks about guns.” “With all due respect to one of my candidates here,” Lesinski said, “we’re not going to be able to get the folks we need from the fifth district by hitting the gun issues straight on. It’s an attack on rural heritage to do that.” Andrew S. Pennock Professor Andy Pennock came to Batten to teach courses in leadership, policy analysis, political institutions, and Virginia politics and policy. Read full bio Gabrielle Adams Gabrielle Adams conducts research on interpersonal dynamics and conflict resolution. A recent focus of her work has been on addressing workplace politics and resolving ethical transgressions through offender punishment, victim compensation, apologies, and forgiveness. She also studies prosocial behavior such as charitable donations and gift giving. Read full bio Peter Johannessen Peter Johannessen’s research explores how popular participation shapes the local policy-making process, including projects that focus on local electoral responsiveness and the design of participatory governance institutions in Brazil. Read full bio Related Content Andrew S. Pennock Teaching Policy Analysis Through Animated Films: A Mickey Mouse Assignment? Research Scrap the Syllabus: In This Batten Course, Students Take the Lead News Tackling everything from the death penalty to affordable housing, the students in Batten professor Andy Pennock's Virginia Politics and Policy don’t just participate in the course—they design it themselves. Meet the 2021 Batten Finalists for the Presidential Management Fellows Program News One of the most prestigious programs for graduate students and alumni interested in public service, the fellowship affords recipients two years of experience and training at a federal agency. Gabrielle Adams People systematically overlook subtractive changes Research A series of problem-solving experiments reveal that people are more likely to consider solutions that add features than solutions that remove them, even when removing features is more efficient. We instinctively add on new features and fixes. Why don’t we subtract instead? News Across a series of studies published this month in the journal Nature, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse and co-authors demonstrated that people tend to overlook the option to subtract parts when asked to change or improve something. In an op-ed for The Washington Post, they explore why ‘less is more’ is a hard insight to act on. Why People Forget that Less is Often More News Why, when solving problems, do people prefer adding things to getting rid of them? In an article for The Economist, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams and Benjamin Converse explain their research on subtractive improvements. Peter Johannessen Experts Discuss the Challenges Facing Democracy Globally News 'Democracies in Crisis' panel, co-hosted by the Batten School and Center for Politics, brought together expert and public perspectives on democracy today. The Batten School Welcomes Four New Professors for the 2019-20 Academic Year News The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy welcomed four new professors to its distinguished faculty for the 2019-20 academic year. The Batten School considers not only academic rigor, but also real-world experience, political impact, teaching, and mentoring when recruiting faculty members. Stay Up To Date with the Latest Batten News and Events Subscribe
Andrew S. Pennock Professor Andy Pennock came to Batten to teach courses in leadership, policy analysis, political institutions, and Virginia politics and policy. Read full bio
Gabrielle Adams Gabrielle Adams conducts research on interpersonal dynamics and conflict resolution. A recent focus of her work has been on addressing workplace politics and resolving ethical transgressions through offender punishment, victim compensation, apologies, and forgiveness. She also studies prosocial behavior such as charitable donations and gift giving. Read full bio
Peter Johannessen Peter Johannessen’s research explores how popular participation shapes the local policy-making process, including projects that focus on local electoral responsiveness and the design of participatory governance institutions in Brazil. Read full bio
Scrap the Syllabus: In This Batten Course, Students Take the Lead News Tackling everything from the death penalty to affordable housing, the students in Batten professor Andy Pennock's Virginia Politics and Policy don’t just participate in the course—they design it themselves.
Meet the 2021 Batten Finalists for the Presidential Management Fellows Program News One of the most prestigious programs for graduate students and alumni interested in public service, the fellowship affords recipients two years of experience and training at a federal agency.
People systematically overlook subtractive changes Research A series of problem-solving experiments reveal that people are more likely to consider solutions that add features than solutions that remove them, even when removing features is more efficient.
We instinctively add on new features and fixes. Why don’t we subtract instead? News Across a series of studies published this month in the journal Nature, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse and co-authors demonstrated that people tend to overlook the option to subtract parts when asked to change or improve something. In an op-ed for The Washington Post, they explore why ‘less is more’ is a hard insight to act on.
Why People Forget that Less is Often More News Why, when solving problems, do people prefer adding things to getting rid of them? In an article for The Economist, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams and Benjamin Converse explain their research on subtractive improvements.
Experts Discuss the Challenges Facing Democracy Globally News 'Democracies in Crisis' panel, co-hosted by the Batten School and Center for Politics, brought together expert and public perspectives on democracy today.
The Batten School Welcomes Four New Professors for the 2019-20 Academic Year News The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy welcomed four new professors to its distinguished faculty for the 2019-20 academic year. The Batten School considers not only academic rigor, but also real-world experience, political impact, teaching, and mentoring when recruiting faculty members.