Andrew Hartless of Buena Vista is running as the Democratic candidate for the 37th District seat in the House of Delegates, emphasizing health care reform, education funding, and small business support as his top priorities.
Hartless said his decision to run was driven by both personal experience and a desire to prove that ordinary citizens can make a difference in government.
“This current political landscape can seem a bit hopeless,” he said. “It can be so easy to give up on improving the world, especially for those of my generation. I want people like me, who thought they couldn’t make a difference, to see that the average person can.”
Health care, he said, is both a professional and personal concern. Growing up in Rockbridge County, Hartless struggled with medical issues, and his family often found it difficult to find specialized care. He also lost his father to diabetes last year, an experience that deepened his belief that Virginia must do more to address chronic disease and expand access to care in small towns.
“The health care system in this area is not meeting the needs of its people to prevent or treat chronic diseases,” Hartless said. “Health education and prevention are cheaper than our current strategy and will save countless lives.”
He supports creating a loan forgiveness program for medical students who agree to work in rural hospitals or clinics after graduation.
“When the clinic in Buena Vista closed its doors, it had only a handful of full-time employees,” he said. “That’s unsustainable. This kind of program would help staff the hospitals and clinics our communities depend on.”
Hartless also cited improving public education as a major focus. He praised Rockbridge County’s schools and teachers and said the state must increase teacher pay and protect funding for community colleges and grants that help low-income students.
“Education is a powerful tool that gives children the ability to create the lives they want to live,” he said. “I’ll fight for every single penny for the teachers of Virginia.”
As someone with experience in technology, Hartless said he is concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence in classrooms.
“I know the dangers of unregulated AI,” he said. “I feel qualified to work on how we handle it responsibly.”
Economic development, he said, depends on supporting small businesses rather than prioritizing large corporations. “This region is full of small country stores, holein- the-wall restaurants, and passion projects,” he said. “They are the lifeblood of this region, and it would be deeply hollow without them.”
On broader statewide issues, Hartless said he supports both reproductive rights and responsible gun ownership.
“I grew up in a hunting community,” he said. “Those people should not have their way of life impacted because of those that misuse this right. But we do need some restrictions, especially on automatic weapons.”
He called reproductive rights “a matter of health and safety” and said DEI policies are vital to ensure equal opportunity. “DEI protects our most vulnerable from discrimination in the workplace,” he said. “They make sure the right person for the job isn’t prevented by unethical hiring practices.”
Hartless said his approach to politics is rooted in respect and open dialogue.
“I grew up in a household with a lot of political diversity,” he said. “I know how to have a healthy disagreement — to stand firm in what I believe, but still understand different perspectives. The old ways aren’t working. We need new perspectives and new skills to move forward.”
ANDREW HARTLESS
