Andrew Schear

Hello there! My name is Andrew Schear. I'm a small business owner and a stay-at-home dad. I'm running for Delegate in Virginia's 57th District because things like raising children, owning a home, and saving enough for retirement are increasingly becoming unattainable goals for working families – and that’s a huge problem. Just 25 years ago, my parents were able to raise two kids, purchase a single family home, and save some money for later - all on a single income and without a college degree. I struggle to believe that's still achievable in 2025, despite that fact that we live in the wealthiest country in the world.

From a young age, I learned the value of hard work. At age 12, as soon as I was legally allowed to do so, I started my first job, delivering newspapers twice a week by bicycle. By age 14, I had picked up a second job at my local library and a third with a local jeweler, manufacturing and polishing pieces for Tiffany & Co. After graduating from the University of Miami with my bachelor's degree, I immediately started my own small business in media production with two goals in mind - create entry level jobs for recent college grads facing a tough labor market, and serve my community whenever possible by providing pro bono video production services to local non-profit organizations.

Owning a small business taught me a lot about determination - about arriving early, staying late, and going the extra mile to get the job done. The success of my business afforded me the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Board for the Greater Kendall Business Association and of participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program alongside other highly successful business owners.

Three years ago, I chose to become a stay-at-home dad. Part of the reason why is because childcare is really expensive, and it just made more sense financially for our family. If we were to put both of our boys in daycare, it would cost more than our monthly mortgage payment. That's not affordable for anyone. I believe the solution will involve a partnership between the government and the business community, both of which stand to benefit financially from stay-at-home parents like me coming back to the workforce.

Whether you're a renter who's looking to renew your lease, a first time homebuyer searching for the right place to settle down, or a homeowner watching your real estate tax bill increase again and again, housing is becoming less and less affordable. We know that owning a home is a crucial part of building wealth and being able to eventually retire on our own terms. To solve this crisis, we will need to focus on creative solutions for increasing the supply of housing in Virginia.

When it comes to climate and environmental policy, elected officials in the Commonwealth should be crafting legislation without influence from the fossil fuel industry. I am currently the only candidate in District 57 who has pledged not to accept any campaign contributions from Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power. I am committed to investing in clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering a culture of respect for our planet.

We currently have a system of taxation in which Virginians earning $17,000 per year and those earning more than $1 million or more per year pay the same exact state income tax rate. Politicians keep trying to push for more casinos and gambling to increase revenue, when the answer is much more simple. Make sure the wealthiest Virginians earning more than $1 million per year pay their fair share of taxes. Put the additional revenue generated into public education, paid family and medical leave, and other programs to help our neighbors who need it most.

When my son started preschool this past fall, I was confronted with the fact that he will, at some time in the near future, need to participate in an active shooter drill. In that moment, the threat of gun violence, especially in schools, took on a whole new meaning to me. S___ just got real. As your delegate, I will seek to build on the progress we've made in Virginia in combating this epidemic, in hopes that some day, it will finally stop.

Having navigated two pregnancies in the past 4 years, my wife Michelle and I were so grateful to live in a state where women have the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health, without extreme restrictions imposed by the government. With the forthcoming constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights, we have an opportunity to make the Commonwealth a destination for millions of Americans looking for a place to settle down and raise a family. I will continue to defend those rights, because I understand just how important they are to women, to families, and to the future of Virginia.