HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The following is a transcription of an interview conducted by WSVA and Rocktown Now with 6th District Independent Candidate Robby Wells. Listen to the full interview with Robby Wells, as well as Republican Candidate Ben Cline and Democratic Candidate Ken Mitchell here.

Question 1
Why are you running for this office?

Robby Wells: I am running because I have a burning desire to serve the people here in the 6th district. It’s great that we are the 6th and it’s great that I can say that I’ve got everybody 6. I do have a slight military background. I was Army National Guard during the wars with Afghanistan and Iraq, but now I’m in the Coast Guard Auxiliary at Smith Mountain Lake. So, I do have a burning desire to serve the people. It seems like we really haven’t had representation for the district. We’ve had people in those positions, but they’re doing more about party politics and presidential politics than they are about actually helping the people right here in the 6th. As an independent, I am beholden to neither party, which means my only special interest group are the citizens here in the 6th District.

Question 2
What have you been hearing on the campaign trail? What are the people concerned about? Because sometimes there’s a disconnect between what occupies a lot of the discussion in media and actually what people are worried about when they decide who they’re going to vote for.

WELLS: There are several concerns that we have heard from thousands of voters as we’ve gone across. Because I am independent, I have to go out and get signatures to be on the ballot, which we’ve done. But it allows me to actually have one-on-one conversations with thousands of people across this district. There are several concerns. Number one, they feel like they’re not being represented. Number 2, they are concerned about all the frivolous spending with these two foreign wars, yet we’ve got a homeless rate of over 350,000 people in the United States. People can’t afford food. You’ve got elderly people having to decide whether they’re going to buy their medicine or pay their light bill. So, there’s some major problems here, that we’re stepping to the plate with structured solutions.

Other problems and concerns that that we’re hearing about is parents afraid to send their kids to school in fear of gun violence. We just saw at Apalachee High School. Once again, here we go. And if, if you are one of those people out there that are concerned about the gun violence then good, go to the polls, and vote Robby Wells for your congressman. I do have a plan called vets for kids, which will eliminate gun violence in schools across this country. How are we going to do that? We can completely eliminate all that violence by employing half a million veterans as guardians for our children. We’ll screen them and train them. But it’s time to have a different problem. Instead of every three or four weeks having to have thoughts and prayers.

So, I hear that and then we hear about the border–the problem with the border and if you are one of those that’s infuriated by over 10 million people coming into this country illegally in the past 3 1/2 years, then good. Go to the polls, vote Robby Wells. I do have a plan that will eliminate the border problem, and it’s called service for freedom. We can still be the beacon light of freedom for the entire world, but we can protect our citizens at the same time with my planned service for freedom.

Question 3
If you look at the 6th Congressional District, agriculture is a huge element, including, obviously in Rockingham and Augusta counties, there’s one thing that we are seeing and that is farmland is disappearing at a very alarming rate. What would you propose to deal with some of the big issues that agriculture is facing in The Valley.

WELLS: You’re exactly right. There are some major problems with agriculture, and you’re talking to a guy that grew up on a farm as a kid. So, I understand the pressures that farmers see because my family was in the farming industry. What I will say is this, as the farming land goes away, we probably want to start looking at vertical farming and if the farmers would actually do that, I’ve actually seen the aquaponic and hydroponic plants that they have 1/10th of the water used to make the same amount of crops. So, if farmers would actually start looking at that, maybe they don’t need quite as much land. Maybe it doesn’t cost quite as much to actually grow the crops, and they would actually have more profit.

Question 4:
Is it still possible in this day and age with this country that’s so divided that we can still solve problems through legislation? You’d be in a very unique position, being an independent candidate. You would not be caucusing, I would assume, with either the Republicans or the Democrats. How do you then go about being able to bring about some of the change you’d like to see in Washington.

WELLS: Well, you have seen a constant gridlock over the past 3 or 4 decades between the Democrats and Republicans. The gridlock is because each one of those party members, they’re beholden to the party, not so much to their actual district, and voting for their district. That’s the problem that you’ve got right here in the six right now with the fellow that holds the seat, he votes with the party line, not so much with what’s going on for the people and what’s in the best interest of the people of the 6th district. What I will tell you is this: as an independent, I have one special interest group, and that is called the people of the 6th district. And when I go to Washington, we are going to mix it up on the first day. I’m not going to play nice. Now I’m going to go play fair, but we’re going to go mix it up and we are going to make sure that on day one they know about the 6th district. And if elected, think about this, that gridlock that you’re talking about between Democrats, Republicans, most of those votes come down within one or two votes. Well, if that’s the case right here in the 6th district, if you’ve got an independent, then you’re looking at that swing vote. We can actually dictate right here in the 6th district, the way that our country is going to go for the next couple of years. And I’ve already said this too, we need term limits. I will run, and if I win, I will run for reelection, and that’s it. In this position I will serve 2 terms, that’s it.

Question 5:
If elected, what will be your first priority on day one?

WELLS: On day one, we’re going to mix it up, like I said, that is not just talk. On day one as an independent, I’ll nominate myself for Speaker of the House.

To find more information about Robby Wells visit runwithrobby.com.