Key Facts
Background
Kelly Convirs-Fowler has lived in Virginia Beach her entire life. She was raised in a military family and is a member of Virginia Beach’s Filipino community. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice at Virginia Wesleyan University, followed by her master’s degree in education at Old Dominion University, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. After her education, Convirs-Fowler started a career in education, teaching at various elementary schools in Virginia Beach before opening a real estate business aimed at helping military families. She continues to live in Virginia Beach with her husband and three children [1, 3, 4, 5, 7].
Convirs-Fowler was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017, defeating a Republican incumbent and helping the Democratic party take control of the chamber, and was reelected in 2019 and 2021. Since then, she has worked on various House Committees, most recently the House Finance Committee and the House Privileges and Elections Committee. Convirs-Fowler is running to represent House District 96 in 2023 [1, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Key Issues
Economy
Convirs-Fowler wants to lower costs and raise wages. She supports lowering prescription drug prices and an increased access to benefits for the unemployed. She is opposed to cutting taxes for corporations and reducing regulations on the private sector [1, 4].
Education
Convirs-Fowler emphasizes her experience as an elementary educator and mother as an example of her passion for education. She wants to raise teacher pay. She does not support state funding for charter schools. Convirs-Fowler wants to create a long-term task force to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education system [1, 4, 7].
Environment
Convirs-Fowler supports state funding for the expansion of renewable energy sources and regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. She wants to protect beaches, waterways, and greenspaces. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the American Flood Coalition and wants to protect Virginia Beach from flooding on the state level [1, 4, 5].
Reproductive Rights
Convirs-Fowler is pro-choice. She supports the current laws relating to abortion passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 [1, 7].
Endorsements
EMILY’s List, EveryDistrict, Virginia Beach Democratic Committee, Giffords
Sources
1 Delegate Kelly Fowler
2 WAVY News
3 Ballotpedia
4 Vote Smart
5 American Flood Coalition
6 VPAP
7 The Virginian Pilot