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Paul Siker
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Paul Siker (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 33. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.
Siker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Paul Siker was born in Pittsburgh. Siker graduated from Wittenberg University in 1983. His career experience includes working in talent acquisition, executive search, and staffing within commercial, government, and non-profit arenas. Siker has served on boards for the following organizations:
- LAWS
- The Community Foundation of Loudoun & Northern Fauquier Counties
- The Kiski School
- Catoctin Presbyterian[1]
Elections
2021
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 33
Incumbent Dave LaRock defeated Paul Siker in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 33 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dave LaRock (R) | 58.2 | 25,188 |
 | Paul Siker (D)  | 41.7 | 18,049 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 54 | ||
| Total votes: 43,291 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Paul Siker advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 33.
Republican convention
The Republican convention was canceled. Incumbent Dave LaRock advanced from the Republican convention for Virginia House of Delegates District 33.
Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2021
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released August 3, 2021 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Paul Siker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Siker's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a 33-year resident of Loudoun County. I’ve lived in Waterford for the past 26 years and am an Elder at the Catoctin Presbyterian Church. My wife, Joni, and I have been married for 36 years and have two sons who both live and work in Northern Virginia. For over three decades I’ve been a successful small business owner and entrepreneur. My professional life has been spent in the executive search and talent acquisition consulting arena. My clients are name brand companies and non-profits from all over North America who have entrusted me with a variety of key projects. I have actively worked to give back to my community by serving on the boards of impactful community facing non-profits like LAWS and the Community Foundation of Loudoun & Northern Fauquier Counties. Politically speaking, I am a pragmatic centrist, which means that my motivations are to find creative solutions to problems that deliver tangible value to constituents. I am a fiscally responsible social moderate. I believe good government is grounded in good judgement, and that it is incumbent upon our elected officials to thoughtfully steward taxpayer money. Simply put, I get things done.
- I am a pragmatic centrist who has established a reputation for doing hard things well.
- I am a collaborator and consensus builder who will represent all constituents regardless of party.
- I am a results-driven professional. I’m adept at finding middle ground solutions and compromises that bring people together.
Rural Economy - I will partner with rural entrepreneurs and business owners in the Agri-X and support the business community while being respectful of our area’s rural dynamic.
Rural Broadband - I will advocate for local government getting additional funding to address “last mile” of service obstacles and end the digital divide.
Conservation and Preservation - I will fight to protect and preserve the rural beauty, historic villages, and other unique features of Loudoun, Clarke, and Frederick counties.
Healthcare – I come from a medical family and have worked in clinical settingsI will strive to enhance healthcare accessibility across the 33rd district and the Commonwealth, particularly in rural areas.
Law Enforcement & Public Safety - I believe that Law Enforcement agencies need more funding, not defunding. Additional resources will help secure the best possible staff, provide enhanced training opportunities, and address demands associated with contemporary policing.
Renewable Energy - We have a moral obligation to protect our environment and assure that our children reside in a world not decimated by climate change. I’ll support initiatives that accelerate modernizing our electrical grid. Virginia should continue to be a leader when it comes to transitioning to clean energy solutions.
My father, E.S. Siker, MD, is the individual who I look up to and whose example I would like to follow. My Dad was an amazing man. The son of immigrants, he grew up in New York on Long Island, graduated from High School at the age of 16 and completed his undergraduate degree at Duke University. He entered the Navy at the end of WW II, and then went to medical school at NYU on the G.I. Bill. After completing medical school, he fulfilled his responsibility to the U.S. Navy by serving in Korea in an Army MASH unit. My Dad went on to become a pioneering Anesthesiologist, led one of the strongest Anesthesia residency programs in the US, and went on to become the President of the American Society of Anesthesiology. He firmly believed in the promise of science enhancing medicine and human life. He was tapped by President Nixon to lead a medical exchange between the US and China in the early 1970s when relations were re-established. My father was a force in his profession, but he was also the consummate gentleman who would do anything to help others. Most of all, he was a great Dad and role model.
In college, as part of my political science curriculum, I took two specific courses: Conservatives & Liberals, and Capitalists & Socialists. Both courses were taught by Dr. William Buscemi. In each course, Dr. Buscemi led students on a deep dive on both foundational and contemporary political thought. So, in Conservatives and Liberals for example, we started out by reading an array of essays by Aristotle and Plato, as well as by modern political thought-leaders (i.e. William F. Buckley). Then at the halfway point in the course, Dr. Buscemi would walk into class and say, “So, we’ve been talking about why the Conservatives have it right – what do you think – have I convinced you?” Students would tentatively nod, at which point he’d say, “Well, let me say that everything you’ve heard thus far is a bunch of nonsense – now let’s look at the Liberal side of the equation.” And for the next 6 – 7 weeks that’s exactly what we did. At the end of the course, Dr. Buscemi asked us where we felt we were situated on the political spectrum. And the truth was that we all felt a bit confused, which is exactly where he wanted us to be. I remember him remarking that the real value of his courses were that they gave one the ability to “stand in the other guys shoes,” and appreciate other perspectives. This, of course, translated into being able to have a dialogue with anyone, regardless of their beliefs, which is something that I have come to genuinely value. While Dr. Buscemi has long since retired, I would recommend that people who want to have a greater appreciation for my political philosophy (pragmatic centrism), consider doing a free MOOC program on both Liberalism and Conservativism.
I am a fundamentally positive, upbeat, “glass is half full” type of person. I have built a reputation for being a very respectful, engaged professional who gets things done. I’m a strategic thinker who invests time and energy into mapping out how to effect quality solutions to challenging problems. I also have an ability to look at issues from multiple vantage points, which often allows me to formulate thoughtful approaches to problems that leave all stakeholders feeling that they have skin in the game. In my career, I’ve given hundreds of presentations and can communicate complex ideas in an effective and compelling manner. I’m also the kind of person that will actively listen to the views and perspectives of everyone. I like to say that I will lend anyone and open ear and an open mind. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we will agree on everything, but it does mean that I place a priority on making sure that others know that I’ve heard them and appreciate their perspective. Finally, I’m a very forthright and transparent person who people trust. I believe in communicating candidly and honestly.
I’m not someone who is preoccupied with my legacy. I’ve never really been the kind of individual who needs to be in the spotlight, although I'm very comfortable being there when necessary. I would be very happy if I helped our country progress to a point where our politics are more congenial, and where people aren’t demonized for being affiliated with one party or another. I’ve long believed that for the most part we all want the same things. We want the opportunity to live fulfilling lives in a world that presents us with a level playing field. I would be very gratified if I’m able to deliver positive results that benefit my community. Again, I’m not running out of aspiration, but out of a sense of obligation. I hope that I’m remembered as a person who was kind, compassionate, selfless and who got meaningful things accomplished.
I'm a huge fan of music - I was a DJ in college. I love just about every genre, and I try to keep up with new music, particularly in the Alternative rock space. But, I also have a great love for traditional rock, etc. There isn't one song that's stuck in my head - there are lots of songs! Too many to name.
I’ve always been a very hard worker, and as a small business owner I worry that at times I put business obligations ahead of my family. Throughout the time frame that my children were growing up, I regularly attempted to take a step back to assure that I was available and involved. I worry sometimes that I could have been even more engaged, and whether I allocated my time correctly. I’m grateful for the close relationships I enjoy in my family today, and believe that I struck a good balance between professional versus family pursuits. Hopefully, I got it right.
Not necessarily. My degree is in Political Science, but my career has principally been as an entrepreneur and small business owner. I would submit that my extensive business experience in the talent acquisition, executive search and staffing arena equip me with a spectrum of “on-the-ground” economic insights and expertise that an individual with only governmental or political experience simply would not possess. Over the course of my career, I have worked with a tremendous number of name brand companies that have enlisted my firm to help them optimize and enhance their recruitment and hiring processes. In every instance, I’ve been required to come up to speed very quickly to understand each client’s business objectives and priorities, as well as their internal workflows. Similarly, in my work as a board member serving community-based non-profits, I’ve had to come up to speed quickly in order to effectively contribute on strategic and tactical matters. I think being a “quick-study” and learning about issue areas that are before the legislature is a highly desirable skill, and one that I’ve effectively cultivated via years of consulting to my firm’s client base.
Yes, I believe that it’s very beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. In my opinion, a big part of being an effective Delegate is very much about forging thoughtful and trusting relationships with colleagues. In my professional experience, I’ve always sought to build relationships with clients that were collaborative in nature, out of the belief that working in concert with one another, we could cultivate a more effective solution and greater overall buy-in. I also believe that Delegates who are both well-liked and respected by their colleagues are more likely to get the benefit of the doubt, particularly with respect to getting legislation passed. The plain fact of the matter is that my opponent, Dave LaRock, doesn’t enjoy a reputation for being either A) thoughtful, or B) respected. As a result, other Delegates aren’t motivated to want to work with him at all, which is one of the reasons that he achieves no results for his district. Ever.
No. I have said from the beginning of my campaign that my run for office is not aspirational, but rather is grounded in obligation to my community. I have led a blessed life, both personally and professionally. I love my community, and it would be exceptionally gratifying if I could provide District 33 with a respected voice in Richmond. I believe in the notion of "Citizen Statesmanship," and that it is incumbent on individuals to give back to their community. If elected, I have no plan to seek higher office.
With respect to policymaking, I absolutely believe that the ability to compromise is both a necessary and desirable quality. In fact, one of the reasons that I decided to run for the House of Delegates 33rd District seat is that my opponent, Dave LaRock, has demonstrated an almost universal inability to compromise during his tenure in office. I have consistently highlighted the fact that unlike my opponent, who embraces extreme positions in numerous policy areas, I am a pragmatic centrist who is interested in thoughtfully addressing policies that yield results. My opponent has a dreadful legislative batting average (he went 0 – 49 in bills proposed versus passed in the last two legislative sessions). His disinterest in compromise leaves the district with the equivalent of an empty seat in Richmond. I have negotiated hundreds of contracts with client organizations and am accustomed to finding compromises that leave all parties feeling as though they have “skin in the game.” Frankly, an inability to compromise is one of the major problems impacting policymaking, and this reality is exacerbated by people like my opponent.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2021 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Virginia House of Delegates District 33 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 5, 2021
Current members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Don Scott
Majority Leader:Charniele Herring
Minority Leader:Terry Kilgore
Representatives
District 1
Patrick Hope (D)
District 2
Adele McClure (D)
District 3
Alfonso Lopez (D)
District 4
District 5
District 6
R.C. Sullivan (D)
District 7
District 8
Irene Shin (D)
District 9
Karrie Delaney (D)
District 10
Dan Helmer (D)
District 11
David Bulova (D)
District 12
Holly Seibold (D)
District 13
Marcus Simon (D)
District 14
Vivian Watts (D)
District 15
Laura Jane Cohen (D)
District 16
Paul Krizek (D)
District 17
Mark Sickles (D)
District 18
Kathy Tran (D)
District 19
Rozia Henson (D)
District 20
District 21
Joshua Thomas (D)
District 22
Ian Lovejoy (R)
District 23
Candi King (D)
District 24
Luke Torian (D)
District 25
Briana Sewell (D)
District 26
Jas Singh (D)
District 27
Atoosa Reaser (D)
District 28
David Reid (D)
District 29
Marty Martinez (D)
District 30
Geary Higgins (R)
District 31
Delores Oates (R)
District 32
Bill Wiley (R)
District 33
Todd Gilbert (R)
District 34
Tony Wilt (R)
District 35
Chris Runion (R)
District 36
Ellen Campbell (R)
District 37
Terry Austin (R)
District 38
Sam Rasoul (D)
District 39
Will Davis (R)
District 40
Joseph McNamara (R)
District 41
Chris Obenshain (R)
District 42
Jason Ballard (R)
District 43
Will Morefield (R)
District 44
Israel O'Quinn (R)
District 45
Terry Kilgore (R)
District 46
Jed Arnold (R)
District 47
Wren Williams (R)
District 48
Eric Phillips (R)
District 49
Danny Marshall (R)
District 50
Tommy Wright (R)
District 51
Eric Zehr (R)
District 52
Wendell Walker (R)
District 53
Tim Griffin (R)
District 54
Katrina Callsen (D)
District 55
Amy Laufer (D)
District 56
Thomas Garrett (R)
District 57
David Owen (R)
District 58
Rodney Willett (D)
District 59
Buddy Fowler (R)
District 60
Scott Wyatt (R)
District 61
Michael Webert (R)
District 62
Nick Freitas (R)
District 63
Phillip Scott (R)
District 64
Paul Milde (R)
District 65
Joshua Cole (D)
District 66
Bobby Orrock (R)
District 67
Hillary Kent (R)
District 68
Keith Hodges (R)
District 69
Chad Green (R)
District 70
Shelly Simonds (D)
District 71
Amanda Batten (R)
District 72
Lee Ware (R)
District 73
Mark Earley (R)
District 74
Mike Cherry (R)
District 75
Carrie Coyner (R)
District 76
Debra Gardner (D)
District 77
Michael Jones (D)
District 78
Betsy Carr (D)
District 79
Rae Cousins (D)
District 80
District 81
Delores McQuinn (D)
District 82
Kim Taylor (R)
District 83
H. Wachsmann (R)
District 84
Nadarius Clark (D)
District 85
Marcia Price (D)
District 86
Aijalon Cordoza (R)
District 87
Jeion Ward (D)
District 88
Don Scott (D)
District 89
N. Baxter Ennis (R)
District 90
Jay Leftwich (R)
District 91
Cliff Hayes (D)
District 92
Bonita Anthony (D)
District 93
Jackie Glass (D)
District 94
Phil Hernandez (D)
District 95
Alex Askew (D)
District 96
District 97
Michael Feggans (D)
District 98
Barry Knight (R)
District 99
District 100
Robert Bloxom (R)
Democratic Party (51)
Republican Party (49)
