Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Scott Konopasek
From Ballotpedia
Scott Konopasek (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 59. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source] The Democratic primary for this office on June 17, 2025, was canceled.
Konopasek completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Scott Konopasek was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army from 1979 to 1993. Konopasek earned a high school diploma from Clearfield High School, a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1983, and a graduate degree from the University of Utah in 1998. Konopasek was retired as of 2025 but previously worked as an election administrator. As of 2025, Konopasek was affiliated with the Election Center, the Carter Center, Election Reformers Network, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, RVA Urban Wood, River City Woodworkers Guild, and Tuckahoe Squares.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2025
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 59
Incumbent Buddy Fowler and Scott Konopasek are running in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 59 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Buddy Fowler (R) | |
 | Scott Konopasek (D)  | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Scott Konopasek advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 59.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stan Scott (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Buddy Fowler advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 59.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Scott Konopasek completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Konopasek's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I am a lifelong public servant and decorated combat veteran. My personal and professional passion is government that is moral, representative, fair, efficient, effective, and responsive. I am a long time election official and am passionate about voting rights and the integrity of our elections. Although retired, I feel a renewed need to continue my service.
I am a father of 3 and grandfather of 6 and I am gravely concerned about the country they are inheriting. I am a builder, maker, problem-solver, artist, humanitarian and woodworker, and lousy square dancer. I have been a youth leader, an organizer, a missionary, and church and community volunteer. I choose to live in Virginia and Hanover County to be near and care for aging parents and to be near a son and his family. There are three generations of Konopaseks in the 59th District. I see a direct threat to our freedoms each day in ways that were previously unthinkable as our institutions, programs, and social services are dismantled. The consequences of this chaos are intentional and will be borne by ill-prepared states and individuals. I am concerned about the morals, ethics, and motivations of many of our leaders.
Instead of yelling at the news, looking to others for relief, instead of expecting others to make things better; my sense of duty, love for family, and my professional experience have compelled me to run for Delegate so I can be part of the solution.- Our constitution and representative form of government is in danger. The danger is in the present and not in the future. Congress and the courts are failing to check the growth of executive power and in many cases they are in collusion with those efforts. State and locally elected officials are the firewall to ensure the rights and quality of life of Virginians are preserved. Those state leaders who applaud the dismantlement of our democratic institutions and curtailment of civil and voting rights are unfit to continue serving. We need moral, ethical, and selfless leadership in the House of Delegates. We must rid ourselves of the incumbent who seeks to maintain power by pretending to live in the 59th District in defiance of the law.
- In the 1980's the Republicans promised but never delivered trickle-down benefits to the masses. Now nearly 50 years later, they are delivering tickle-down consequences of careless, thoughtless and malicious DOGE cuts to federal agencies and the cruel MAGA rescission of contracts, funding, and programs. The scope and pain of the "trickle down" is not immediate but they are certain and will be severe. State leaders and local government will have to backfill, plug gaps, and reallocate budgets in a scarce resource environment. Those who applaud the trickle down are incapable of managing its consequences. My experience brings the required leadership, vision, and problem-solving abilities this moment demands.
- My reputation is as a government efficiency expert. Without a doubt, government at all levels can do better at delivering its services but effectiveness cannot be a casualty of efficiencies. Efficient government that is not effective is useless to everyone. Policies and solutions must consider and prioritize their impact on individuals, families, and rural communities and not just fiscal costs or the benefits to the wealthy. There will be the need for additional revenue as state government responds to the consequences of federal changes but these new taxes must come from those who benefit the most. It is time for businesses and those making over $500,000 to pay a larger and more fair portion of the cost of government services they enjoy.
I am passionate about civics education, voting rights, elections, and citizen participation in governance. I am a soldier who fought and defended the right of Americans to elect is leaders. I am a Political Scientist and a student of American history, the constitution, of good governance. I am a public servant who spent his career in assuring that elections are fair, free, and accurate and that the rights of all eligible voters are respected and accommodated. I am an advocate to Congress and state legislatures for election laws that are inclusive, fair, and representative. Yet I see democracy under siege by those who would rig the rules, curtail the rights of those who disagree, make voting more difficult, and even stop having elections.
I admire President Jimmy Carter and his decades of pro-democracy work around the world after leaving office. I have had the honor of working as a consultant for the Carter Center and am proud to be a part of his legacy.
I believe that good character is the most important attribute for an elected official. I believe the elements of good character include: sincerity, honesty, respect, empathy, humility, a sense of right and wrong, self reflection, selflessness, courage, tenacity, competence, the ability to admit a mistake, and the ability compromise. When an elected official displays these qualities, they can gain the trust of those who both agree and disagree with their policies and positions.
I am an empathetic problem solver with the ability to work across partisan divides.
I believe the core duties of a legislator are to enact laws, budgets, and programs that serve the common good and not the interests of a special interest. Legislators must consider their constituents and individuals while at the same time taking into consideration the commonwealth as a whole. Legislators must preserve and defend the integrity of of laws and institutions even when such positions clash with partisan or party interests. It is the duty of a legislator to balance all these competing interests and to compromise when needed.
In addition to being an effective leader that is not afraid of change, I would like to be known for respecting, caring for and uplifting people that I serve and with whom I work.
The Soviet launch of Sputnik and the ensuing space race. I was about three years old. I think it was memorable at such a young age because my father was serving in the Air Force at the time.
I bagged groceries at the commissary on Hill Air Force Base for tips for three years.
"The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt. I gained immeasurable insights into processes and efficiencies and outcomes.
Don't worry. Be Happy!
In early life, living in a single parent household in poverty was a major struggle however it greatly influenced my character. From that experience I learned optimism, tenacity, and determination. In later life, I am a four time cancer survivor.
The ideal relationship between the Governor and Legislature, regardless of party, is one in which the separation of duties and powers is respected whether the separation is constitutional, by statute or by norms and practice. The executive and legislative branches should be able to cooperate, coordinate, and jointly move legislation in the interest of the commonwealth. The relationship ideally would not be zero-sum or confrontational and vetos and overides would be a rare occurrence.
I see employment and the economy as the biggest issues in the next decade, in part because of uncertainty. The effect of federal changes are very likely to be painful and persistent due to the outsized federal workforce in Virginia. Federal firings, elimination of USAID, grant rescissions, and tariffs are creating challenges to the economy that will have long term implications to all Virginians. These implications will ripple through education, health care, social services, disaster response, energy, and development touching nearly every aspect of our lives.
I believe that government and political experience is always helpful but not necessary to be a legislator. I bring decades of government experience to the role which will shorten the learning curve for me personally but I don't think its a requirement to do the job.
Yes, I believe that relationships, on both sides of the aisle, are necessary because of my belief that effective governance is always characterized by compromise and cooperation.
I have always admired Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil for his collegiality and ability to deliver bi-partisan results.
Many of the younger people I have talked to have expressed their frustration with affordability and opportunity. They see themselves as doing all the right things like learning a trade, going to college, getting a job, working hard but still not being able to realize the dreams they have always had. These dreams include affording a family, home ownership, career advancement, and overall quality of life. They feel that the cards are stacked against them and they are angry and disengaging.
I love Dad jokes.
Q: Why don't cannibals eat clowns?
Yes. The Governor can declare emergencies and grant power to localities when required but the executive should never be able to declare an emergency that grants themselves additional powers. The ability to grant emergency powers to the executive should only lie with the legislature if we are to preserve our system of checks and balances. The legislature should always oversee the use of emergency powers whether exercised by the executive or by localities.
The first bill I would introduce would be to clarify provisions and requirements in the election code to investigate and prosecute allegations of election and voter registration fraud. There are credible allegations that current members of the legislature do not live in the districts they represent. Commonwealth's Attorneys refuse to investigate these allegations claiming that the law is too vague. Further, I would seek legislation to require all local school boards to be elected by voters in the district they would represent.
VoteVets, AFL-CIO, CleanVirginia
I am most interested in serving on the Privileges and Elections Committee so I can contribute my extensive election experience and expertise. I am keenly interested in serving in any of the committees responsible for natural resources and the environment. Much of my district is rural and agricultural and I would like to represent them and their interests on the Agriculture Committee.
Virginia' campaign finance rules need a drastic revision. I do not believe that campaign finance transparency alone is adequate to ensure the integrity and accountability of officials, organizations, and campaigns. There needs to be firm limitations, both in time and dollar amount, for political contributions. The currently required disclosures are not really relevant or helpful in holding officials accountable to the people. It is naive to believe that money does not buy political influence. Fundraising is unpleasant, stressful, and sometimes humiliating. When a candidate can count on generous donations from a small group of donors, and avoid extended fundraising, they happily cater to the interests of those donors.
I believe it is the right of voters to petition their government to place ballot measures before the voters in an election. Historically in parts of our country, special interests have held control over the legislative process thereby stymieing reforms wanted by the voters. The threshold to qualify for the ballot should be high enough to prevent spurious ballot measures while being low enough to allow widely supported measures to be voted on.
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.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Virginia House of Delegates District 59 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 29, 2025
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)
