TERRIS TODD INTERVIEW
Travis Todd has worked at all levels of government, and wants to bring his skillsets to Washington representing the 7th Congressional District.
by Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Terris Todd is a Republican candidate contending for a chance to represent the GOP on the ballot this November for the congressional seat being abandoned by Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor in 2025. Todd recently spent some time with the Advance to talk about himself and his candidacy.
FXBG Advance: Tell us a bit about where you’re from and your family.
Terris Todd: I’m a relative newcomer to this area, having settled in Prince William County last August. My roots are in Michigan, where I had a long career as an educator. I started out as a sixth-grade teacher, before moving into administration.
I found my way to the D.C. area in 2020. I was invited to the White House in February for a Black History reception. I was also asked to fill out some forms because I was being considered for a role in the Trump Administration. In April 2020 I was asked to join the team. After the administration ended in January 2021, Angela Sailer of the Heritage Foundation offered me a position in March, and I’ve was there ever since until September 1, 2024, when I separated from Heritage to run for Congress.
As for my family, I have been married for 25 years, and have three daughters. The baby is 18 and a student at Clark University in Atlanta; my 20-year-old is at Western Michigan University, and my 22-year-old is at Michigan State University.
FXBG Advance: How did you get involved in politics?
TT: In 2001 I was contacted and asked to be a civil service commissioner for the fire department. I gladly accepted that position. In 2004 I was called by the chairman of the County Board of Commissioners in Michigan and asked to run for that seat. The call came late, so I only had September and October to campaign. I won the election nevertheless in November.
In addition to this, I am the former president of a local NAACP branch in Michigan, and I sit on the board of directors for the Urban League Board of Directors. I also sit on the foundation board of Norfolk State University.
So like a lot of people, I fell into it. But there’s a spiritual dimension, as well. About 10 years ago, my bishop told me that he believed the Lord is going to send me to Washington, D.C. Of course, I was still in Michigan at this time, but the vision was placed on my heart well before I got here.
FXBG Advance: What was the work you were involved in at the White House?
TT: I served as executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African American Students.
At the Heritage Foundation, after I left the White House, I was the advisor on coalition engagement involved in outreach work.
FXBG Advance: Should you win, what issues are most important to you?
TT: There are four major areas that I’d like to focus on:
Safety - Crime is increasing in our area, so working to reduce crime is important to this area.
Economy - Lowering taxes is important to me. Here in Prince William, the local Board of Supervisors voted in support of increasing the meals tax from 6% to 10% recently, and local business owners say it’s killing them.
Infrastructure - Especially along Route 1. No one expected the growth that this region has faced, and the funding for infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the needs.
Education, of course, is a big concern of mine. I’m concerned about the ways schools are keeping books with sexually explicit content in the libraries. Academics itself is a concern. Parental rights is also important to me, making sure that we are protecting the rights of parents to have that primary authority over their kids’ lives. Government shouldn’t be involved in what parents should do with their own kids.
Access is another issue - Access to resources to launch and start your own business. Give a man a fish he eats for a day; teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime if he owns the pond. That’s the analogy I use to help people get into business for themselves.
FXBG Advance: Local issues, of course, are important to this area. How will you identify and work on these issues?
TT: I intend to work with local and state officials to identify and address the issues that are most important to them.
As important, I plan to hire local people to my team.
When Kellogs started their downsizing, one of their issues was talent pool. But we have the talent pool here to staff and run that office. D.C. does a good job of recycling people in jobs; I want the people in my office to be local.
FXBG Advance: Any closing thoughts for our readers?
TT: I’m all in on this race because the people of the 7th District need someone who is. I don’t have employment right now because campaigning is my full-time job. Community is best served by those who live in it.
I’ve been at every level of government - in order to win this district, you need someone who has a resume such as mine, someone who understands government on all fronts.
Finally, I’m willing to work with anyone who is willing to work with me.
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How does a government reduce taxes while maintaining/expanding infrastructure, and suppressing increased crime? As well as controlling access to “sexually explicit materials” in (broad brush) school libraries.
Been here 7 months, huh? Good thing there's GPS. I've been here two years and wouldn't presume to know the area well enough to run for the School Board, much less Congressional Representative. Then again, most Republicans nowdays seem to be more concerned about what's good for Donald Trump and the national party, rather than what's good for their community.
So I guess in that light, not too surprising.
Heritage Foundation background and only job is running for office.
Unimpressed......