Tony Mantor

From his roots in growing up on a farm to his influential role as the chair of the Behavioral Health Commission, his commitment to working families, education, and progressive change has made him a trusted voice in Virginia politics.

Thanks for coming on.

Sure.

Thanks for having me.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

I understand that you're an advocate for mental health.

Could you give the listeners a little information on what led you to be doing what you are doing today?

Can you give us a little more insight and information about your son?

I'm so sorry to hear about that.

With how you just described him, you have had more lived experience than most senators or legislators will have.

So how do you use this to get across to other senators and legislators of what you've gone through, along with what others are going through now?

So to create some legislation that will help all of those, hopefully, that need help.

Can you elaborate on some of the things that you worked on?

That makes total sense.

Did you see things happen?

I think that's great because both parties should be concerned about this because it affects everyone.

That is just really great to hear.

I think that is policymaking in its finest.

One of the things that I will hear occasionally is some people will look at other people differently because they don't feel like they have the lived experience that they have.

I don't think you have to have the lived experience to have empathy and want to help people.