Areizaga-Soto, Lopez launch bids for Va. Assembly

By David Sherfinski, The Washington Examiner

May 5, 2011

Jaime Areizaga-Soto and Alfonso Lopez are in.

Areizaga-Soto, an Army Lt. Col. who has worked for Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, announced at Wednesday evening’s Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting that he would seek the Democratic nomination for state Senate in the 31st district – being vacated by Whipple herself.

“The Senate has to be a backstop against [Republicans’] divisive, harmful, and extreme agenda,” he said.

“The voters of the 31st district will now decide who will be the Senator, instead of the other way around,” he added, an apparent reference to Senate leadership’s preference for Arlington County board member Barbara Favola in the race.

And Alfonso Lopez, who worked for former Governor-turned U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine from 2006 to 2010, announced that he’ll run for the state House of Delegates 49th district seat, currently held by Adam Ebbin, who is making a bid for state Senate.

“I am running for delegate because the Republicans in Richmond are systematically destroying the social safety net that my parents and so many others relied on to achieve the American dream,” said Lopez.

Democratic Dels. Bob Brink and Patrick Hope also formally announced their bids for re-election Wednesday.