(Arlington Sun-Gazette) Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 6:15 am | Updated: 6:15 am, Mon Jan 23, 2012. 

by SCOTT McCAFFREY

As Johnny Carson might have said, “I... did ... not... know... that.” 

Until speaking Saturday night with new House of Delegates member Alfonso Lopez, I was not aware he was the only freshman Democrat in the House of Delegates this session. All the other freshpersons – more than a dozen – are Republicans.

Good news for Lopez (D-49th): He drew seniority #2 among the freshman class, which meant he got among the better offices available to newbies. As Brian Trompeter and I will be down in Richmond on Wednesday, we’ll scope it out and report back.

The new delegate told me he’s been working hard to build inter-party bridges with Republicans in the House, and has been pleased at how nice Speaker William Howell (R-Fredericksburg) has been on a personal level.

It’s always interesting to see how well freshmen do with their legislative priorities. Given that Lopez occupies a niche of the political spectrum that’s mighty tiny in the GOP-dominated House of Delegates, his win-loss record for the session might not end up being impressive, but we’ll see how it goes. (Read the full Article)