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Whipple, who is retiring from the state Senate this year, called Favola “a thoughtful and caring public servant.”

“She has the experience and knowledge of the Northern Virginia community and has been a leader on regional issues, including those dealing with cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and creating a greener environment,” Whipple said in a statement. “She has an unparalleled record in human services coupled with fiscal responsibility. Barbara has first-hand knowledge of raising a child through Virginia’s public schools from kindergarten through college and the challenges our education system faces. She is a dedicated Democrat and will be a strong voice in Richmond. I can think of no one better qualified than Barbara to fill the seat for the 31st Senate District of Virginia.”


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More than half of the nearly $60,000 raised by Favola has come from local developers, including a whopping $25,000 from John G. Shooshan, chairman of the Arlington-based Shooshan Company. Shooshan has had business before the board recently, related to the company’s massive Founders Square project in Ballston.

Other big contributors to Favola’s campaign include Preston Caruthers, who donated $5,000, Mark Silverwood, who donated $2,000, and Thomas Shooltz, who donated $1,000.


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Last week a bill that would have renewed the county’s 0.25 percent tax surcharge on hotel rooms — a tax that had the support of the local hotel industry — failed in the House of Delegates. The defeat was attributed to Republicans retaliating against Arlington’s HOT lanes lawsuit.

The tax surcharge brings in nearly $1 million each year, which is used to promote Arlington’s $1 billion tourism industry. The surcharge will expire at the end of the year.


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Woman Locked Inside Virginia Square-GMU Station — A 25-year-old woman said she felt “completely terrified” when she found herself alone locked inside the Virginia Square-GMU Metro station Tuesday night. Metro says the station manager, who is supposed to walk the length of the platform before locking up at night, will receive some “retraining,” Fox5 reports.

Planetarium Group Doesn’t Expect to Meet Fundraising Goals — The board president of the Friends of the Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium says the fundraising goals set by the school board are “unrealistic” and she doesn’t expect to be able to meet them. Alice Monet says she hopes that showing a large base of support will convince the board to keep the aging planetarium open. More from the Washington Post.