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Morning Notes

Published August 12, 2011 at 8:30AM

Illegal Gambling Bust — This morning the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force will announce that it has made multiple arrests and taken down a gang-related illegal gambling operation after a months-long investigation. Arlington County was one of the police agencies that aided the task force by assisting with the investigation and executing warrants, according to a spokesperson.

Overview of Arlington Prosecutor’s Race — In race for Commonwealth’s Attorney in Arlington, Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos has far out-raised defense attorney David Deane. But Deane is hoping his stance against the death penalty will give him an edge against Stamos in the upcoming Democratic primary. [Washington Post]

News

In the 49th District, The Issues Aren’t the Issue

By ARLnow.com

Published August 11, 2011 at 5:26PM

When comparing the two candidates, however, one realizes that they are nearly identical on the issues. Both Stephanie Clifford and Alfonso Lopez say they will bring their “progressive values” to Richmond but will work with lawmakers across the aisle, both are pro-choice and pro-LGBT equality, both support increasing funding for Pre-K education and transit, and both oppose off-shore oil drilling.

“It’s obvious, we are pretty much exactly alike on the issues,” Clifford acknowledged recently. “There’s not a lot of daylight between us, we will vote the same way much of the time, which is why… personality issues are so much more important in this race.”

News

Favola, Areizaga-Soto to Attend AGLA Forum Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Published August 9, 2011 at 3:56PM

The forum, which will start at 7:00 p.m. at the NRECA building in Ballston (4301 Wilson Blvd), will give Favola, Areizaga-Soto and other Democratic candidates (there’s no contested Republican primary in Arlington this year) a chance to woo a group of largely Democratic voters just 14 days before the Aug. 23 primary.

House of Delegates candidates Stephanie Clifford and Alfonso Lopez are both expected to attend the forum. Other invited candidates include Adam Ebbin, Libby Garvey and Rob Krupicka (30th state Senate District) as well as Theo Stamos and David Deane (Commonwealth’s Attorney).

News

Computer Glitch Blamed for Erroneous Voter Registration Cards

By ARLnow.com

Published August 5, 2011 at 4:38PM

Arlington County Registrar Linda Lindberg said the erroneous cards were sent to voters in 3-4 precincts before county employees realized the mistakes, which included outdated precinct information (as a result of this year’s redistricting process) and incorrect polling place addresses. The mistakes were the result of a computer that was improperly programmed, Lindberg said.

Voters receiving a second mailing will get a new voter registration card and a letter explaining the errors. Adding to the confusion is the fact that many of the initially-mailed voter registration cards actually contained no incorrect information. An unknown number of the first batch of mailings did contain errors, however, so the entire batch is being sent again.

News

State Senate Slugfest Turns to Areizaga-Soto’s Work for Whipple

By ARLnow.com

Published August 5, 2011 at 9:00AM

Whipple sent a letter to 31st District Democrats this week belittling candidate Jaime Areizaga-Soto’s work as her “policy advisor” in 2010. Whipple, who has endorsed County Board member Barbara Favola in the contentious two-way primary battle, wrote that Jaime — a Stanford law school grad — “served as an intern” and “received only a small stipend.”

“I agreed to give him the title ‘Policy Advisor'” to make up for the low pay, Whipple wrote. “Jaime’s embellishments and exaggerations of his role during his time in Richmond have bothered me for some time, and I feel compelled to set the record straight.”

News

Heated Senate Battle Escalates

By Katie Pyzyk

Published July 25, 2011 at 12:51PM | Updated July 25, 2011 at 3:22PM

Today the Favola campaign launched a website attacking Areizaga-Soto, claiming he had involvement with oil companies. The site also states that one of Areizaga-Soto’s “main clients”, Petrobras, was responsible for 11 oil spills.

Areizaga-Soto’s campaign manager has responded to the allegations on the website by stating, “It is a sign of desperation that the Favola campaign has decided to attack Jaime using an exaggerated six degrees of separation attack. While Jaime serves our country in uniform, Favola is partnering with Ken Cuccinelli’s allies to fund her Senate campaign, breaking the Arlington County Code of Ethics and giving herself a 60% pay-raise while doing it.”

News

Favola Vote on Towing Coincided With $2,500 Donation

By ARLnow.com

Published July 21, 2011 at 8:40AM | Updated July 21, 2011 at 1:12PM

On April 26, the Board voted 3-2 to increase the trespass towing fee — collected by companies like Advanced Towing — from $115 to $125. Favola was one of the three to vote in favor of the fee increase.

“I do believe towing services are a necessary part of urban living,” she said at the time. “I feel that I also have to be fair to the towing operators.”

News

Favola Tops Latest Fundraising Numbers

By ARLnow.com

Published July 15, 2011 at 6:56PM | Updated July 16, 2011 at 11:32AM

Quarterly finance reports are out for Arlington’s state Senate races.

In the heated 31st District contest between County Board member Barbara Favola and Army National Guard JAG officer Jaime Areizaga-Soto, Favola won the fundraising battle and conserved her cash.

News

Favola Campaign Defends ‘Clerical Error’ in Poll

By ARLnow.com

Published July 14, 2011 at 9:47AM

Barbara Favola’s state Senate campaign is defending a telephone poll that erroneously identified Democratic primary opponent Jaime Areizaga-Soto as a Republican.

The poll, conducted on behalf of the Favola campaign, asked residents negative questions about both candidates. In a statement, the Favola campaign said calling Areizaga a Republican was a “clerical error.”

News

Areizaga-Soto Campaign Criticizes Negative Phone Poll

By ARLnow.com

Published July 13, 2011 at 1:42PM | Updated July 13, 2011 at 4:49PM

Update at 4:45 p.m. — The Washington Post reports that Favola has ordered her pollster to stop calling Areizaga-Soto a “Republican” during the poll.

The Jaime Areizaga-Soto state Senate campaign, criticized last week for its negative campaign mailers, is now fighting back against a telephone poll apparently conducted on behalf of opponent Barbara Favola’s campaign.

News

Republican Enters State Senate Race

By ARLnow.com

Published June 28, 2011 at 10:43AM

McGhee currently works as a database administrator for The Falls Church and as a legislative analyst for Capitol Hill Prayer Partners. His resume also includes technology and facilities work for the Cherrydale Baptist Church and stints as the manager of two D.C.-area Radio Shack stores.

“Tim is an American with the heart of a Thessalonian, the soul of a Roman, the mind of a Berean, and the strength of a Colossian,” his personal web site says.

News

Opponent: Favola Should Resign from County Board

By ARLnow.com

Published June 21, 2011 at 8:54AM

Areizaga-Soto told the Blue Virginia web site that it is “not ethical” for Favola to accept tens of thousands of dollars from developers who have recently had business before the county. She “should resign from the board or return the money immediately,” Areizaga-Soto said.

Earlier this year, Favola told ARLnow.com that her vote “can’t be bought.”