Scott Surovell Running for Virginia Senate Seat

Last weekend, in an email to his supporters, state Del. Scott Surovell (D-44th) announced his candidacy for the Virginia Senate seat to be vacated by fellow Democrat Sen. Linda “Toddy” Puller (D-36th). Puller recently announced she’s retiring after the current session.

Republican Jerry Foreman, mayor of Dumfries, announced his candidacy for the 36th District in December.

Surovell, a partner at Fairfax law firm Surovell, Isaacs, Petersen & Levy, was elected to the House in 2009. He chairs the House Democratic Caucus.

“Toddy has been the perfect person to hold this seat,” Surovell said. “I want to go to the Virginia Senate to build on her legacy for Northern Virginia.” One of the ways Surovell communicates with constituents is on his blog, The Dixie Pig, named for his grandmother’s favorite bygone restaurant on Richmond Highway.

In his announcement email, Surovell promised to focus on:

• expanding Medicaid
• extending Metro
• expanding education opportunities
• fighting payday lenders

Surovell says he has already received an overwhelming response, with more than 400 voters in the 36th District contacting him last weekend to express their support for his campaign.

“I have been thrilled to see the overwhelming response from the constituents I currently represent, as well as hearing from many Democrats in Prince William and Stafford counties that I would be representing for the first time,” he said on his Web site. “The issues concerning voters across this district are similar and I look forward to to fighting for them in the Virginia Senate.”

In 2011, Republican Jeff Frederick made a run at the Senate seat; Puller hung onto the seat, winning 55.2 percent of the vote. The election was expensive for both camps: Her campaign spent $866,375 and Frederick spent $524,402, according to VPAP.

PHOTO of Scott Surovell from previous campaign