Released on July 10, 2009

Today, Scott A. Surovell became the Democratic nominee for state delegate in the 44th District in the Mount Vernon and U. S. 1 area of Fairfax County. Surovell, age 37, is seeking the seat held by Delegate Kristen Amundson, who recently announced that she is retiring. No other candidate filed today to replace Amundson, allowing Surovell to become the Democratic nominee.

Surovell, an attorney, attended preschool, elementary and high school in Mount Vernon. He and his wife, Erinn Madden, have four children: Eva (8), Leia (6), Mara (4) and Colin (3). Eva and Leia attend Waynewood Elementary School and Mara attends Tauxemont Cooperative Preschool. He lives in the heart of Mount Vernon in the Tauxemont community where he grew up, a community which his grandparents helped found in 1940.

“Northern Virginians want their government to help families improve their quality of life,” Surovell said. “People want strong schools, safe communities, secure savings, and a healthy environment. Our seniors want to grow old in dignity in their home community. I will work toward those ends.”

Regarding Surovell’s entrance, Amundson said, “Scott Surovell has deep roots in this community. I am confident he will work tirelessly to preserve the quality of life that makes this part of Fairfax County so special.”

Specifically, Surovell promises to work for:

• Adjusting school funding formulas to bring more state funds to local schools;
• Investing in publicly supported colleges and universities to ensure that Northern Virginia’s students can attend state colleges and universities;
• Taking steps to assist seniors to stay in their homes and live independently;
• Encouraging the revitalization of U.S. 1 with infrastructure investments such as extending Metro from Huntington Station to Fort Belvoir and enhanced support for public transit;
• Providing tools to local government to promote affordable housing;
• Funding efforts to clean up the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay watershed;
• Stronger tools for local governments to control unreasonable development, sprawl and blight; and
• Assuring reproductive choice and privacy.

“We need legislators in Richmond who will fight for Mt. Vernon’s needs, partner with our federal and local representatives, and bring home a fair return on our tax dollars,” Surovell said.

Bill Ballard, Surovell’s campaign manager, said, “Scott’s deep roots and service in his community have given him an early advantage. We already have strong grassroots support from volunteers, and fundraising is off to a solid start.”

Surovell will release quarterly fundraising results in the coming days.