Battle for Northern Virginia Senate seats opens at Arlington debate (State Senate)

Washington Examiner ^ | 09/07/11 | Liz Essley

[markomalley]

A Republican underdog snapped hard at a Democratic incumbent’s heels at the opening debate of the Arlington campaign season Tuesday night.

The debate kicked off the battle for Northern Virginia’s Senate seats in a year Republicans are hoping to snatch control of the state Senate, putting both houses of the General Assembly and the governor's office in Republican hands.

Patrick Forrest accused Virginia state Sen. Janet Howell of using her 19 years in the Senate’s 32nd district seat to increase spending and hand out favors to lobbyists while remaining silent on the issue of funding for the Dulles Metro rail project.

Howell said she’d done for lobbyists what she does for everyone: listen to them. She said she had worked hard for Northern Virginians on issues such as mental health and the state budget.

“I’ve been the author of literally hundreds of bills,” she said.

Forrest’s accusations were the sharpest jabs at the annual Arlington County Civic Federation debate Tuesday at Washington Lee High School in Arlington.

State Senate candidates from the 30th and 31st districts also spoke.

Republican Caren Merrick, up against Arlington County Board Member Barbara Favola in the 31st district, said she knew how to create jobs because she started a business with her husband that now employs 1,100 people.

Favola emphasized her pro-choice abortion stance and support for gay rights, saying she better reflected the values of the liberal-leaning district.

“It is critical for voters to think about the difference between Ms. Merrick and myself and consider what it would mean for us to lose control of the state Senate,” she said.

[RexBeach]

Northern Virginia is a socialist wasteland.

[DarthVader]

Fairfax and Arlington counties are infested with liberal commie roaches. Loudon, Prince Wlliam, Fauquier and Warren are very conservative.