Republican Jeannemarie Devolites formally announced her intentions last week to run for the newly-created state Senate seat for the 35th district.
"I'm passionate about what I do," Devolites said in a telephone interview.
Devolites had served in the House of Delegates for six years, including serving as majority whip in 2002. She chose to run for the Senate seat instead of her current delegate seat because there were no Republican women represented in the state Senate.
"It gives me the opportunity to represent the perspective of the working mother," Devolites said.
If elected, Devolites said she would continue the same level of providing constituent services, as well as push legislation in her areas of expertise, which include technology policy and health and civil service areas. She said in the years she has served as delegate, 75 pieces, or 62 percent, of legislation she had carried passed.
"I believe that I've established an excellent record," Devolites said.
Jan Reeves, chair of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, said Devolites' decision to run came as no surprise, since she had heard speculation that the Senate seat was created purposefully by Republicans in efforts to gain a majority in the General Assembly.
"She had made it very clear that she had intentions to run," Reeves said.
A Democratic contender has yet to step forward, although at least one person has expressed interest in running for the Senate seat, Reeves added.
Fellow Republican Bill Schmidt, Sully District chairman for the Fairfax County Republican Committee, said Devolites' announcement benefits Republicans who had been previously represented by state Sen. Leslie Byrne (D-34th). A Devolites' win would also help give Republicans a better majority ratio in the state Senate.
"It'll be another conservative voice in the Senate," Schmidt said.
The 35th district includes the Town of Vienna and the greater Vienna area, Oakton, Fairfax City, Penderbrook, and portions of Reston, Braddock and the Fairfax area.
--Joanna Franco