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Mark Herring
| Mark Herring | ||
 | ||
| Current candidacy | ||
| Running for Virginia attorney general election, 2013 | ||
| Date of primary | June 11, 2013 | |
| General election | November 5, 2013 | |
| Current office | ||
| Virginia Senate District 33 | ||
| In office | ||
| 2006 - Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 11, 2016 | ||
| Years in position | 7 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $18,000/year | |
| Per diem | $178/day | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 8, 2011 | |
| First elected | 2005 | |
| Next election | November 3, 2015 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | 09/25/1961 | |
| Place of birth | Johnson City, TN | |
| Profession | Attorney | |
| Religion | Presbyterian | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Biography
Herring received a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Economics and M.A. in Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia. He also received a J.D. at the University of Richmond. Herring is a member of the Leesburg Presbyterian Church.
In addition to serving as senator Herring works as an attorney at law.
Committee assignments
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Herring served on the following committees:
- Commerce and Labor Committee
- General Laws and Technology
- Local Government
- Rehabilitation and Social Services
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Herring served on the following committees:
District 33
Herring represents Virginia Senate District 33. Senate District 33 includes Fairfax County(part), Loudoun County(part).
Elections
2013
- See also: Virginia attorney general election, 2013
On July 24, 2012, Herring filed paperwork with the secretary of state in statement of his plans to run for attorney general in 2013. Current officeholder Ken Cuccinelli announced in December that he would seek the governorship in 2013 instead of another term as the state's chief law enforcement official.[1]
The Democratic primary election will take place on June 11, 2013, followed by the general election on November 5, 2013.
Race background
In March 2013, Governing magazine rated Virginia's open attorney general seat as "vulnerable" heading into the 2013-2014 elections because the incumbent party, the Republican party in this case, because of outgoing GOP attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, is at risk of losing control of the office.[2]
The race to replace Cuccinelli began at the primary nomination stage; both Republican convention and Democratic election candidates drew primary contests. On May 18, two "strong fiscal and social conservatives"[2] -- state Sen. Mark Obenshain and and state Rep. Rob Bell -- competed for delegate votes at the Republican Party of Virginia's closed nominating convention, which Obenshain won.[3] The nominee's late father, GOP politician Richard Obenshain, died in a plane crash during his 1978 campaign for U.S. Senate. Obenshain will square off with the winner of the June 11 Democratic primary in the general election. The two Democrats seeking their party's nomination for AG this year are former assistant U.S. Attorney for Virginia Justin Fairfax and state Sen. Mark Herring.[2]
Endorsements
Herring's 2013 attorney general campaign has been endorsed by former Virginia House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, former Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Brian Moran, and the following public officials:[4][5]
Sen. George Barker (Fairfax)
Fmr. Del. Ward Armstrong (Henry)
Hon. David Bowers (Roanoke)
Fmr. Sup. Hon. Susan Buckley (Loudoun) |
For a complete list of Herring's endorsements, visit his official campaign website.
2011
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2011
On November 8, 2011, Herring won re-election to District 33 of the Virginia State Senate. He was unchallenged in the August 23 primary and defeated Patricia Phillips in the November 8 general election.[6]
| Virginia State Senate, District 33 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Mark Herring Incumbent |
54.1% | 14,061 | |
| Republican | Patricia Phillips | 45.9% | 11,915 | |
| Total Votes | 25,976 | |||
2007
On Nov. 6, 2007, Herring won re-election to the 33rd District Seat in the Virginia State Senate, defeating opponent Patricia Phillips (R).[7]
Herring raised $1,059,654 for his campaign while Phillips raised $194,645.[8]
| Virginia State Senate, District 33 (2007) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Mark Herring (D)
|
27,784 | 56.89% | ||
| Patricia Phillips (R) | 20,994 | 42.99% | ||
Campaign donors
2011
In 2011, Herring received $723,937 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[9]
| Virginia State Senate 2011 election - Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Top contributors to Mark Herring's campaign in 2011 | |
| Virginia Democratic Party | $210,637 |
| Bloomberg, Michael R | $25,000 |
| Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc | $20,000 |
| America Online | $17,500 |
| Clarke-Hook Real Estate | $12,907 |
| Total Raised in 2011 | $723,937 |
| Total Votes received in 2011 | 14,061 |
| Cost of each vote received | $51.49 |
2007
Below are Herring's top 5 campaign contributors in the 2007 election:
| Contributor | 2007 total |
|---|---|
| Democratic Party of Virginia | $233,805 |
| One Virginia | $45,000 |
| Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus | $35,374 |
| Leadership for Virginia | $35,000 |
| Moving Virginia Forward | $22,671 |
Issues
Campaign themes
2011
Herring's campaign website lists the following issues:
- Economic Development & Job Creation
- Excerpt: "Innovation is a huge driver of economic growth. Science and technology industry jobs pay high wages and have high growth potential. Senator Herring believes we must take every action possible to make sure that those jobs are created in Virginia."
- Transportation
- Excerpt: "As our State Senator, Mark Herring has secured needed state transportation funding for infrastructure projects that have helped to alleviate congestion on some of our area's major roadways."
- Education
- Excerpt: "Senator Herring knows that education is the key to helping children achieve their full potential, ensure that our economy remains strong, and helps to build a workforce that is prepared to compete successfully in a global economy."
- Open Government
- Excerpt: "Senator Herring has been a strong proponent of common sense measures that promote transparency and accountability in government."
- Military/Veterans Affairs
- Excerpt: "Senator Herring strongly believes it is important to honor their service by ensuring that they have the full support of the state and communities throughout our Commonwealth."
- Energy and Conservation
- Excerpt: "Senator Herring believes that Virginia should be a national leader in the production and use of renewable energy."
Banning "Spice"
Herring introduced a bill for the 2011 General Assembly session to ban the synthetic marijuana nicknamed K2 or Spice.
“There’s a reason stores are putting it on their shelves — because teens and young adults are buying it and smoking it,” said Sen. Herring who introduced a bill to ban the substance.
Synthetic marijuana was created in the 1990’s in a lab at Clemson University and has been available for several years, but a nationwide move to ban the substances is only now gaining ground.
If the bill passes, Virginia will become the 11th state regulating the product.
Del. T. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg, said he became concerned with “K2” after hearing reports from law enforcement about people coming into the emergency room after smoking it.
One young man was “taken to the emergency room and couldn’t move his arms and legs,” Garrett said.[10]
Personal
Herring was born in Johnson City, Tennessee on September 25, 1961. Herring is married to Laura Herring.
External links
- Mark Herring - Official Campaign Website
- Campaign on Facebook
- Follow campaign on Twitter
- Campaign on YouTube
- Mark Herring on Facebook
- Biography from the Virginia Legislature
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Sen. Herring on State Surge
- Campaign contributions:2007
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Washington Post, "Sen. Mark Herring to run for attorney general in 2013," July 24, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Governing, "The 2013-2014 Attorneys General Races: Who's Vulnerable?," March 25, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Va. GOP settles on Cuccinelli, Obenshain and Jackson for November ballot," May 19, 2013
- ↑ The Roanoke Times, "Former Del. Ward Armstrong won't run statewide in 2013," December 12, 2013
- ↑ Mark Herring for AG 2013, "Endorsements," accessed March 29, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections - November 2011 General Election Official Results
- ↑ 2007 Election Results, Virginia Senate, District 33
- ↑ 2007 Campaign Spending, Virginia Senate, District 33
- ↑ Follow the Money - 2011 contributions
- ↑ "Lawmakers ready to ban fake pot in 2011 session," Virginia Statehouse News, November 10, 2010
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by W. Mims |
Virginia Senate District 33 2006-present |
Succeeded by NA |
| |||||||||||||||||
- Current member, Virginia State Senate
- State senators first elected in 2006
- Democratic Party
- Virginia
- State Senate candidate, 2011
- 2011 incumbent
- 2011 primary (winner)
- 2011 general election (winner)
- 2013 challenger
- State executive candidate, 2013
- Attorney General candidate, 2013
- 2013 primary
- 2013 open seat
- 2013 incumbent running for a different elected office
- State Senate running for SEO, 2013
