Charniele Herring Running in the 46th

Charniele Herring, the West End attorney and long-time community activist announced her candidacy Saturday for the 46th District in Virginia’s House of Delegates after Del. Brian Moran (D) resigned his seat to focus on his gubernatorial campaign. 

Herring faces a quick campaign, with a Democratic Caucus scheduled within 48 hours. Voting, for Democrats in the 46th District, will take place on Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16, 6 to 9 p.m. at William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave., Alexandria.

“This is sooner than we expected, but we are ready,” Herring said. “I have lived in this area for almost 30 years, and I have spent the last 22 years working on issues that affect families and businesses in Alexandria and Fairfax County. I am eager to continue my public service as a member of the General Assembly.”

If she is successful in her bid, Herring will complete Moran's unexpired term. Among the items on her legislative agenda are working to protect funding for early childhood education; obtaining dedicated funding to address traffic congestion; supporting small businesses and protecting families from loosing their homes during times of economic crisis.

“I ask for the support of the voters of the 46th District,” Herring said. “Delegate Moran has served our district well, and we all appreciate his service to us, our state, and country. I hope the voters of the 46th District will grant me the honor of serving as their next representative, and I look forward to partnering with them during the next legislative session.”

"This time frame is difficult to deal with, but I understand the Governor's desire to have a voting member in place for the General Assembly session," said Sue Kellom, Chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee.  "The candidates will have very little time to reach out to voters. We hope that the voters will be able to evaluate the candidates based on their record of service to the community."

Herring is president of the West End Business Association, a two-time appointee by the governor to the Virginia Council on the Status of Women; a member and former chair of Alexandria’s Commission for Women; and member of the Youth Policy Commission. She chairs the Public Policy Committee for Hopkins House (an early childhood education institution), and is on the board of directors for the Virginia Coalition to End

Homelessness. She also received the prestigious Monsignor Geno Baroni Award for Social Justice. As a participant with Social Action Linking Together (S.A.L.T.), she worked to expand funding for the Homeless Intervention Act, which became a state-wide program.   

“My dedication to community service began with a very personal experience that changed the way I looked at the world,” Herring said. “I am committed to making this wonderful area of the Commonwealth a better place to live, work, and do business.”

Herring’s advocacy began at the age of 13 when she testified before an Armed Forces sub-committee during the Reagan administration about the need for continued health care coverage for military children. Herring said when she was only 15 years-old, she and her family became homeless. She said she knew then that she wanted to become a champion for those who did not have a voice in government. She was accepted into George Mason University through the Virginia Student Transition Education Program (STEP). Herring earned a B.A. in Economics. After graduation, she served as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA).

Herring then received her Juris Doctorate from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. She is also a 2006 Fellow of the Sorensen Institute’s Political Leadership Program at the University of Virginia. As an activist and attorney, she has successfully worked in Richmond to help craft effective legislation and help ensure that both parties are working together for the better of the Commonwealth.

"Charniele Herring has done the work to win the 46th District House of Delegates seat,” said Shayna Englin, a local political consultant. “Charniele has done the policy work, and she's done the political work.  She's a formidable candidate in this very quick election."

Herring said she looks forward to reaching out to voters and would like feedback.

Herring asks that voters in the 46th District e-mail her at voteherring@gmail.com with ideas or comments on the upcoming legislative session. For more information on Herring, visit her web site at www.herringfordelegate.com.