Areizaga-Soto Campaign Hits Favola Hard on Ethics

by: lowkell

Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 16:25:43 PM EDT

Areizaga-Soto Campaign Notes Favola Ethics Lapse

Favola approved multi-million dollar project for The Shooshan Company, then accepted $25K in campaign cash from John Shooshan and appointed him Chair of her campaign fundraising committee

ARLINGTON, VA. - Today the Jaime Areizaga-Soto for State Senate campaign expressed dismay that the Favola campaign continues to be fueled by developers who benefited from multi-million dollar projects approved by Favola in her role as an Arlington County Board member.

"Barbara Favola voted to approve a multi-million dollar project for a developer, then accepted a $25,000 check from him and appointed him Chair of her campaign fundraising committee," said Areizaga-Soto. "As our next Senator, my vote will never be for sale."

As of the last campaign fundraising report, nearly half (44%) of the Favola for Senate campaign fundraising came from developers, including $25,000 from John Shooshan of The Shooshan Company, a Potomac, Maryland company. The contribution was by far his largest Virginia political contribution ever.

"John Shooshan is a successful businessman and by all accounts a great guy," added Areizaga-Soto.  "But his unprecedentedly large contribution to Barbara Favola and his fundraising role on her campaign committee indicates a serious lack of judgment and raises ethical concerns about County Board member Favola's support for The Shooshan Company's multi-million dollar development projects in Arlington."

"I'm frankly surprised to see it," said Peter Rousselot, former Arlington County Democratic Committee Chair and Areizaga-Soto supporter, "I expected better from Barbara."

Members of the Arlington County Board have a tradition of refusing campaign contributions from developers because so much of the County Board's work involves developer interests.