NLS has the scoop, which I’ve confirmed with my own sources.
At the Alexandria City Democratic Committee meeting. Delegate David Englin planning to announce his retirement from the House of Delegates tonight, citing the damage done to his family when he was recently involved in an extramarital affair.
It’s sad, as Englin was a strong progressive champion, very effective on the General Assembly floor from what I hear. Also, Englin was widely seen as having a promising political future, probably a run for Congress when Jim Moran retires. Obviously, that’s now called into doubt, to put it mildly. Anyway, I wish David the best of luck in getting his life back together. Even if all this was the result of his own mistakes, which people have been telling me all about the past few weeks, I still wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
P.S. I wonder who will run for David’s seat. One name that springs to mind is Rob Krupicka, no idea if he’s interested though.
P.P.S. I just heard a rumor from a reliable source that Shayna Englin might be running for this seat. Wow.
P.P.P.S. I just heard from another reliable source that Shayna is NOT running for this seat. OK, I’m done – you figure this one out! LOL
UPDATE: Englin’s statement is now online. I’ve also posted it on the “flip.” Why retire – serving out his term through 2013 – and not resign, if he needs to get his life together now? I don’t get it.
Today I’m announcing that this will be my last term in elected office, so I will not seek reelection to the House of Delegates. Serving the people of the 45th District has been one of the great honors of my life, and I hope they are proud of the work we have done together. But political life has affected me in ways I never expected. In my public role, I have worked hard to serve my constituents and to be an effective, progressive voice in Richmond. But in my personal life, I let down my family and was unfaithful in my marriage, so Shayna and I recently separated.
Shayna has always been the true source of my strength and happiness, and we have been a team in my political work. I will leave political life to put Shayna and Caleb first and to focus on rebuilding what is and always was most important to me: my marriage and my family. I am deeply sorry for hurting the people I love the most and for letting down so many others who put their faith in me. This will be my only public statement about our marriage, and Shayna and I both ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy as we work through this immensely difficult, painful, and personal time.
With this announcement, attention will no doubt turn to choosing my successor. Our community is blessed with a wealth of smart, dedicated, and energetic Democrats. When I first ran for this seat in 2005, I was 30 years old, fresh out of the Air Force, and Shayna, Caleb, and I had barely lived in Alexandria for a year and a half. The race was supposed to be unwinnable for me, but we won. No matter how improbable others may think your candidacy, if you believe you have something to offer the people of the 45th District, I hope you will consider stepping forward to serve.
Despite our current personal challenges, it continues to be a tremendous honor for Shayna and me to serve our community and to stand up for our progressive values. Please know that, as long as I am still your Delegate, I will continue fighting for you, and if you ever need service or assistance, my staff and I are here to help. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.
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