John Bell for Virginia

South Riding Dem Files to Challenge Marshall
By Erica Garman at 12:00 p.m., January 9, 2009

John Bell will run in the 13th District.

In yesterday’s post, I made mention of rumors that a South Riding candidate was considering a run against Del. Bob Marshall (R-13) -- but I couldn’t get confirmation.

Well, this morning, I got word from the candidate himself.

Retired Air Force Major John Bell is filing today to run as a Democrat for the 13th District of the Virginia General Assembly in November.

Bell currently works as an economic business analyst with MITRE Corporation and most recently served as a volunteer canvassing captain for the Obama campaign. He lives in South Riding with his wife and son.

“I’m focused on helping people in the 13th with issues that impact their day-to-day lives,” he said to me in an interview today. “I’ll work on transportation issues, school funding and the economic crisis. There’s an alarming rate of foreclosures in this area.”

Look for Bell’s “In Touch with Virginia” campaign Web site in a week, he said.

Also in yesterday's post, I mentioned the possibility that a Prince William man, Russ Morris, might run as a Democrat for the 13th. Morris told me today that he has not filed and is only considering a run at this point. If he does run, he would have to face off with Bell and any other Democratic candidates in the June 9 primary. All potential candidates for the House of Delegates (from any party) have until April 10 to file papers with the state to run.