Andrew Hurst

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Andrew Hurst by Mary Dotson
Andrew Hurst by Mary Dotson
Congressional Districts in Virginia
Congressional Districts in Virginia

Andrew Lawrence Hurst, born January 21, 1970 in New Jersey, is a Democrat and is a former candidate against incumbent U.S. Representative Tom Davis in the Virginia's 11th congressional district, having defeated Ken Longmyer in the June 13 primary, 55% to 45%.[1] During his 11+ years in health care law at the law firm of Reed Smithas an associate and partner, Hurst earned a reputation on cases of high visibility as a litigator for his work, including defending clients against Special Prosecutor Ken Starr.[2]

Contents

[edit] Education

[edit] Political Life

Hurst has been active in Northern Virginia politics for years, as a sustaining member of the Mount Vernon Democratic Committee and the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. He was the youngest member on the National Finance Committee of Senator John Edwards' 2004 Presidential campaign, and continues to support Senator Edwards’ One America Committee and his work as director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2006, Hurst was the Democratic nominee for Congress against Congressman Tom Davis (R). In financing his campaign, Davis outspent Hurst over 9-to-1, $3,301,041 to $360,563.[3] Hurst lost the race by the most competitive margin in the incumbent's 12-year career in Congress, 55%-44%.

Hurst is believed to be planning to seek the seat again in 2008.[4]

[edit] Professional Life

As an attorney, Hurst is involved in cases of national significance such as the the successful defense of Michael Espy against charges brought by special prosecutor Donald Smaltz.[5] He also successfully defended Julie Hiatt Steele against obstruction of justices charges brought by Ken Starr arising from the Lewinsky scandal.[1]

[edit] Bar Association

  • Young Lawyer Section representative to the Bar Association of the District of Columbia (BADC) 2004-2006
  • Board of Directors, BADC.
  • Young Lawyer of the Year, 2005 by BADC for his work assisting emerging small businesses
  • "Operation Crackdown," begun by the Young Lawyers including Hurst in the District of Columbia is a program to provide legal assistance to residents of distressed DC neighborhoods.[6] On a novel application of the legal theory of escheat, property owners whose neglected buildings became "crack houses" for the sale or use of crack cocaine were subject to forfeiting their property.

[edit] Political positions

Hurst has called for the immediate redeployment of the US force in Iraq. Under his 2006 plan, the National Guard would return to the United States, while the other soldiers involved would leave urban areas and maintain a US presence in Kuwait and Afghanistan. Beyond this, his political policies are generally moderate except where he supports major changes in Campaign finance reform.[7]

[edit] Campaign finance resources

The 11th Virginia district is regarded as one of the wealthiests districts in the nation.[8] Hurst has taken no donations from PACs or organizations, and has run his campaign on donations only from individuals and small local Democratic parties. As of June 30, 2006. over half (54%) of Hurst's funds from those who have donated over $200 to the campaign have been raised from out-of-state sources, although "out-of-state" includes the adjoining jurisdiction of Washington, DC, where Hurst's individual coworkers donate, as well as other members of Boards where Hurst volunteers including the Voluntary Bar Association of DC (BADC).[9]

As of June 30, 2006, Hurst's opponent, Davis has more than 50 times the cash-on-hand of Hurst's campaign after outspending him so far by more than 6-to-1.[10] The next report will cover to September 30, 2006. According to FEC reports, Davis's election campaign has raised almost $3.25 million from PACs in his career, and he has two other PACs, the Va Victory Fund and the Federal Victory Fund.Davis is ranked 7th of 435 Congressman (after Tom DeLay's exit) in raising money from lobbyists in Public Citizen Bankroller's Report; Public Citizen recently expanded its rankings in a report, "Under the Influence: Special Interest Money and Members of Congress."[11]

[edit] Family

Hurst was born and raised on the Jersey Shore, and attended public schools. He met Elizabeth Carlson Hurst while both were working at Denny's – he as a cook, she as a waitress. They married in 1995, and settled in Northern Virginia after he finished law school. Elizabeth was a teacher of learning disabled children in New Jersey and Northern Virginia. She is now a full-time homemaker and mother to three children: Emma (9), John (7) and Henry (3).

Hurst lives in the Afton Glen neighborhood of Springfield, VA in the Mount Vernon Magisterial District, where all three children were born. His family members are active in Sydenstricker United Methodist Church.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Democratic Primary Election results, 11th VA, by locality June 13, 2006
  2. ^ Hurst, Andrew L. profile at employer Reed Smith
  3. ^ http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?id=VA11&cycle=2006 Congressional Races: Total Raised and Spent for Va 11th, 2006]
  4. ^ Politics1 - Online Guide to Virginia Politics
  5. ^ OIC Donald C. Smaltz, In Re: Secretary of Agriculter Alphonso Michael Espy October 25, 2001
  6. ^ BADC - Young Lawyers - Operation Crackdown
  7. ^ Hurst for Congress: On The Issues
  8. ^ Northern Va.’s 11th District is turning from red to blue March 7, 2006
  9. ^ Virginia District 11: 2006 Race Profile
  10. ^ Congressional Races: Total Raised and Spent for Va 11th, 2006
  11. ^ CleanUpWashington.org - Under the Influence

[edit] External links

[edit] Video

[edit] Organizational