Henrico lawyer joins race for Jones’ seat

By Olympia Meola

Published: November 28, 2008

Carlos Brown, a corporate finance lawyer from Henrico County, will battle Richmond City Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn for the Democratic nomination in the 70th House of Delegates District.

Brown, senior counsel for Dominion Resources Services, a Dominion subsidiary, is vying for the seat that Del. Dwight Clinton Jones will vacate at the end of the year. Jones starts as Richmond mayor on Jan. 1.

The lesser-known Brown has much ground to cover in a short amount of time. A special election will be held on Jan. 6 to fill the vacancy, which gives the Democratic party until Dec. 8 to declare their nominee. How and when that will happen has yet to be determined.

In the heavily Democratic district, the nominee would be the all but certain winner.

McQuinn, the longest-serving member on Richmond's City Council, has considerable name recognition in the city and supported Jones in his bid for mayor. Jones has indicated that he would be inclined to support McQuinn as his successor..

Just this week, however, Jones announced members of a broad team, including Brown, to help his transition to City Hall. A spokesman for Jones said that the mayor-elect's support has not shifted.

"I think he put [Brown] on the transition team because he considers him somebody who can help move the city forward," said spokesman Kevin O'Holleran.

At age 34, Brown has built a lengthy résumé through work at megafirm McGuireWoods and at McCandlish Holton since graduating from the University of Virginia. He also sits on several boards including the Virginia Small Business Advisory Board, on which he serves as vice-chairman.

Brown said yesterday that he has spoken with 70th District residents who want a choice in the election. He currently lives outside of district and is establishing residency within the boundaries. The severe issues that families and small businesses are facing transcend district lines, he said.

His platform includes "creating a low-tax and low-bureaucracy environment that will encourage small-business growth" and boosting teacher pay with incentives for those who teach in more challenging settings.

Brown said Jones "may find it necessary to support Delores McQuinn and he's got a relationship with her, and I respect that." He said he will offer solutions stemming from his professional experiences, and see if he can win the nomination.

"I believe that we need delegates with both passion and the mind to craft and negotiate legislation that will improve the lives of the citizens of the commonwealth," he said.

The 70th District includes parts of Richmond and parts of eastern Henrico and eastern Chesterfield counties.
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .