Northern Virginia businessman and community leader Danny Vargas is exploring a bid for Virginia lieutenant governor, bringing the speculative list of potential LG candidates to four in an increasingly crowded field.
What makes this interesting is that Vargas is not a cookie-cutter candidate in the slightest. Vargas is a businessman first and foremost, a true rags-to-riches story from humble beginnings, an Air Force veteran, a public affairs and marketing background, and what’s more a true heart for public service and civic empowerment through workforce development.
Other notable candidates? Delegate Scott Taylor (no lightweight) has already announced his interest in the seat. Both State Senator Bryce Reeves and Distruptor Fund chairman Pete Snyder are considered to be the two heavyweight candidates circling the octagon ring, as other notable names rumored to be considering bids include Prince William County chairman Corey Stewart, STAND chairman E.W. Jackson, former U.S. Senate candidate Shak Hill, and many, many others.
Vargas’ potential bid though does stand out for several reasons though. Unlike many, his name would be an addition to the policy debate rather than a copy of other campaigns. In Northern Virginia, Vargas’ reputation for a guy who throws in with every good cause is well deserved. One would predict a positive, solutions-oriented campaign from Danny Vargas that would bring out the very best of the conservative ethic… and even if he did not make it to the winners circle, the voters that Vargas would bring to the table would be the margin of victory any eventual Republican nominee would require for victory.
The lieutenant governor’s nomination contest will be held sometime in early summer 2017 — some 18 months from today.
