2nd House Of Delegates Candidate Enters Race To Represent Reston

RESTON, VA — Shyamali Roy Hauth, a 10-year Air Force veteran, former educator and community organizer, announced her intention Wednesday afternoon to challenge fellow Democrats Paul Berry, Mary Barthelson, and John Farrell in the 7th House District Democratic Primary on June 20.

“I am deeply grateful to Del Ken Plum for his many years of service to our community and the Commonwealth of Virginia," Hauth said, in a release. "Del Plum has always walked the walk, whether it was standing vigil at the NRA Headquarters right here in Fairfax County while also pushing for gun safety laws in Richmond or standing with us on getting the Equal Rights Amendment across the finish line.”

Hauth, Berry, Barthelson, and Farrell are running to succeed incumbent Del. Ken Plum, who told Patch on Tuesday that we he was not going to pursue re-election in the upcoming general election in November. Hauth's opponents all threw their hats in the ring on Wednesday. No Republican candidate has entered the race as of yet.

Hauth is a member of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn's staff, handling multimodal transportation, public safety, and the arts.

Alcorn confirmed that Hauth's last day as a member of his staff was Wednesday, the same day she announced her candidacy. He also told Patch that he was endorsing Hauth in her House of Delegates' bid.

In addition to being a veteran, Hauth is an immigrant and mother. She helped lead the grassroots effort to make Virginia the 38th and final state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, according to her campaign release.

“My years of work in local government give me a deep understanding of complex issues like affordable and attainable housing, access to mental health care, human rights, transportation access, and public safety. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and go to work in Richmond," she said, in a release.

If elected, Hauth would advocate in the General Assembly on a variety of issues, including pay and wage equity, workers’ rights, reproductive care, affordable housing, transgender rights, gun control, pedestrian and bicycle safety, transit access, and clean energy, according to the release.

In 2018, the Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee presented with the Ed Herlihy Activist Award. She's also been a board member of the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and The Reston Chorale, and is active with the Fairfax County NAACP and the American Association for University Women.

Locally, Hauth is an active member of the active in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, chairing the Veterans and Military Families Caucus and is co-vice chair of Diversity and Outreach. She is also the vice chair for the Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia and is the Mid-Atlantic & Southern Regional Director for South Asians for America.

More information about Hauth is available on her campaign website.

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, to choose candidates running for the Virginia House of Delegates, the Virginia Senate, the Commonwealth's Attorney, Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court, Fairfax County Sheriff, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, District Members of the Board of Supervisors, At-Large Members of the Fairfax County School Board, District Members of the School board, and Directors (vote for 3) of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.

Early voting for the June 20 Democratic Party primary begins on May 6. Voters must register by May 29 to be eligible to vote in the June 20 primary. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot for the Democratic primary is June 9.

Related:

• Crowded House Of Delegates Race In Reston Adds Another Candidate
• Reston House Of Delegates Race Suddenly Crowded As Barthelson Runs
• Paul Berry Enters Race For Open House Of Delegates Seat In Reston
• Reston Democrat Ken Plum Will Not Seek Re-Election In November