Scott Surovell
Encyclopedia
Scott Anthony Surovell is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
, representing the 44th district, which encompasses the U.S. 1 Corridor in the Mt. Vernon region of Fairfax County, Virginia
along the Potomac River
.
and intermediate school there. In 1989, he graduated from West Potomac High School
, and went to college at James Madison University
, where he was Student body Vice-President. He graduated in 1993, with a major in Political Science
.
and Tim Kaine
. He also interned in Washington, D.C.
for Representative Jim Moran
of Virginia
and then-congressman Ron Wyden
of Oregon
.
Surovell earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996, where he served as executive editor of the Virginia Journal of Environmental Law.
In 2002 Surovell was a founding partner
at Surovell Markle Isaacs and Levy PLC, a firm which specializes in representing individuals and small businesses throughout Northern Virginia
.
Surovell is a trial lawyer specializing in criminal and traffic defense, domestic relations, personal
injury, and commercial litigation.
In 1999, Surovell argued his first case to the Supreme Court of Virginia at age 28 involving a
fraud claim involving the sale of a used car.
In 2007, Surovell successfully blocked an insurance company from paying a man convicted of killing his wife
$300,000 of life insurance proceeds from his wife's policy. The case ultimately
resulted in modifications to the Virginia Slayer Statute in the 2008 General Assembly Session.
In 2010, Surovell also won a $4.80 million jury verdict in favor of a Vienna family who was
permanently injured in a fireworks accident in the Town of Vienna after the fireworks company
failed to follow manufacturer’s instructions on a 25-shot box of three inch aerial shells that were
each thirty times more powerful than M-80 firecrackers.
of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. In 2008, he was elected Chairman of the Fairfax
County Democratic Committee where he organized and led local grassroots campaign activities for the Obama-Biden,
Warner, Moran, Connolly and Feder campaigns.
In 2009, Surovell resigned as Chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee in order to run for the House of Delegates.
during the 2009 elections
, attempting to replace retiring Democratic
incumbent Kristen J. Amundson
. He defeated his Republican
challenger 53% to 44%, and was sworn into office the following January in Richmond, Virginia
.
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
, representing the 44th district, which encompasses the U.S. 1 Corridor in the Mt. Vernon region of Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
along the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
.
Early life
Surovell grew up in the Tauxemont, Virginia area, and attended preschool, elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
and intermediate school there. In 1989, he graduated from West Potomac High School
West Potomac High School
West Potomac High School is a public high school in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is located on 6500 Quander Road and is part of Fairfax County Public Schools.-History:...
, and went to college at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
, where he was Student body Vice-President. He graduated in 1993, with a major in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
Professional career
In 1993, he served as a Governor's Fellow in the Administration of Governor L. Douglas Wilder. Surovell worked for DMV Deputy Commissioner Bill Leighty who later served as Chief of Staff under Governors Mark WarnerMark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
and Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
. He also interned in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
for Representative Jim Moran
Jim Moran
James Patrick "Jim" Moran, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in Northern Virginia and includes the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, all of Arlington County, and a portion of Fairfax County.Jim Moran was...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and then-congressman Ron Wyden
Ron Wyden
Ronald Lee "Ron" Wyden is the senior U.S. Senator for Oregon, serving since 1996, and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996....
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Surovell earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996, where he served as executive editor of the Virginia Journal of Environmental Law.
In 2002 Surovell was a founding partner
General partner
General partner is a legal term used to describe a person who joins with at least one other person to form a business. A general partner has responsibility for the actions of the business, can legally bind the business and is personally liable for all the business's debts and obligations.General...
at Surovell Markle Isaacs and Levy PLC, a firm which specializes in representing individuals and small businesses throughout Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
.
Surovell is a trial lawyer specializing in criminal and traffic defense, domestic relations, personal
injury, and commercial litigation.
In 1999, Surovell argued his first case to the Supreme Court of Virginia at age 28 involving a
fraud claim involving the sale of a used car.
In 2007, Surovell successfully blocked an insurance company from paying a man convicted of killing his wife
$300,000 of life insurance proceeds from his wife's policy. The case ultimately
resulted in modifications to the Virginia Slayer Statute in the 2008 General Assembly Session.
In 2010, Surovell also won a $4.80 million jury verdict in favor of a Vienna family who was
permanently injured in a fireworks accident in the Town of Vienna after the fireworks company
failed to follow manufacturer’s instructions on a 25-shot box of three inch aerial shells that were
each thirty times more powerful than M-80 firecrackers.
Political career
In 2003, Surovell was elected Chairman of the Mount Vernon District Democratic Committeeof the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. In 2008, he was elected Chairman of the Fairfax
County Democratic Committee where he organized and led local grassroots campaign activities for the Obama-Biden,
Warner, Moran, Connolly and Feder campaigns.
In 2009, Surovell resigned as Chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee in order to run for the House of Delegates.
Electoral history
Surovell ran for the Virginia House of DelegatesVirginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
during the 2009 elections
Virginia elections, 2009
The following offices were up for election in the United States Commonwealth of Virginia in the November 2009 general election:*Three statewide offices – Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General – for four-year terms...
, attempting to replace retiring Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Kristen J. Amundson
Kristen J. Amundson
Kristen J. "Kris" Amundson is a former delegate to the Virginia General Assembly. A Democrat, she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 1999. She represented the 44th district in Fairfax County...
. He defeated his Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
challenger 53% to 44%, and was sworn into office the following January in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.