Chris Leibig, a longtime criminal defense attorney and former public defender from Del Ray, is running for delegate in Tuesday’s Democratic firehouse primary.
Leibig served in the Alexandria Public Defender’s Office from 1996-2002 and practices law from his Old Town office. He is the third candidate to enter Tuesday’s race to replace outgoing Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, joining City Councilmember R. Kirk McPike and former Alexandria City School Board member Eileen Cassidy Rivera.
Leibig’s priorities, detailed on his campaign website, include mental health reform and reducing incarceration rates “by investing in people & communities.” Another, he said, is repealing “right to work,” which prohibits Virginia employers from requiring union membership as a condition of employment.
“It’s always been a big issue of mine,” he told ALXnow. “Labor unions made this country, made the middle class … It’s always been sad to me that Virginia does not value union jobs, security.”
Leibig said he thinks the General Assembly is lacking in lawmakers with criminal defense experience. This is something he said he can bring to the table in Richmond.
“I think it’s important for there to be very experienced criminal defense attorneys in the Virginia legislature that are used to going to court, that are used to doing big cases and stressful situations,” Leibig said. “I have great respect for our Alexandria delegation, but they are not people that have that experience.”
Leibig is president-elect of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a 20-year member of the NORML Legal Committee.
Bennett-Parker will depart her delegate seat on Feb. 18 as she runs to fulfill the seat of outgoing State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39).
Voting in Tuesday’s Democratic firehouse primary will be open to registered 5th District voters from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. at these locations.
- Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Library, 5005 Duke Street
- Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street
Voters will also need to provide “written certification that they identify as a Democrat,” ADC Chair Jon DeNunzio has confirmed, in accordance with a rule set by the state’s Democratic Party.
District 5 encompasses parts of the city including Old Town, Potomac Yard and land along the Duke Street corridor. The winner of the firehouse primary is likely to advance to the House of Delegates, as the district’s voters lean heavily Democratic.
The Alexandria Republican City Committee has yet to announce a candidate for the seat. The party’s deadline to enter is 6 p.m. today (Saturday), and a candidate is expected to be announced tomorrow evening (Sunday) following an afternoon canvas.
