Englin Resigns From Virginia House In Wake Of Sex Scandal

A four-term Northern Virginia legislator is resigning his seat from the House of Delegates after acknowledging he was unfaithful to his wife.

Back in April, four-term Delegate David Englin appeared before the Alexandria Democratic Committee and made an unexpected announcement: "Political life has affected me in ways that I never expected. In my public role I've worked hard to serve my constituents and to be a strong, effective progressive voice in Richmond. But in my personal life, I let down my family. I was unfaithful in my marriage, and Shayna and I recently separated."

Englin went on to announce that he would not seek a fifth term in the next General Assembly election in 2013. Englin won the seat in 2005, when he emerged from a hotly contested Democratic primary with six candidates following the retirement of former Delegate Marian Van Landingham. Now Englin is announcing his resignation from the House, timing the decision to allow his replacement to be elected on the November general election ballot.

Several candidates had already announced their intention to run for the seat next year, a process that will now unfold over the next few weeks. State election officials say it's too late to have a primary for a November election, so Democrats from across the 45th House District will have to get together and hold a nominating event by August 17 to determine who will be on the ballot in November.