Davidasheforcongress.com

A Tidewater Native
Born and educated in Tidewater, David knows the challenges facing the region. He attended public schools, graduating from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach. His mother, a special education teacher, and his father, an architect skilled in city planning, instilled in him a sense of community service. After earning a degree from Virginia Tech, David moved to Washington, D.C., to start his career.

Service to Country Begins
After completing an internship with a U.S. Senator, David was hired as a policy analyst with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 1994, he enrolled in District of Columbia LawSchool. He completed U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in 1996 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He passed the Virginia Bar exam two months after graduating from law school.

Semper Fidelis
David spent a few months at the Washington Navy Yard and the Pentagon, and then began the Basic Officer course at Quantico Marine Corp Base in Quantico, Virginia. All Marines are infantry first and last. David completed infantry training before being stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. For the next two years, he provided general legal services to Marines, soldiers, sailors and their families. Promoted to captain, David then moved to the court room where he tried courts martial. In September 2001, he left active duty.

Ground Zero
David was in Virginia Beach visiting his family when the September 11 attacks occurred in New York City and at the Pentagon. Like most Americans he reacted with horror to the events of that day. But David is a Marine and his duty to country is strong. Within two days he was at Ground Zero working alongside police officers in the search and rescue mission. Two weeks later, he was recalled to active duty.

Operation Enduring Freedom
David served in Kuwait in Operation Enduring Freedom for most of 2002. He was sole legal counsel to the commanding general of a Coalition Task Force. He worked with Kuwaiti, German and Czech officers to address international legal issues. In December 2002, David returned to the U.S. and married Bethanie Shaw Szugda.

Duty in Iraq
In 2003, David was deployed to Iraq. He was attached to an infantry battalion assigned to the Al Muthanna province. David was the sole coalition legal representative assigned to restore the judicial system in an area roughly 20,000 square miles with a population of more than 315,000 Iraqis. He traveled overland to Basrah, Baghdad, Al Nasiriya. He fired corrupt Baathists judges and appointed new judges. He drafted a new government charter and helped train Iraqi police. David helped secure more than $250,000 from Ambassador Bremer’s office to restore law in the region. He joined his fellow Marines on foot patrols.

After serving his country for 7 years, David left active duty. He continues as a Marine Corps reservist, serving one weekend per month as an Operational Law instructor with a reserve unit based out of Quantico.

Ready to serve his country???.again
In 2004, David secured 45% of the vote in one of the most closely watched Congressional races in the country ??? Virginia’s Second District. Though his opponent belittled his military service and ducked most public debates, David’s campaign was positive, solidly focused on issues. He earned the endorsements of The Virginian-Pilot, The Daily Press, Governor Mark Warner, Virginia AFL-CIO and countless city, state and federal officials. David was supported by teachers, firefighters, police and numerous cultural and religious organizations.

Building on his own strong grassroots campaign, David focused his energy and resources on Virginia’s gubernatorial race. He worked hard for Governor-Elect Tim Kaine, hosting fundraisers and appearing on Kaine’s behalf at events throughout the region. David was also proud to support other local candidates.

Family and Community
David and his wife, Bethanie, live in Virginia Beach. Bethanie, a critical care nurse, is devoted to her profession. Avid runners, they have completed the last four Marine Corps Marathons and several dozen triathlons, including two Ironman Triathlons. He is general counsel to a financial services corporation in Norfolk, provides legal services to Virginia’s Indigent Defense Commission and is an associate professor at Tidewater Community College.

He serves on the board of directors of Temple Israel Synagogue and the United Jewish Federation Community Relations Committee. He is a member of Disabled American Veterans, Post 20, American Legion, Post 110, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 392. David is an active member of the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee. He is also a member of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Beach Bar Association, Lynnhaven River 2007, and Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore. Governor Warner appointed him to Virginia’s National Defense Industrial Authority in 2005.

David’s is a close knit family that shares a strong sense of community service. His parents, married for 38 years, are active in civic organizations. His sister, who is married to an Army chief warrant officer, practices emergency medicine in Tidewater. They are the proud parents of three daughters. David’s brother, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and three children.

Whether serving his country overseas or his neighbors next door, David is a person of commitment and action. A proud Marine, David will represent the families of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District with commonsense, intelligence and hard work.