Independent Mark Gibson to Challenge Rep. Connolly Again

Mark Gibson, the Independent who ran against Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th) for a Congressional seat in 2012, says he will make another run in 2014.

Gibson earned 3,806 votes in the 2012 election. That was far short of incumbent Connolly’s 202,606 votes, but the most of any of the challengers from a non-major party.

Connolly has served in Congress since 2009. Reston became part of his district in 2010 realignment.

Gibson, 52, is an economist who lives in Fairfax. He is currently the vice president for operations and business development at Fairfax-based Advanced Technology Solutions, Inc., an information technologies consulting firm.

Gibson said last week that voter encouragement and an underperforming Congress prompted him to run again.

“I received a lot of compliments and inspiration from voters after the last election,” Gibson said in a statement “And the dissatisfaction with Congress and the major parties is at least equal to that of 2012. More and more voters identify themselves as independents. I hope to build on the attention independent voters gained in the last election.”

Gibson will need to collect 1,500 signatures from 11^th District voters by early June.

So far, no Republican challenger has announced intentions to run.

Gibson told Lorton Patch in 2012 that his frustration with Congress is very high.

“I just haven’t seen that Congress has been effective, and if I can do something to focus on the issues and change the effect of this Congress then I think I have done something,” he said. “I haven’t seen any attempt by either party to make any move to the middle. There are no Independents in Congress now – at least on the House side.”

Some of his stances on the issues in the last campaign: Overhauling the tax code, revising (but not repealing) Obamacare, raising age to collect Social Security; and securing more funds to aid Virginia transportation.