Former Senator George Allen is moving his consulting business from Washington, where he had been renting space, to Old Town. Allen, a Mount Vernon resident who was Virginias governor from 1994-98, has also hired Paul Unger, his former Senate aide. Unlike Allen, Unger is a registered lobbyist and is expected to do lobbying work for the firm.

Allen told Politico that the move should not be interpreted one way or another that he might seek public office again. When people ask, Are you going to run again? I say, Perhaps, Allen said.
Many people thought Allen would seek the Republican nomination for Governor in 2009. When he declined to enter that race against Attorney General Bob McDonnell, speculation turned to a possible rematch in 2012 between Allen and Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat who won by a razor-thin margin three years ago.

Allen said he bought an office in Virginia for practical reasons, as it is nearer his home. This is a market to be buying in, quipped Allen, a notorious bargain hunter who is legendary for remembering the gas stations all around the state with the cheapest prices. I do like being in Virginia and operating out of Virginia.

Allen is best known for his initiatives while governor that abolished parole for Virginia offenders and also reformed Virginias welfare system prior to the enactment of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families act of 1996. As senator, he received much credit for Republicans capturing 55 senate seats in the 2004 elections, when he was head of the Republican Senatorial Committee.