Republicans Sasha Gong and Vicki Vasques will campaign against Democratic delegates

David Englin (45th District) and Charniele Herring (46th District) for seats in the General

Assembly.

Gong, a native of China and a Virginia resident for 11 years, will run against Herring to

represent the states 46th District, which includes the citys west side.

She earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University in 1995, long after spending

her childhood and young adult years in communist China, where she was imprisoned for

a year in the 70s after joining the underground resistance movement, according to her

website. Gong did her undergraduate work at Peking University before immigrating to

America in 1987.

“I witnessed firsthand the brutality and inhumanity of a totalitarian system, and to this

day I remain strongly suspicious of government when it becomes too powerful and

intrusive,“Gong says on her website.

A teacher and self-proclaimed activist in the areas Asian-American community, this is

Gongs second stab at representing the 46th District in Richmond. She ran in Decembers

special Republican caucus that sent fellow party-member Joe Murray to the January

special election after former delegate Brian Moran (D) resigned, leaving the spot vacant.

Gong lost by four votes in a miniscule turnout in which Murry needed only 20 tallies to

win.

Her kickoff party is Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m, at 200 Cameron Station Blvd.

Vasques, an Alexandria resident since the late 90s, has worked in the Department of

Education and the Department of Energy under the Carter, Reagan and Clinton

administrations, as well as the (George H.W.) Bush Administration.

Much of her career has focused on education reform and civil rights, particularly having

to do with Indian American affairs. But her experience with the federal government is

varied, having worked on the AIDS Commission and small business commissions to

name a few.

“It’san honor to accept the nomination,Vasques said.Im excited to continue working

with citizens to find sensible solutions on the issues facing our district.“

Vasques said she would focus her efforts on education, a healthier environment and a

stronger economy if elected.

The Old Town residents kickoff party is July 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Union Street

Public House in Old Town.

The election is November 3.