M. Patton Echols
Encyclopedia
Marion Patton Echols, Jr. (born October 1, 1925) is a retired attorney in Northern Virginia who served briefly as the only Republican to represent Arlington County, Virginia
in the Virginia Senate. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for Attorney General of Virginia
in 1973.
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In February 1969, longtime Virginia State Senator Charles R. Fenwick
who represented the 9th District
died and in the Special Election in March, Echols was elected as a Republican. He served the balance of Fenwick's term and, as a result of the decennial redistricting in 1971, he ran in the 31st District
and was defeated by Democratic Delegate Edward M. Holland
.
Republicans tapped Echols in 1973 for the "unenviable task" of running against popular incumbent Virginia Attorney General Andy Miller and Miller won in a landslide.
.
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
in the Virginia Senate. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for Attorney General of Virginia
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
in 1973.
Early life
Echols is the son of Colonel Marion Patton Echols and Nancy Patterson McArthur. He was born October 1, 1925 in Honolulu in the U.S. Territory of HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Political career
In 1963, Echols was one of three Republican candidates for the three House of Delegates seats allocated to Arlington and elected countywide, at-large. He came in fifth with 9,139 votes.In February 1969, longtime Virginia State Senator Charles R. Fenwick
Charles R. Fenwick
Charles Rogers Fenwick was a Virginia Democratic politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate representing Arlington County.-Early life and education:...
who represented the 9th District
Virginia Senate, District 9
District 9 of the Virginia Senate is a senatorial district that encompasses all of Charles City County and portions of the City of Richmond, Henrico County and Hanover County in the U.S. state of Virginia...
died and in the Special Election in March, Echols was elected as a Republican. He served the balance of Fenwick's term and, as a result of the decennial redistricting in 1971, he ran in the 31st District
Virginia Senate, District 31
District 31 of the Virginia Senate is a senatorial district that encompasses portions of the Arlington County, Fairfax County and Loudoun County in the U.S. state of Virginia...
and was defeated by Democratic Delegate Edward M. Holland
Edward M. Holland
Edward M. Holland is an attorney in Northern Virginia and was a member of the Virginia Senate from 1972 - 1996.-Early life and education:...
.
Republicans tapped Echols in 1973 for the "unenviable task" of running against popular incumbent Virginia Attorney General Andy Miller and Miller won in a landslide.
Later years
Echols practiced law for many years in Arlington and currently resides in McLean, VirginiaMcLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
.