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Formally announcing what he acknowledged was "one of the worst-kept secrets of all time," Springfield District Supervisor Patrick S. Herrity (R) announced Jan. 13 that he is running for Congress.

"As I look across the river to Washington, D.C., I see the decisions being made by this Congress and I am truly frightened for the future of our country," Herrity said, citing federal spending, proposed "cap and trade" energy legislation and the controversial health care bill among his top concerns.

Before he gets to take a swing at his former Board of Supervisors rival, freshman U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Dist. 11), Herrity will have to fight a well-funded Republican primary opponent who already has one congressional campaign under his belt.

Keith Fimian, chairman and founder of U.S. Inspect, lost to Connolly in 2008 by a nearly 12-point margin. He announced his intent to try again for the Dist. 11 seat in late 2009 and already had more than $260,000 in the bank as of Sept. 30, as well as the support of House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Dist. 7).

Connolly was closing in on $550,000 cash on hand as of the last available finance report Sept. 30.

Herrity acknowledged that he is behind in fundraising, but believes he can quickly close the gap.

"I feel confident I will be able to raise the money I need to get through the primary and the general election," he said, noting that he raised more than $400,000 in a few months in his last race, a special election for county Board of Supervisors chairman.

He also boasts dozens of endorsements from state and local Republican officials in Fairfax and Prince William counties, as a portion of Dist. 11 is in Prince William County. And some Democrats have also privately supported his candidacy, Herrity claims, but will not do so publicly for political reasons.

In a released statement, Fimian called Herrity's entry into the race "opportunistic" and painted the supervisor as a career politician looking to climb the political ladder. Herrity joined the county board in 2008 and ran for chairman in the special election in early 2009, narrowly losing to Democrat Sharon Bulova.

"Instead of staying focused on the job he was elected to do, Herrity is again abandoning his job while drawing a taxpayer salary to seek another office," Fimian said. "This will be the third different office he has sought within four years. His ambition outruns his responsibilities."

Herrity said he is confident he can balance a campaign without shirking his board duties. He said he will be giving up some of his other positions with civic groups to allow time to campaign.

Connolly has said he will make a formal announcement concerning his re-election plans March 17. Connolly has a long-held tradition of holding an annual party and fundraiser on St. Patrick's Day and has used the event as a campaign kickoff in the past.