Ex-candidate pleads to two misdemeanors in deal

By News in Brief
Published: September 8, 2008

LEESBURG—A former state Senate candidate has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges as part of a plea bargain in which the most serious charges of election fraud were dismissed.

Mark D. Tate, 43, agreed to pay a $1,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to file required campaign finance statements in 2006.

Nine felony counts of election fraud were dropped.

Tate said that the plea “gets me my good name back.’’ He has alleged that the charges against him were politically motivated.

They were initially brought by Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney James Plowman, who supported Tate’s opponent in the GOP primary.

Tate lost in the primary last year.