Jaime Areizaga-Soto recently announced his resignation as Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, citing his mobilization for a two-year active-duty tour, effective January 15th. According to Chairman Areizaga-Soto, his resignation was in the best interest of the Board, as his military orders would take him away from his duties. However, this explanation does not reflect the full story. In reality, throughout his tenure, Chairman Areizaga-Soto frequently prioritized his second job with the Army National Guard over his responsibilities at the Board. This neglect of duty and involvement in the practice of law raise serious concerns, and according to 38 USC 7101(b)(2), these factors may justify his removal as Chairman.
Areizaga-Soto’s appointment to the Board’s Chairmanship in April 2022 came as a surprise, given his employment history. While Board employees initially hoped for positive change under his leadership, it quickly became apparent that he was remote, inaccessible, and disengaged. This troubling pattern prompted us to investigate his background more closely.
Since his appointment, Chairman Areizaga-Soto has collected a paycheck while failing to meet the expectations of his position. His actions suggest that his main priority has been bolstering his resume rather than fulfilling the duties of his role. While he claims credit for increasing the Board’s output, this improvement can largely be attributed to the hiring of additional attorneys and Veterans Law Judges, rather than his leadership. Furthermore, his assertions of improved all employee survey (AES) scores are misleading, as under his leadership, the scores remained significantly below those achieved by his predecessor, Chairman Cheryl Mason.
Former Chairman Cheryl Mason, though facing her own challenges – as all Chairs do – demonstrated a strong work ethic, a deep understanding of VA benefits, and a comprehensive grasp of the job, having risen through the ranks. One of her notable initiatives was the introduction of issue counting as part of the Attorney-Advisor performance plan – a move that directly benefited Board employees and, ultimately, the Veterans we serve. In contrast, Chairman Areizaga-Soto repeatedly attempted to eliminate issue counting, a change that would have adversely impacted employees handling the Board’s most complex cases. Thankfully, Local 17’s bargaining team successfully ensured that issue counting remained in place.
Upon further investigation, it became clear that Chairman Areizaga-Soto had misrepresented his resume, particularly regarding a two-month internship with the Virginia Senate. It is concerning that more thorough vetting was not conducted prior to his appointment. Below is a letter from Mary Margaret Whipple, a former employer of Chairman Areizaga-Soto, which provides a troubling account of his character.
After reviewing the letter, I spoke with a prominent individual who worked with Chairman Areizaga-Soto during his internship in the Virginia Senate. This source, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that no one in the Virginia Senate wanted to work with him due to his dishonesty. As one source put it, “Jaime looks out for Jaime.” Additionally, Chairman Areizaga-Soto’s lackluster performance in the 2012 Virginia Democratic primary, where he received only 30% of the vote, further highlights his inability to lead effectively.
We hope that Doug Collins will take this opportunity to recommend someone truly committed to serving Veterans and the American taxpayer – someone who will show up, engage fully, and make a real difference for those who have given so much for our country.
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple Letter Regarding Jaime Areizaga-Soto
A screenshot of the letter from Senator Mary Margaret Whipple is included below, but the image is somewhat small so we have extracted the text to make it easier to read:
MARY MARGARET WHIPPLE
August 2, 2011
Dear Lowell,
As you know, I have decided to retire after serving in the Virginia Senate for the past 16 years and, prior to that, on the Arlington County Board and School Board for 17 years. Two Democratic candidates are running to fill my seat, Barbara Favola and Jaime Areizaga-Soto. I know both of them, and I want to give you my insight as you make your decision about whom to support.
I have known Barbara for more than 20 years and have been impressed with her dedication to our community and her effectiveness during her 14 years on the Arlington County Board. She is savvy, articulate, and determined—and she really understands public policy. Furthermore, Barbara has been endorsed by the Washington Post. She works at Marymount University and is an expert on higher education. She is prepared to be a great Senator from the very first day.
Jaime served as an intern in my Senate office during the two months of the 2010 General Assembly session. He primarily met with constituent groups when I was out of the office and attended caucus meetings. Since he received only a small stipend, I agreed to give him the title “Policy Advisor.” However, Jaime tells people he advised the entire senate caucus on policy positions and negotiated the State budget. I think we all know that sitting in the room during a few meetings and negotiating multi-billion dollar budgets are two very different things. Jaime’s embellishments and exaggerations of his role during his time in Richmond have bothered me for some time, and I feel compelled to set the record straight.
You have a choice to make in this primary election. I have worked with both candidates and honestly believe that Barbara Favola is the right person—the best person—to represent our Democratic values and our community in Richmond.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, August 23. Your regular polling place will be open. You can also visit www.BarbaraFavola.org/VoteEarly to see the dates and times for alternative voting options, by mail or in person.
Sincerely,
Mary Margaret Whipple
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
P.S. I was so pleased to see Barbara Favola was endorsed by the Washington Post who said, “Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola, is clearly the stronger and more substantive choice, and would make a better senator.” I wholeheartedly agree!
