John Moss has to be looking at November and smiling.
Moss, who has twice served on the Virginia Beach City Council, has tried like heck to get back on. He ran and lost in 2004, lost for Mayor in 2008, and lost again for Council in 2010. He’s also applied for vacancies on Council, with no success.
But the anti-taxer might be in the right place at the right time this year.
Recently appointed Prescott Sherrod will have to face the voters in November with very little else going on citywide.
Unless the Democrats decide to run candidates in more districts, most of the city will have no other opposed campaigns on the ballot but this one. So far, only Del. Ron Villanueva’s district has a race, plus a single precinct where Sen. Ralph Northam is opposed. The voters in the 21st will effectively be where the race is won.
Moss, connected to the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance, has what his organization has always hoped for – a virtual ward race. Rarely a prolific fundraiser, Moss could compete for Council in a smaller area like a single district. TV/Radio ads aren’t as effective, and it becomes a canvass and turnout effort.
Having run in a few citywide November races helps Moss. He does have a base – it’s just never been enough to be a majority. If the citywide turnout projections don’t change, this year it just may be.
If more contested campaigns pop up, it’s not like that helps Sherrod that much either. Democrats aren’t favored to win any VB races at all, so while it makes the City Council campaign more expensive, it doesn’t tilt the electorate leftward.
Prescott Sherrod might have the worst of both worlds – an incumbent during bad economic times who hasn’t been in long enough to win anyone over. It’ll be tough for him to take credit for anything good, and voters won’t mind a bit to take out their frustrations on him for anything bad.
What could sink Moss, again, is a crowded field. Other applicants for the recent vacancy have been rumored to be considering a run: Tanya Bullock, who almost toppled Council woman Barbara Henley, and Dennis Free, chief deputy Sheriff.
Let’s be clear- Sherrod’s best hope of winning in a low turnout election is multiple challengers.
If conservatives unite around one voice, Moss might have that win that has eluded him for 7 years.
