Del. Bob Purkey (R-82, Virginia Beach) joins an ever-growing list of legislators who have decided to retire this election cycle from Hampton Roads.
Earlier this week, we learned that Sen. Harry Blevins (R-14, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach) would retire, a few weeks ago that Del. Sal Iaquinto (R-84, Virginia Beach) was stepping down, and Del. Bob Tata (R-85, Virginia Beach) announced several months ago he would not be heading back to Richmond.
“I have worked the last 27 years to strengthen Virginia’s economy by promoting our ports and fighting higher taxes,” said Purkey. “I am proud of the nearly 200 pieces of legislation I have had signed into law. My goal always was and remains to be an instrument of positive change. I want to thank the people of the 82nd district for the honor of serving for the past two decades.”
Purkey was the chair of the Finance Committee and first elected in 1987. Tata was the chair of the Education Committee and first elected in 1984. Iaquinto was vice chair of the General Laws committee and first elected in 2006. Blevins was elected to the House of Delegates in 1998 and the Senate in 2001.
City Councilman Bill DeSteph is rumored to be interested the likely nominee in the 82nd. He filed to challenge Purkey in the June 11 primary. The Virginian-Pilot also reports that Curtis Colgate, owner of The Cavalier Hotel and GOP 2nd District Committee Rep., and our own Jason Miyares, Rigell’s former campaign manager and a former attorney with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in Virginia Beach (he hasn’t said a word to us about this) are interested. However, with DeSteph as the only one filed for the primary, once Purkey officially notifies the SBE that he’s out, the interest is moot and DeSteph is the nominee.
City Councilman Glenn Davis, and possibly long-time resident and activist David Beemer, is running for the Republican nomination is the Republican nominee in the 84th (deadline to file was Mar. 28th).
Should DeSteph and Davis be elected, that would mean two vacancies on the Virginia Beach City Council.
There will be a primary June 11 in the 85th between GOP 2nd District Chair Gary Byler, Scott Taylor, a perennial candidate, and newcomer Jeremy Waters.
Del. John Cosgrove, first elected to the House of Delegates in 2001, is running for the Blevins’ Senate seat. Chesapeake School Board member Jay Leftwich is a possible candidate to succeed Cosgrove in the House.
