Republicans have decided to go with a “canvass” from 1110 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 29 to select their nominee for the 81st House of Delegates District to replace former Del. Terrie Suit.
Several Republicans have thrown their hat into the ring, including Barry Knight, a Virginia Beach Planning Commissioner who has been endorsed by Suit, Tom Keeley, a former commander of NAS Oceana, and Paul Lanteigne, Virginia Beach Sheriff.
As of yet, no Democrat has been identified to run for the office whose special election will be held on January 6.
A canvass is sort of like an election, but instead of voting at a person’s normal polling place, the polling places have been distilled to two locations in Virginia Beach and one in Chesapeake.
The consolidation is as follows:
If you normally vote at any of the following locations your voting location will be The Village at Rainbow Station located at 1976 Sandbridge Road.
Corporate Landing Middle School
Ocean Lakes High School
Roma Lodge #254
Ocean Lakes Elementary School
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8
Mount Olive Baptist Church
Red Mill Elementary School
Three Oaks Elementary School
If you vote at any of the following voting locations your voting location will be at the Back Bay Christian Assembly, 1212 Princess Anne Road.
Blackwater Fire Station
Back Bay Christian Assembly
Creeds Fire/Rescue 6
Chesapeake residents who normally vote at the locations below will be voting at Grassfield High School located at 2007 Grizzly Trail.
Grassfield High School
Wallacetown Ruritan Club
Greenfield Ruritan Club
Peoples Baptist Church
Crossroads Community Church
Knight announced today that he has strong support in Chesapeake, having been endorsed by Shirley Forbes (wife of Rep. Randy Forbes and member of the GOP Executive Committee in Chesapeake), Ray Connor (Commissioner of Revenue), Barbara Carraway (City Treasurer), Tom Mercer, Harry Murphy, and Jay Leftwich (members of School Board), and John deTriquet and Rick West (City Councilmen), and…of note, Lt. Col. Jim O’Sullivan (Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office).
The endorsement of O’Sullivan is interesting in that it might signal that Chesapeake Sheriff John Newhart is not behind his fellow sheriff Lanteigne’s bid.
Knight has also been endorsed by Rep. Thelma Drake and Virginia Beach Mayor-elect Will Sessoms.
Also running for the GOP is a Real Estate executive, Jeff Dente.
