Mayor Will Sessoms of Virginia Beach has been a bipartisan voice in recent years but this year he has returned to the GOP with his endorsement of Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie for the 2017 Virginia governor’s race.
Sessoms, long-time city council member and mayor dedicated to what is best for Virginia Beach, signaled with his endorsement his belief that Gillespie was committed to the Hampton Roads area while working to get Virginia’s economy growing again.
“Ed Gillespie is the best person to lead Virginia, and I know he will be a strong advocate for Virginia Beach,” Sessoms noted. “He has demonstrated his commitment to our region through his numerous visits here and his plans to grow the economy, improve veterans and military affairs policies, and combat sea level rise and recurrent flooding.”
Sessoms’ backing is a plum endorsement from the man leading the most populous city in Virginia, and the 37th largest city in the nation. In addition, Virginia Beach was recently named the number one fastest growing city in the U.S. [1] for millennials who are moving there in record numbers for work and play.
In 2013 Sessoms endorsed Democrat Terry McAuliffe for governor, resulting in his being kicked out of the Republican Party, and in 2014 he endorsed Democrat Mark Warner for the U.S. Senate race over the Republican candidate, Ed Gillespie.
Gillespie faces Democratic nominee Ralph Northam on November 7.