BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE
VIRGINIA BEACH — State elections officials on Friday, June 25, told two Democrats hoping to challenge Republican incumbents holding constitutional offices in Virginia Beach that they are qualified for the ballot.
Candidates Laura Wood Habr and Antonio “Tony” Passaro Jr. had not yet been qualified for the ballot after the local Democratic committee filed paperwork certifying them as the nominees to the local registrar a day late.
Despite that hiccup, both candidates and the local party chair had been confident they would make the ballot. The issue was not due to the candidates, and the state code says officials “shall declare that the candidate is the nominee” in such instances.
The process of ensuring their names appear on the ballot was completed on Monday, June 28, when Donna Patterson, director of the Virginia Beach Department of Voter Registration and Elections, finished a final review of paperwork associated with the candidacies. Patterson told The Independent News state officials had notified her that they will accept the nominees. Her office on Tuesday, June 29, confirmed the candidate were certified.
Passaro, a college professor and former state trooper, will challenge Sheriff Ken Stolle.
Habr, a restaurateur known for her work with the Vibe Creative District, will again run against Treasurer Leigh Henderson, who defeated Habr and another candidate in a 2019 special election.
“I think it’s going to be fine,” Passaro said during an interview on Wednesday, June 23, while awaiting word on the outcome. “I’m excited to run and excited to serve Virginia Beach.”
Also speaking before the decision, Habr said she would be relieved when the matter was resolved “so I can get back on the campaign trail and become the next treasurer.”
Habr and Passaro filed their candidate paperwork to run in the 2021 general election on time, according to Patterson’s office.
The issue was with certification paperwork filed to the local registrar by state Del. Kelly Fowler, D-21st District, acting in her role as chairperson of the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee.
In a statement to The Independent News, Fowler on Wednesday, June 23, wrote that party nomination paperwork was filed with the state on time but went to the local registrar a day late.
“We have two amazing Democratic nominees for Virginia Beach treasurer and sheriff who submitted and filed their completed candidacy paperwork to the local Democratic committee and the local Virginia Beach registrar on time,” Fowler wrote.
Virginia’s code says party chairs are responsible for certifying candidates for certain offices when candidates are nominated by means other than a primary. The certifications are supposed to be made within a set timeframe to both the state and the local registrar.
But the code, as Fowler noted, also says, “Should the party chairman fail to make such certification, the State Board shall declare that the candidate is the nominee of the particular party and direct that his name be treated as if certified by the party chairman.”
Ed. — This story was last updated again at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 29, to include information that Patterson had certified the candidates. Our initial report follows.
VIRGINIA BEACH — The State Board of Elections this month is expected to determine whether two Democrats hoping to challenge Republican incumbents holding constitutional offices in Virginia Beach will be allowed to appear on the general election ballot.
The candidates have not yet qualified because the local Democratic committee filed paperwork certifying them as the nominees to the local registrar a day late, according to information provided by the Virginia Beach Department of Voter Registration and Elections.
But both candidates and the local party chair believe they will be on the ballot by the end of June because the issue was not due to the candidates and the state code says state elections officials “shall declare that the candidate is the nominee” in such instances. The state board is scheduled to meet in Richmond at 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 30. The meeting can be viewed online.
The candidates are Laura Wood Habr, a restaurateur known for her work with the Vibe Creative District, and Antonio “Tony” Passaro Jr., a college professor and former state trooper. Passaro would challenge Sheriff Ken Stolle, and Habr would again run against Treasurer Leigh Henderson, who defeated Habr and another candidate in a 2019 special election.
Habr and Passaro filed candidate paperwork to run in the 2021 general election on time, according to the Virginia Beach elections department. The issue was with certification paperwork filed to the local registrar by state Del. Kelly Fowler, D-21st District, acting in her role as chairperson of the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee.
In a statement to The Independent News, Fowler on Wednesday, June 23, wrote that party nomination paperwork was filed with the state on time but went to the local registrar a day late.
“We have two amazing Democratic nominees for Virginia Beach treasurer and sheriff who submitted and filed their completed candidacy paperwork to the local Democratic committee and the local Virginia Beach registrar on time,” Fowler wrote.
She added, “The Virginia Code requires that the party nomination paperwork then be submitted by the local party to both the Virginia Department of Elections and the local registrar. In the event that this process is not completed, the state board is required to complete the nomination.”
During a meeting on Tuesday, June 22, Fowler asked the state elections board to certify Habr and Passaro as the nominees. The board took no action during that meeting. On Wednesday, June 30, the board is expected to address this matter and other issues involving candidates seeking filing extensions to qualify for the November ballot.
Virginia’s code says party chairs are responsible for certifying candidates for certain offices when candidates are nominated by means other than a primary. The certifications are supposed to be made within a set timeframe to both the state and the local registrar.
But the code, as Fowler noted, also says, “Should the party chairman fail to make such certification, the State Board shall declare that the candidate is the nominee of the particular party and direct that his name be treated as if certified by the party chairman.”
Fowler said that means the state board will likely complete the process when it meets.
“I think it’s going to be fine,” Passaro said during an interview on Wednesday, June 23. “I’m excited to run and excited to serve Virginia Beach.”
Habr said she will be relieved when the board resolves the issue “so I can get back on the campaign trail and become the next treasurer.”
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