VIRGINIA BEACH — City officials are planning 2022 elections under a new 10-district voting system while educating the public and candidates about changes ordered by a judge who found the old at-large system to be discriminatory.
The communication challenge includes reaching and educating all city voters over the coming months. They will be in districts that are far different than those of the former system, which was a mix of four at-large seats (including the mayor) and seven district seats also selected at large, meaning even city voters outside a district determined its representation.
Now the mayor is selected by all city voters, but the remaining members of the council represent one of 10 districts — and can only be choosen by voters within that district. More than half of the City Council seats are on the ballot this year.
Efforts to notify voters of new districts are in the works, and the city already has set up an online lookup tool available via www.vbgov.com/voter so people can find their new district. Officials are also ensuring candidates understand details such as the need to gather signatures for nominating petitions only from voters living within the district they want to represent.
Deputy City Attorney Chris Boynton briefed the City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and he discussed the city’s appeal of the federal court ruling while officials are proceeding with an election this year under the new plan.
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Raymond A. Jackson ordered implementation of the 10-district plan and district maps authored by a special master. This final order came after Jackson in March found the city’s former at-large system violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act because it denied minority voters a chance to have a fair say in council elections. The new system includes three districts with better opportunities for minority voters to elect candidates of their choice.
“City departments are working diligently with the registrar to implement the district court’s imposition of the special master 10-district system,” Boynton said, “and, at the same time, you the City Council authorized us and directed us to appeal the liability finding to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, back in April 2021 when the district court issues its liability opinion.”
After being paused, the appeal is proceeding with filings due in the coming weeks and oral arguments scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, to Friday, March 11. “We still don’t know the timing of a ruling, but that March argument sets up the possibility of a court ruling later in March or in April,” Boynton said.
Several incumbent members of the City Council will see elections this year if they decide to seek office again, and the court tried to match the elections schedule to that of the former districts.
In 2022, the incumbents who may face reelection are Barbara Henley, who has represented the Princess Anne District, in the new District 2; Linwood Branch, a recent appointee to the Lynnhaven District seat, in District 6; Louis Jones, who has represented the Bayside District, in District 8; John Moss, who has held an at-large seat, in District 9; and Aaron Rouse, who has held an at-large seat, in District 10. District 4 is an open seat.
Rocky Holcomb, a recent appointee to the Kempsville District seat, would face a special election for District 1 this year. Guy Tower, who has represented the Beach District and who was paired with Branch in District 6, will not seek office again. Remaining council seats are on the 2024 ballot, and the schedule should correspond for the School Board, though it is not yet clear exactly how because that body was not a party in the suit.
“This is where things get complicated,” Boynton said, noting that the court did not consider the residencies of School Board incumbents in the new district plan.
Eight of the 11 members are paired with colleagues in districts, including four members of the board who reside within one of the new districts.
School Board elections mirror council elections, though the mayor is directly elected while the School Board chair is selected by members of the board.
Donna Patterson, director of voter registration and elections, said her office is accepting nominating petitions for local offices but not yet verifying signatures. She is working with state election officials to address issues and will then start checking signatures. And the office will alert the public to new districts and any possible polling location changes.
“As soon as everything can be determined, we will actually be contacting voters,” Patterson said.
Tiffany Russell, interim city communications director, discussed a plan to start educating the public. She presented strategies, a possible $200,000 media budget and samples of suggested creative products to the City Council.
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