First Virginia Beach City Council members elected under new system join the dais

BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE

COURTHOUSE — New and familiar members of the City Council took ceremonial oaths of office during a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 3, at City Hall, and the first council members elected under a local voting process unlike any other in the 60-year history of the modern city took their places at the dais.

The future of that very system will be part of what they wrestle with this year. In part, they will deal with a decision made in December that has the potential to lead to more changes to the process of selecting members of the Virginia Beach City Council and School Board in the future.

In November, voters participated in elections held under a new 10-district voting system in which only residents of districts select their representatives. Under previous voting systems here, voters throughout the city chose district representatives regardless of whether a voter lived within that district.

As The Independent News reported in recent editions, it is uncertain whether the current district system will be in place for the next scheduled local elections in 2024. The system’s future – and a December measure by a council majority to seek citizen input about local voting – will loom.

The new council is now the most diverse in the history of Virginia Beach, a result of changed state laws, a federal voting rights lawsuit and, of course, the will of voters. 

New members of the council who were sworn in were Worth Remick in District 6, Jennifer Rouse in District 10, Joash Schulman in District 9 and Chris Taylor in District 8. Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, who previously served on the council, rejoined it to represent District 4. And Councilmembers Barbara Henley in District 2 and Rocky Holcomb, who won special election to continue representing District 1 after serving as an appointee, also were sworn in.

After the selection of Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson to continue as vice mayor, members of the council made remarks on Jan. 3. Those reelected, rejoining or new to the body thanked citizens and loved ones.

“All council people have taken their seat and are now vested in the future of Virginia Beach,” Mayor Bobby Dyer said.

The new council, many of whom were elected under the 10-district system, will now help determine that future — and may decide whether there is a referendum about local voting on the November 2023 ballot.

During a contentious meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, the City Council voted, 7-4, to collect public input about the election process in the city in enough time to decide whether to place a referendum on the ballot.

“The City Council desires to have a robust public input process that allows the residents multiple avenues to submit input to the City Council regarding the future of elections in the city,” the resolution said, in part.

Georgia Allen, one of the plaintiffs in the voting rights lawsuit against Virginia Beach, was among the people who spoke during a public comment session.

“My message to you tonight is very simple,” Allen said, alluding to the local election completed in November under the new system. “The people have spoken.”

City Councilmember John Moss, who represented District 9 but in November lost a reelection bid, noted that the appeal in the voting rights suit vacated the District Court order that led to the new system while also leaving the matter in the hands of the judge.

“If you look at the fact that the appeals court did not dismiss the case,” Moss said. “It didn’t rule on the merits of the District Court decision. It didn’t overturn the decision of the District Court. It just vacated the decision of the District Court while preserving the plaintiffs’ standing to reengage in District Court if we were to make changes.”

Unless law changes, the city essentially asking people to provide feedback on something that cannot move, he argued. If it passed, he suggested, another resolution might be introduced in January.

City Councilmember Aaron Rouse, the husband of Jennifer Rouse and a candidate for state senate, spoke extensively against the potential change to the new system represented by the proposed outreach.

The case was historic, he said, and a resolution proposed by the mayor should not happen on the last day of the outgoing council. He and Councilmember Sabrina Wooten of District 7 both noted that the incoming council should have a say in the matter.

“I don’t see a problem with hearing what residents have to say,” Holcomb said.

Dyer, prior to the vote, noted that this is not meant to revert to the former system. Some form of district voting is “here to stay,” he said, but he argued that decisions by the courts and state legislature led to change – not citizens. 

“All we’re asking is let’s bring the public to the table, and the new council members are going to have to deal with the input that’s coming,” Dyer added.

Dyer, Wilson and City Councilmembers Michael Berlucchi, Linwood Branch, Henley, Holcomb and Delceno Miles voted in support of the resolution. Moss, Rouse, Guy Tower and Wooten voted against it.

Again, the new council may weigh in.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, Wooten said she is bringing forward a resolution suggested by constituents to rescind the resolution that passed in December. 

Wooten passed out copies of the suggested resolution to her colleagues during an informal session held on the same day as the special meeting. 

It could be considered by the new City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 17. 

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