VIRGINIA BEACH — Brad Martin, an engineer who served a year on the Virginia Beach City Council, is poised to challenge Councilmember John Moss in the newly created District 9.
Martin filed nominating petitions to run for the seat this year, though, due to changes in the voting system, petitions have not yet been verified by elections officials. It is very early in the process of determining candidates for local offices, but Martin is, so far, likely the best-known nonincumbent seeking office.
Martin said he planned to seek a council seat again in Virginia Beach prior to the recent court-ordered change in the local voting system that ended the old system. That controversial mix of “at-large,” or citywide, seats and seven district seats meant all city voters cast ballots in all council races, even if they lived outside a district. A ruling by a federal judge, now the subject of an appeal, brought an end to the old way. So did new state laws.
Now there are 10 voting districts, and only people residing within a district vote to determine its representation.
Martin is running in District 9 four years after he unsuccessfully sought the Bayside District seat on the council, narrowly losing to longtime Councilmember Louis Jones in a contest that was the subject of a recount. Jones now resides within the new District 8, which also is on the ballot this year.
“They’ve drawn the lines, and where there are a couple of choices before, there was one choice,” Martin said during an interview, adding that he hopes to contribute to the council on key issues.
“My hands are tied,” Martin said. “I’m running for the only seat that’s available for me to run for because I’m not going to move and I’m not going to run for mayor.”
Moss, in an interview, said he plans to seek reelection because he has more work to do on the council.
“I’d like to see the implementation of the bond referendum is on its way,” Moss said, speaking of the ambitious stormwater referendum that was backed by city voters last year to address specific flood mitigation projects.
Moss previously represented the old Kempsville Borough from 1986 to 1990, and he served from 1992 to 1995 in an at-large seat before rejoining the council in 2011 as an at-large representative.
“I know what’s it’s like to be a district council member,” Moss said. “I think I bring a much-needed financial acumen to the job. We face a lot of fiscal challenges. I think I’m good at it.”
Moss said he believes he serves citizens well.
“I think they need a voice,” Moss said, “and I think I provide that.”
Martin said his experience as an engineer can benefit the city on important issues such as land use and flooding.
“There is still a need for my skillset in engineering around that table,” he said.
Martin and Moss have faced each other before. Moss won election to one of two open at-large seats on the council in 2014 in a race that saw Martin place third among four candidates.
At the time, Martin had served a year on the council as an appointee. He completed an unexpired term of Bill DeSteph after DeSteph, who is a state senator now, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
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Glad to see the seat declarations staring to appear. We need the quality of leadership and experience, combined with his tireless dedication, to foster the future of our city. Brad has those qualities sand we are fortunate he has offered them to our community.