Every year is an election year in Virginia, and this year, not only is everyone in the General Assembly up for reelection, but key offices in Charlottesville and Albemarle are on the ballot as well.
So far in Albemarle, Sheriff Chip Harding (R) has announced he’ll seek a third and final term. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jon Zug said a year ago that he’d challenge fellow Dem Debbie Shipp for the clerk of court job she now holds, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Denise Lunsford has not announced whether she’ll run for a third term.
Albemarle Supervisor Ken Boyd said he has had enough and will not seek reelection—but not because he’s the lone Republican on the Board of Supervisors. “I’ve been in the minority before,” he said. “It wasn’t that.” Boyd was elected to the board in 2003, and said he wants to spend more time with his family and business. The Scottsville and White Hall seats on the board now held by Jane Dittmar and Ann Mallek, respectively, also are up for grabs.
On the Charlottesville City Council, Mayor Satyendra Huja and Councilors Kathy Galvin and Dede Smith have yet to announce their intentions for November.
In the General Assembly, five of the six men representing Charlottesville and Albemarle—Senators Bryce Reeves (R-17th) and Creigh Deeds (D-25th), and Delegates Steve Landes (R-25th), Rob Bell (R-58th) and Matt Fariss (R-59th)—have said they’ll run again. House Minority Leader David Toscano (D-57th) said he’ll wait until after this year’s session to announce.
And getting a jump on 2016, Lawrence Gaughan, the Democrat who challenged U.S. Representative Robert Hurt last year for the 5th District seat and got almost 36 percent of the vote, has said he’ll run again.