2020 Virginia Beach City Council election explained
| Election Name: | 2020 Virginia Beach City Council election |
| Flag Image: | Flag of Virginia Beach, Virginia.png |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2018 Virginia Beach City Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2018 |
| Next Election: | 2022 Virginia Beach City Council election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Seats For Election: | 5 seats on the Virginia Beach City Council |
| Majority Seats: | 6 |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Last Election1: | 6 seats, 54.5% |
| Seats1: | 3 |
| Seat Change1: | 0 |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Last Election2: | 4 seats, 36.4% |
| Seats2: | 1 |
| Seat Change2: | 0 |
| Party3: | Libertarian Party (United States) |
| Last Election3: | 1 seat, 9.1% |
| Seats3: | 1 |
| Seat Change3: | 0 |
| Map Size: | 300px |
|
The 2020 elections for members of the Virginia Beach City Council were held on November 3, 2020. Five seats on the council, including the Mayor of Virginia Beach in the 2020 Virginia Beach mayoral election, were up for election in this cycle.[1] While officially nonpartisan, most of the candidates were affiliated with and endorsed by various political parties.[2]
Background
On January 9, 2020, hotel worker C. Conrad Schesventer II announced his campaign for the Virginia Beach City Council to represent the Rose Hall district.[3]
On May 1, 2020, sales representative Mike Anderson declared his candidacy for the Kempsville seat on the City Council.[4] On June 3, 2020, City Council member Michael Berlucchi announced that he would be running for re-election to keep his seat in the Rose Hall district.[5] A day later, retired businessman Garry Hubbard announced his candidacy for the Rose Hall district seat as well.[6] On June 10, 2020, healthcare network support consultant Brandon Hutchins announced that he would be running for the At-Large seat on the council.[7] Nine days later, former delegate from Virginia's 85th house district Cheryl Turpin announced that she would also be challenging council member Berlucchi for his seat in the Rose Hall district.[8]
On July 4, 2020, City Council member Sabrina Wooten announced her re-election campaign for her seat on the council representing the Centerville district.[9] Two days later, financial advisor Bill Dale declared his candidacy for the Kempsville seat on the council.[10] On July 9, 2020, Turpin announced that she was withdrawing from the race for personal reasons specifically concerning her elderly mother. In a statement, she elaborated on her decision saying, "At this time I must intensify my advocacy on behalf of my mother, who is 87 years old and suffering from cognitive changes, as challenges attached to the current COVID-19 crisis increase."[11] A day later, City Council member Jessica Abbott announced that she would be running for her incumbent seat representing the Kempsville district.[12] Two days after that, funeral director Eric Wray II declared that he would be challenging Wooten for her seat on the council serving the Centerville district.[13]
On July 22, 2020, Lucia Owen, a candidate for an at-large seat on the Virginia Beach City Council, announced that she was withdrawing from the race due to family priorities. She said that she had recently been involved in a car accident and she was currently pregnant and concerned about going out campaigning during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[14] That same day, longtime City Council member Rosemary Wilson announced that she would be running for a sixth term representing the at-large seat.[15]
On August 4, 2020, businesswoman Nadine Marie Paniccia announced that she too would be seeking to challenge council member Wilson for the at-large seat on the council.[16] On September 14, 2020, Anderson announced that he was withdrawing from the Kempsville election.[17]
On November 4, 2020, results confirmed that all five incumbents on the council, including Wilson, Wooten, Abbott, Berlucchi, and Dyer, had won re-election.[18]
Candidates
At-Large
| Candidate | Experience | Logo | Campaign announced | Party
| References |
|---|
| Rosemary Wilson | Virginia Beach City Council Member
(2002–present) | (Website)
| | bgcolor= | | Republican | [19] [20] |
| Brandon Hutchins | Healthcare Network Support Consultant | (Website)
| | bgcolor= | | Democratic | |
| Nadine Marie Paniccia | Advertising Sales Executive | (Website)
| | bgcolor= | | Independent | |
|
Withdrew before the election
Centerville district
Kempsville district
Withdrew before the election
Rose Hall district
| Candidate | Experience | Logo | Campaign announced | Party
| References |
|---|
| Michael Berlucchi | Virginia Beach City Council Member
(2019–present) | (Website)
| | bgcolor= | | Republican | |
| C. Conrad Schesventer II | Front Desk Hotel Worker | (Website)
| | bgcolor= | | Democratic | |
| Garry Hubbard | Construction Contractor | | | bgcolor= | | Democratic | |
|
Withdrew before the election
Endorsements
Rose Hall district
Notes and References
- Web site: Skelton . Alissa . Meet the Virginia Beach City Council candidates on the November ballot . . October 8, 2020 . July 5, 2020.
- Web site: Our Campaigns - United States - Virginia - Counties - Virginia Beach - Virginia Beach City Council . Our Campaigns . October 8, 2020.
- Web site: Schesventer . Conrad . Conrad Schesventer for Virginia Beach . . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014215700/https://www.facebook.com/ConradforVB/posts/832910820484510 . October 14, 2020 . en . January 9, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Anderson . Michael . Today, I am officially starting my campaign for Virginia Beach City Council for the Kempsville seat. I was hoping to have the traditional kick-off party . But, since the Covid-19 virus closed the country down on March 26th, we have not been able to do anything normal with the day to day activities. Please visit my website to keep updated with the top issues that we all are concerned about. Please e-mail or send a message to ask or discuss any of your issues. . Facebook . October 17, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201017175919/https://www.facebook.com/111172080421309/posts/todayi-am-officially-starting-my-campaign-for-virginia-beach-city-council-for-th/150908893114294/ . October 17, 2020 . May 1, 2020.
- Web site: Berlucchi . Michael . I am excited to share with you that I am officially a candidate for re-election for a full, four-year term and I'm here to respectfully ask for your support. I love Virginia Beach and I know you do too. Let's work together to build a bright future for everyone! #OurFutureisNow . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014220055/https://www.facebook.com/CouncilmanMichaelBerlucchi/posts/879803435856938 . October 14, 2020 . en . June 3, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Hubbard . Garry . I am now officially on the ballot to run for City Council, Rose Hall district. I may not be the most popular candidate. But I can guarantee you that I will be the candidate that will work the hardest to represent you. i stand for bringing New high paying business to our city. A real mitigation on flood control and real progress for our city. I pledge to get our fiscal house in order and fight against any tax increase just to fill the city's coffers. I stand ready to listen to your voices and ideas. I humbly ask for your vote November 3, 2020. . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014222149/https://www.facebook.com/groups/VBpolitics/permalink/1491169154388122/ . October 14, 2020 . en . June 4, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Hutchins . Brandon . If you want a better tomorrow then we have to vote for it. Be the change my friends. Victory is ours! . . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014221031/https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=%2Fp%2FCBQPV9Wnby6%2F . October 14, 2020 . en . June 10, 2020 . live .
- Web site: Turpin . Cheryl . Cheryl Turpin for Virginia Beach . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014230508/https://www.facebook.com/CherylTurpinvb/posts/2577906819150126 . October 14, 2020 . June 19, 2020.
- Web site: Wooten . Sabrina . Sabrina D Wooten Re-election Announcement . . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014222026/https://twitter.com/sabrinadwooten/status/12794403715384483901538448390 . October 14, 2020 . en . July 4, 2020.
- Web site: Dale . Bill . Bill Dale for City Council . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014222906/https://www.facebook.com/billdalevb/posts/117355226700383 . October 14, 2020 . July 6, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Nolte . Jessica . Cheryl Turpin no longer running for Virginia Beach City Council . The Virginian-Pilot . October 13, 2020 . July 9, 2020.
- Web site: Abbott . Jessica . Official Campaign Kickoff Announcement! . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014223848/https://www.facebook.com/jessicapabbottvb/posts/1542896872545702 . October 14, 2020 . en . July 10, 2020.
- Web site: Wray . Eric . Eric Wray For Virginia Beach City Council . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014224254/https://www.facebook.com/EricWrayforCityCouncil/photos/a.146235018858274/1647503552064739/ . October 14, 2020 . en . July 12, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Notebook: VB GOP vote for new chair needs do-over; Franklin on ballot for Kempsville SB; Owen bows out of at-large council race . The Princess Anne Independent News . October 9, 2020 . August 1, 2020.
- Web site: Wilson . Rosemary . I am running for re-election and ask for your support, here is my fundraising link if you would like to donate to my campaign. I’m very proud of our city with having great schools, low crime, and a AAA bond rating. We’ve been named the third best run city in the nation. Thanks for your consideration! . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014224804/https://www.facebook.com/RosemaryWilsonVB/posts/3436187103081996 . October 14, 2020 . July 22, 2020.
- Web site: Paniccia . Nadine . Nadine Paniccia for Virginia Beach . Facebook . October 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014225443/https://www.facebook.com/nadine.paniccia/posts/10221216606139302 . October 14, 2020 . August 4, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Anderson . Michael . I am withdrawing my candidacy from the 2020 City Council election. I want to thank the many people who supported me and I look forward to working together to elect a new City Council. I will be supporting Councilwoman Jessica Abbott in her re-election campaign. The strains of the COVID pandemic and the lock down has severely hampered fundraising, campaigning and interacting with the public that I believe are necessary in getting out the message. I stand with Councilwoman Jessica Abbott. Councilwoman Abbot and I share many of the same core values and we both strive to make Virginia Beach a thriving and safe city. . Facebook . October 17, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201017175149/https://www.facebook.com/111172080421309/posts/i-am-withdrawing-my-candidacy-from-the-2020-city-council-election-i-want-to-than/190284462510070/ . October 17, 2020 . en . September 14, 2020 . dead .
- Web site: Skelton . Alissa . Virginia Beach mayor: Incumbents' victories are evidence of public’s satisfaction with the council . The Virginian-Pilot . November 27, 2020 . November 4, 2020.
- Web site: The local candidates in Virginia Beach races; Burns stays on ballot after petition review . The Princess Anne Independent News . October 14, 2020 . June 21, 2020.
- Web site: Skelton . Alissa . Parker . Stacy . Here’s what you need to know about the 2020 Virginia Beach City Council races . The Virginian-Pilot . October 15, 2020 . October 12, 2020.
