Lionell Spruill Jr. to take on Chesapeake's Del. Howell

NORFOLK

Lionell Spruill Jr., the son and namesake of the longtime Chesapeake General Assemblyman, will challenge incumbent Algie Howell Jr. in the June Democratic primary for the 90th House District.

Spruill served in the Marines and  is a decorated veteran of the first Gulf War with a troubled legal past. He'll take on a delegate who faced national ridicule after introducing legislation in 2005 that would have outlawed baggy pants.

Spruill's father, Del. Lionell Spruill Sr., vehemently opposed the Howell bill, and so caustically criticized the proposal that he was forced to apologize to the House of Representatives.

The junior Spruill, 43, is an alumnus of Norfolk State University, where he is a student activities coordinator. He said he moved to Norfolk from Chesapeake a little more than a year ago.

Virginia court records show that Spruill Jr. has been charged, but never convicted, with several felonies. Howell, first elected to the House in 2003, declined to comment directly on Spruill's legal problems.

"I have never in my life engaged in any negative campaigning," Howell said. "It will be up to the voters to judge his record, just as they will judge mine."

In 1996, Spruill was accused of having sex with a minor under his supervision while employed at the Barry Robinson Center, a Norfolk residential center that cares for troubled youths. The girl, 17 when the allegation was made, testified that Spruill followed her inside a downtown Norfolk hotel rest room and had sex with her.

Spruill denied the charges and in 1997, after only an hour of deliberation, was acquitted by a jury. He said on Thursday that he was falsely accused. "I've got a daughter," he said. "I'd lose my mind if someone would do that to my daughter."

In 2005, four felony charges of grand larceny were filed against Spruill in the city of Franklin. According to an arrest warrant obtained from the Franklin General District Court, after Spruill was "terminated" as a magistrate for the city in June 2005, he was supposed to return his city-owned cell phone to the Franklin police but did not.

The records indicate he ran up $2,969.54 in cell phone charges over the next five months.

Spruill said his daughter was supposed to turn the phone in, but instead, her boyfriend's nephew pocketed it.

He said he was not aware the phone hadn't been turned in until charges were filed. Once informed, he paid off the cell phone bills. Records show the charges were withdrawn in September 2006.

Lionell Spruill Sr., the Chesapeake delegate, said he supports his son. But he added that their campaigns are being run separately.

"He's a big man," said the elder Spruill, who is running unopposed for the 77th District seat. "He's doing his own thing."

Howell enters the campaign with a huge cash advantage. He had $41,325 as of March 31, according to The Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks campaign fundraising.

Spruill reported $1,820 in funds and the same amount in expenses for the first three months of the year.

The winner of the primary will face Chesapeake resident Jason Call, the Republican candidate, in November's election.

The 90th District covers much of southern and eastern Norfolk, with a few precincts in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.

The seat is one of few competitive races in Norfolk. The 80th District seat, which is being vacated by Portsmouth's Ken Melvin, is the only other seat that will be up for contention in a primary.

No Democratic challengers filed to run in the other five House districts that represent parts of Norfolk.

Diane Kaufman, chairwoman of the city Democratic committee, said no one has challenged incumbents for sheriff, treasurer, commonwealth's attorney or commissioner of the revenue, either.

In November, Anthony Triplin, a Norfolk resident, plans to run as an independent against Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, in the 89th House District, which runs from downtown north almost to Wards Corner.

Triplin has raised $56,123, according to VPAP, but hasn't filed as a candidate with the Norfolk registrar's office. He has until June 9. Alexander has $35,527 on hand.

Pam Brown, chairwoman of the city Republican Party, said she hopes to recruit candidates to oppose several Democrats, but no candidates have emerged.

Pilot researcher Jakon Hays contributed to this report.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com