House of Delegates contests set

The pickins' on the Nov. 3 ballot are anything but slim for voters across South Hampton Roads tracking local legislative races.

State election officials today published a list of candidates seeking election to the General Assembly. Ten of the local contests feature competition and six incumbents are running unopposed.

Here's the final roster for local House of Delegates races:

- In the 21st District that includes portions of Virginia Beach, Democratic Del. Bobby Mathieson faces a challenge from Beach City Councilman Ron Villanueva.

- Democratic Del. Bill Barlow is running to extend his 17-year stint in the legislature. Republican Stan D. Clark, an attorney and Isle of Wight County Supervisor, and Independent Green candidate Albert P. Burckard Jr., who previously ran for Congress, are vying for the 64th District seat. It includes sections of the cities of Franklin, Williamsburg and the counties of Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton and Surry.

- In the 80th District, Republican Jennifer Lee and Democrat Matthew James are running to succeed former Del. Ken Melvin, who left the legislature in the Spring to become a judge.

- Del. Harry R. "Bob" Purkey, R-Virginia Beach, faces challenges from Democrat Peter Schmidt and independent candidate John Parmele Jr., who ran against Purkey four years ago. Purkey has been in the General Assembly since 1986.

- Freshman Del. Joe Bouchard, D-Virginia Beach, faces a rematch with Republican Chris Stolle, whom he narrowly defeated in the 2007 election, in the 83rd District.

- Longtime Del. Bob Tata, R-Virginia Beach, is being challenged in the 85th District by Constitution Party candidate French Mackes Jr.

- Norfolk Democratic Del. Paula Miller has opposition from Republican John N. Amiral, a Navy veteran, in the race for the 87th District seat.

- Running against Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, in the 89th District is independent candidate Anthony J. "Trip" Triplin.

- In the 90th District, Del. Algie T. Howell Jr., D-Norfolk, faces a challenge from Republican Jason E. Call.

- Two challengers are trying to unseat Del. Lynwood W. Lewis Jr., D-Accomack, in the 100th District. They are Republican Melody Himel Scalley and independent candidate John W. Smith.

- Incumbents running unopposed include Dels. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, (76th District); Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, (77th District); John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, (78th District); Johnny Joannou, D-Portsmouth, (79th District); Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, (81st District); and Sal Iaquinto, R-Virginia Beach (84th District).

-- Julian Walker

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