The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
State Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle will leave the General Assembly next year to operate the city jail after winning Tuesday's election for sheriff.
"The new sheriff in town is going to be a tough sheriff," Stolle said. "I look forward to doing all I can do to keep the public in Virginia Beach safe," said Stolle after learning of his triumph.
His replacement in Richmond will be selected in a special election. Stolle's opponent in the sheriff's race was police Capt. John L. Bell Jr., a Democrat and 33-year veteran of the Police Department. This was Bell's first run for political office.
Sheriff Paul Lanteigne will step down in December after nine years. He did not seek re-election.
As sheriff, Stolle will inherit a staff of more than 500 people and an annual budget of about $36 million.
This year, Lanteigne will earn about $162,000.
Stolle disclosed in April that he has Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder. He takes medication and said the disease won't hinder his ability to perform his duties.
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Congrats!
Both Stolle and Bell ran an inpressive race for Virginia Beach Sheriff this year. I for one am happy with the results. But even more important is the fact that as US Citizens we can all vote and run for office in any local that we recide in. Be it as it may, you can disagree with ones policies or stances on the issues, but we can all agree that when the people vote we all win.
No Mudslinging...
Both candidates are great people! Capt. Bell is a fine man and and good friend as is Ken Stolle! Either way, I hope they can deliver and keep VB the great city that it is!!!
Misinformed poster says,
Just another pension for Stolle for his retirement; sort of a political payback. Not any better than Phil Hamilton.
I'm curious, whats his other pension?
Just another pension for Stolle for his retirement..... ???
Rayr, Tell us what the other pension is? He doesn't get one for his senate time but it just adds to his VRS pension. Comparing him to Hamilton? You're terribly misinformed!
Yup!!
promotions held up so when John Bell lost, he would then be promoted to deputy chief. maybe those deserving of promotion in the lower ranks will now see them come through.
Don't worry to much about Bell
Don't worry to much about Bell. He has a job to fall back to. The deputy chief position with the PD has been held just for him till after the election. He'll get by just fine.
No one ever did worry
He should be embarrassed by this shalacking. Ran a terrible race with a clueless team. It was a non starter. Waste of time and money.
new" tough" sheriff in town
Stolle's gonna need to be tough especially if light rail comes to town.
He was praised by the Pile-it editorial board for helping to negotiate the purchase of the ROW for light rail from Norfolk Southern. However, the editorial failed to mention the purchase price of $40 million taxpayer dollars. For a property that was assessed at $9.5 million. What a deal right? Four times the assessed value for a property that nobody else has a use for. Now the property is off the rolls and generating no taxes. Can the taxpayers of Va Beach afford a billion dollar project that has virtually no effect on congestion?
And what about crime you say? Norfolk has a murder rate that is more than twice the national average and a larceny/theft rate that is one and a half times the natl. avg. While VB crime rates are well below the natl avg.
Maybe Stolle is a forward thinker after all. In Portland crime increased to such a level (around light rail stations and on the rail) that they had to double the number of transit police. With an increased crime rate the beach jail will be busier than ever. Tough guy indeed.
Mixed up
I think you're mixing up the sheriff's department and the police department.
Stolle!
Just another pension for Stolle for his retirement; sort of a political payback. Not any better than Phil Hamilton.