Whatever your persuasion, have your vote counted

I hope everyone is ready to vote next week. In Your Corner, we usually don’t devote much space to political news, but I thought it might be good to talk a little about the races we’ll decide Tuesday.

We’ll pick a new governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general as well as a delegate for the 80th House District.

State senators serve four-year terms and won’t face re-election until 2011, but House elections come every two years. There are 69 contested races next week – 11 open seats and 58 races in which incumbents face challengers.

Two political newcomers, Jennifer Lee and Matthew James, are vying for the seat of former longtime Del. Kenneth Melvin in the 80th, a district that includes much of Portsmouth and part of Chesapeake.

Voters in each city of Your Corner will have a chance to vote for a new sheriff. Each cities’ incumbent candidate for commonwealth’s attorney, commissioner of the revenue and city treasurer is unopposed.

Churchland voters will choose either Sheriff Bill Watson, elected in 2005, or independent challenger David L. Cherry Sr.

In Western Branch, John Newhart has been sheriff since 1970. He’s being challenged this year by David K. Cahoon, an independent.

North Suffolk voters will choose between 16-year veteran Sheriff Raleigh H. Isaacs Sr. and independent challenger Jay A. Clason.

Also interesting are a couple races near our borders. In Isle of Wight County, 64th District Del. Bill Barlow has two challengers: Stan Clark, a longtime member of the County Board of Supervisors, and Albert Burckard, a light-rail promoter and retired Army officer who spends much of his time volunteering.

And in Newport News’ 93rd District, Democrat Robin Abbott is making a bid to pick off Del. Phillip Hamilton who is seeking a 12th term. Hamilton has faced an outcry about his $40,000-a-year job at Old Dominion University.

Whatever the outcome, make sure your voice is heard. There’s always too much at stake for apathy.

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.