Conflict issues raised in Portsmouth recall election

PORTSMOUTH

Virginia State Board of Elections staff told the local electoral board chairman to seek advice about a potential conflict of interest before he served as an official in the recall election today of Mayor James Holley.

William H. Watts, the board official in question, was among the residents who circulated petitions during the past year seeking signatures to force the recall vote. A message left at his home Monday was not immediately returned.

Martha Brissette, a policy analyst with the state election board, said she was not aware of any law or policy that would prohibit Watts from serving in the election. But Brissette said state election board staff had previously encouraged Watts to seek an advisory opinion from the Portsmouth commonwealth's attorney.

The local three-member electoral board is tasked with helping ensure elections follow the law.

Bill Prince, a spokesman for Commonwealth's Attorney Earle Mobley, said his office has not received a request for an opinion. Prince said Watts has not broken any laws but used poor judgment with his work on the recall. Likewise, Prince questioned the judgment of another electoral board member, the Rev. Joe B. Fleming, who is a member of a committee that is supporting Holley.

The state election board also looked into complaints about a flier distributed by a recall organizer that did not contain disclosure information on who authorized it. Robert Marcus said he was responsible and would not distribute any more of the fliers.

Voting in the recall election begins at 6 a.m. today and ends at 7 p.m.

Dave Forster, (757) 446-2627, dave.forster@pilotonline.com