Two current council members are lining up to replace Del. Onzlee Ware, and there are other factors.
And you thought the election season ended Nov. 5.
But days after the last ballots were cast, Democrat Onzlee Ware announced he would resign before beginning his sixth term representing the House of Delegates 11th District in the Virginia General Assembly. He wants to spend more time with his ailing mother.
That decision set off a cascade of effects that could ultimately change the makeup of Roanoke City Council.
Within a week of Ware’s announcement, five Democrats had lined up for their party’s nomination to succeed Ware.
Two of the five, David Trinkle and Court Rosen, are current council members. Trinkle’s council seat is up for election in May, and he said last week he hasn’t decided on whether to seek a third term.
Depending on his decision and the outcome of the Dec. 7 primary to choose the candidate for delegate, there’s a possible scenario in which four council seats could be up for election with only two incumbents in the race.
If Rosen were to win the House of Delegates race, his council seat would come up for special election in May. Add to that the possibility that Trinkle might not run, and you have Councilmen Ray Ferris and Bill Bestpitch seeking re-election, and the seats of Trinkle and Rosen open.
If Rosen were to win, the council could appoint a replacement, but that appointment would last only until a new member is elected to serve out the remainder of the term.
If Trinkle were to win, his council seat would be open.
With five diverse candidates vying for a House of Delegates nomination decided by a firehouse primary after just a couple of weeks of campaigning, anything could happen — including the process providing a springboard for unsuccessful candidates to turn around and seek a seat on council.
If any of those Democrats do jump in the council race, they’ll provide the incumbents with an intraparty challenge they’d rather not have.
Ferris, who along with Bestpitch says he will seek another term, said he’s heard rumors that some of those seeking the Democratic nomination for Ware’s seat might also have an interest in being on the council.
“It will certainly be interesting to see how they justify deciding that Roanoke City Council is a good consolation prize,” he said.
“I think you’ve got to really weigh where you think you fit in,” said Trinkle.
Among those Democrats, only Keith Wheaton, a political neophyte, acknowledged interest in a run for council.
“It’s very possible. I’ve talked with a couple of people about that,” he said. He wants to hold office, and jumped at the House of Delegates seat because it was a rare opportunity to run in a compressed time frame, but admitted his run will likely serve mainly as a “stepping stone” for him.
Sam Rasoul admitted giving “a little bit of thought” to a council run, and said he’s felt some pressure from “good ol’ boys” to bow out of the House race and run for council.
“I would be honored to serve, but my heart now is in this delegate race,” he said.
Trish White-Boyd, the other Democrat in the House nomination battle, said the same.
“Nothing else is a priority right now,” she said. “I feel like my platform would be best served in the House of Delegates.”
If any of those three want to get in the mix for council, at least as Democrats, they won’t have much time. The deadline to declare their candidacy and submit petitions for party nomination to council is Dec. 9, just two days after the Democratic primary for the House seat.
Another Democrat commonly mentioned for council is neighborhood activist and Roanoke Community Garden Association Director Mark Powell, but Powell said last week he’s too focused on his work with his nonprofit to consider a council run.
Mark Lucas, the Republican businessman who ran against David Bowers for mayor in 2012, also said he’s not interested in a council seat.
The Republicans fielded no candidates for council in 2012.
Bestpitch said he likes to see candidates who have been involved in city affairs in some other way, such as serving on the school board or the planning commission, more than those who just have a background in politics.
“I think a lot of people fail to differentiate between political activism and actually governing in political office,” he said.
But candidates have to come from somewhere. And despite the surplus of them for the House seat, there could end up being a limited supply of them for the city council.
But days after the last ballots were cast, Democrat Onzlee Ware announced he would resign before beginning his sixth term representing the House of Delegates 11th District in the Virginia General Assembly. He wants to spend more time with his ailing mother.
That decision set off a cascade of effects that could ultimately change the makeup of Roanoke City Council.
Within a week of Ware’s announcement, five Democrats had lined up for their party’s nomination to succeed Ware.
Two of the five, David Trinkle and Court Rosen, are current council members. Trinkle’s council seat is up for election in May, and he said last week he hasn’t decided on whether to seek a third term.
Depending on his decision and the outcome of the Dec. 7 primary to choose the candidate for delegate, there’s a possible scenario in which four council seats could be up for election with only two incumbents in the race.
If Rosen were to win the House of Delegates race, his council seat would come up for special election in May. Add to that the possibility that Trinkle might not run, and you have Councilmen Ray Ferris and Bill Bestpitch seeking re-election, and the seats of Trinkle and Rosen open.
If Rosen were to win, the council could appoint a replacement, but that appointment would last only until a new member is elected to serve out the remainder of the term.
If Trinkle were to win, his council seat would be open.
With five diverse candidates vying for a House of Delegates nomination decided by a firehouse primary after just a couple of weeks of campaigning, anything could happen — including the process providing a springboard for unsuccessful candidates to turn around and seek a seat on council.
If any of those Democrats do jump in the council race, they’ll provide the incumbents with an intraparty challenge they’d rather not have.
Ferris, who along with Bestpitch says he will seek another term, said he’s heard rumors that some of those seeking the Democratic nomination for Ware’s seat might also have an interest in being on the council.
“It will certainly be interesting to see how they justify deciding that Roanoke City Council is a good consolation prize,” he said.
“I think you’ve got to really weigh where you think you fit in,” said Trinkle.
Among those Democrats, only Keith Wheaton, a political neophyte, acknowledged interest in a run for council.
“It’s very possible. I’ve talked with a couple of people about that,” he said. He wants to hold office, and jumped at the House of Delegates seat because it was a rare opportunity to run in a compressed time frame, but admitted his run will likely serve mainly as a “stepping stone” for him.
Sam Rasoul admitted giving “a little bit of thought” to a council run, and said he’s felt some pressure from “good ol’ boys” to bow out of the House race and run for council.
“I would be honored to serve, but my heart now is in this delegate race,” he said.
Trish White-Boyd, the other Democrat in the House nomination battle, said the same.
“Nothing else is a priority right now,” she said. “I feel like my platform would be best served in the House of Delegates.”
If any of those three want to get in the mix for council, at least as Democrats, they won’t have much time. The deadline to declare their candidacy and submit petitions for party nomination to council is Dec. 9, just two days after the Democratic primary for the House seat.
Another Democrat commonly mentioned for council is neighborhood activist and Roanoke Community Garden Association Director Mark Powell, but Powell said last week he’s too focused on his work with his nonprofit to consider a council run.
Mark Lucas, the Republican businessman who ran against David Bowers for mayor in 2012, also said he’s not interested in a council seat.
The Republicans fielded no candidates for council in 2012.
Bestpitch said he likes to see candidates who have been involved in city affairs in some other way, such as serving on the school board or the planning commission, more than those who just have a background in politics.
“I think a lot of people fail to differentiate between political activism and actually governing in political office,” he said.
But candidates have to come from somewhere. And despite the surplus of them for the House seat, there could end up being a limited supply of them for the city council.
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