Lucas is a sophomore studying History & Social Science and Political Science. He has lived (and voted) in Virginia Beach his entire life and has been an active participant at Virginia Beach City Council. He is also the current TA for POLS 201 State and Local Politics and Government.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Within this year’s election cycle, all eyes are on the general election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, but in the state of Virginia, in the city of Virginia Beach, and with many of its individual districts, there are even more elections to be decided; elections that are just as, if not more, important than the general race. Within the American political sphere, the rhetoric of federal and international politics is hammered in time and time again, but the complexity and nuance of state and local politics is an obscure subject within the field, as it is frequently left out of the limelight. However, I find these elections to be far more intriguing, as the lower levels of government (those being state and local) tend to impact day-to-day life far more than that of the federal government. There are major challenges that the city of Virginia Beach is actively facing, such as the challenge of proper stormwater management and environmental sustainability throughout the city, the housing crisis and the “death of the single-family home,” the construction of Virginia Beach’s Marina District and so on. The elections within Virginia Beach are, in my opinion, of the utmost importance, as their outcomes may have great effects on the future of the city, as well as setting a precedent for the state of Virginia as a whole.
This year, there are several major elections within the Virginia Beach City Council, as the Office of Mayor and city councilmembers from Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 are up for election. For the Office of Mayor, current Virginia Beach Mayor Robert M. “Bobby” Dyer is once again seeking reelection, with his opposing candidates consisting of current District 7 Councilwoman Sabrina Wooten, current District 8 Councilman Chris Taylor and former District 9 Councilman John Moss, as well as Richard “RK” Kowalewitch. What is interesting to note, however, is that by running for mayor, Wooten and Taylor are forced to resign from their offices, meaning that if the two do not win the Mayoral Office, they will no longer serve on Virginia Beach City Council. As a result, it has made the races for District 7 and 8’s city councilmember positions all the more contentious. Additionally, Rosemary Wilson serves not only as District 5’s member of City Council, but also as the vice mayor of Virginia Beach, which has led to her seat being just as contested. The Office of Mayor of Virginia Beach most certainly has some weight to it, and for good reason. Virginia Beach is an epicenter for business, the US Navy, recreation and tourism, and education, and the role of overseeing the political process of almost half a million people through all of these avenues is no small feat.
Additionally, District 8, a district near VWU (which lies in District 4) has a critical race this year, meaning that the surrounding community will be greatly affected by the results of this election cycle. Thus, it is truly crucial for citizens of the area to become educated on their options for a new councilmember, as Taylor is no longer able to hold the seat, and the removal of the incumbent will ultimately demand more attention from citizens of the district at the ballot box. While the Mayoral Office is important, it is not within their purview to tailor their efforts towards the specific needs of a District. It is for this reason that the intimate structure of Virginia Beach’s City Council relies on the communal strength that their councilmembers hold, as their consistent dialogue and networking among their citizens is what bolsters the growth of Virginia Beach.
Local offices hold the keys on how to conduct the political process at the most basic level, whether it be proposing plans for a new park, establishing renovations to the local strip mall or even tackling local climate crises. Thus, when people approach me and ask “Should I care about local politics?” I can only respond with a resounding “Yes!” When it comes time to vote during a local election cycle, I have found it imperative to understand just who is on the ballot and what they stand for before arriving at the ballot box, as making the most informed decision that one can is critical to the security of not only local elections, but elections in general.
By Lucas Gordon
lrgordon@vwu.edu