Hopewell, Petersburg, Colonial Heights races

Here are contested races in Hopewell, Petersburg and Colonial Heights on Nov. 3.

Hopewell

A new city resident is challenging incumbent Anthony N. "Nino" Sylvester in the race for commonwealth's attorney.

Sylvester, 44, was first elected in 2000 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2001 and 2005. Challenger Richard K. "Rick" Newman, 53, an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Petersburg, is promoting a new focus on gang activity.

Resident interest in this contest, the only contested Hopewell race, has been driven by concerns about crime. State police figures show that Hopewell's violent-crime rate -- 56 crimes per 1,000 residents in 2008 -- has surpassed that of Richmond.

"This is a very interesting race. For the first time in nine years, Mr. Sylvester is being challenged. I think every race needs opposition," said Janice Denton of Hopewell Citizens for Good Government, which hosted a candidate debate last month attended by about 200 residents. "We are trying to get people out to vote."

Sylvester, a graduate of Hopewell High School, Washington and Lee University and the University of Richmond law school, said he has led the office in a tough period during which the city has had four police chiefs. He said he has a good working relationship with current
Chief Steven D. Martin.

Newman, who has received the endorsement of 23 Hopewell police officers, said he would like to invest in gang-prevention programs for youths. Newman, also a graduate of the UR's law school, has been with the Petersburg office for 10 years. He moved to Hopewell from Dinwiddie County less than a year ago.

Also on the ballot -- and running unopposed -- are Sheriff Greg L. Anderson, Commissioner of the Revenue Debra Kloske Reason and Treasurer Teresa L. "Terri" Batton.

Petersburg

Former sheriff's deputy Troy B. Fobbs Sr. is challenging his former boss, Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford.

The race has grown heated over the past weeks as the candidates exchange accusations and the development of an investigation on Fobbs' residency status. On Friday, Fobbs was arrested on a misdemeanor count of committing voter fraud in last year's November elections. A warrant charging him alleges that Fobbs cast his ballot last November knowing he was not qualified to vote in Petersburg. But it is still unclear where Fobbs was legally required to vote in Virginia.

The Chesterfield County commonwealth's attorney office has also been investigating questions about Fobbs' residency.

Fobbs, 56, says he lives in Petersburg at his father's Farmer Street home. But Crawford and other residents have raised questions because Fobbs owns property in Chesterfield, and his children attend county schools.

Crawford said that when Fobbs worked at her office, he had a Chesterfield address as his place of residence.

Fobbs worked for the sheriff's office for five years and was terminated in May, months after he announced the campaign against Crawford, he said. Before his work as deputy, he worked for three years for the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Crawford, 45, who is seeking a second term, said Fobbs was terminated for cause, "not because he was running against me."

She said her work isn't done. Over the past four years, she said, she has established several initiatives, including a senior citizen crime-prevention program and a gun-safety campaign, and she would like to expand the academic program for inmates. She supervises 102 deputies.

• In the race for city treasurer, Democrat Kevin A. Brown faces Republican Tammy Lee Alexander. Both are first-time candidates for the office. Brown defeated four-term Treasurer Carole S. Matthews in the June Democratic primary after campaigning as a newcomer who would bring fresh ideas to the office.

A businessman who has 20 years of experience in commercial finance, Brown promises better customer service, efficiency and transparency. He said he wants to expand services online.

He has lived in the city for four years and is a loan manager for the Richmond Economic Development Authority.

Alexander, 41, who has lived in the city since 2005 and in the Tri-Cities area for 29 years, has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 14 years. She has experience in cash management, auditing and internal controls, she said.

If elected, she said, she would assess how the office is working before making any changes, but she would seek improvements in customer service and online services.

Also up for re-election next month are Petersburg Commonwealth Attorney Cassandra Stroud Burns and Commissioner of the Revenue Pamela C. Hairston. Both are running unopposed.

Colonial Heights

Commissioner of the Revenue Marjorie C. DeDanko is in a heated rematch with Gayle R. Braswell, whom DeDanko defeated in 2005.

The candidates, once colleagues at the commissioner's office, exchanged personal attacks, and DeDanko's former campaign manager, Pete Pettry, called for a State Board of Elections investigation into a Braswell car-wash fundraiser. Braswell was cleared.

Three weeks before election, Pettry switched his support to Braswell, attacking DeDanko's character in messages sent to media outlets.

The Board of Elections is currently investigating other complaints in both campaigns.

The commissioner of the revenue is the only contested race in the city. Sheriff Todd B. Wilson, Commonwealth's Attorney William B. "Bill" Bray and Treasurer Joy W. Moore are unopposed for re-election. -- Compiled by Luz Lazo