Woody declares victory in Richmond sheriff primary

Incumbent Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. last night declared victory over his challenger in the Democratic primary contest.

With 64 of 65 precincts reporting, Woody had gotten 10,642 votes compared with 2,408 votes for Henrico County sheriff's Maj. Antionette V. Irving, according to unofficial results from the Virginia State Board of Elections.

"Promises made, promises kept," Woody said late last night. He said voters rewarded him for increasing security at the Richmond City Jail and for other accomplishments.

"We delivered," he said. "We've got a lot of work to do, but we've done a great job."

Irving could not immediately be reached for comment.

Woody faces no other challenger in his quest for a second term as sheriff.

Woody, a former Richmond police homicide investigator, was elected sheriff in November 2005, when he defeated three-term incumbent Democrat Michelle B. Mitchell in a hotly contested race.

Irving became the first woman to be promoted to major at the Henrico Sheriff's Office in 2004. She was hired in 1988 as a correctional deputy.

The Richmond Sheriff's Office, with about 450 employees, runs one of the largest correctional institutions in the state. It also handles courthouse security and serves legal papers in thousands of civil suits each year.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .