Challenger Newman wins in Hopewell race for commonwealth’s attorney

HOPEWELL -- The incumbent commonwealth's attorney in Hopewell was defeated by a big margin last night, while Petersburg's sheriff and Colonial Heights' commissioner of the revenue easily won re-election.

Newcomer Richard K. "Rick" Newman defeated incumbent Anthony N. "Nino" Sylvester for Hopewell's commonwealth's attorney.

Newman, 53, an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Petersburg who has lived in Hopewell less than a year, received 62 percent of the vote, compared with Sylvester's 38 percent.

"It has been a long, uphill battle," said Newman, who received the endorsement of 23 Hopewell police officers and ran on an agenda promoting a new focus on gang activity.

"This is the actual first step. We are going to start making some changes in Hopewell."

The vote, he said, "shows that the people in Hopewell wanted a change. That is exactly why I moved to Hopewell."

Sylvester, 44, was first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2001 and 2005.

This was the first year he was challenged.

"I am disappointed," he said. "I think we ran an honorable campaign; we tried to stick to the issues. It has been an honor to serve the city of Hopewell."

Re-elected and running unopposed were Sheriff Greg L. Anderson, Commissioner of the Revenue Debra Kloske Reason and Treasurer Teresa L. "Terri" Batton.

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In Petersburg, Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford earned her second term by defeating former employee Troy B. Fobbs Sr.

Crawford won with nearly 77 percent of the vote.

Fobbs, who worked as a Petersburg sheriff's deputy for five years until this year, is at the center of an investigation. Two weeks before Election Day, the Virginia State Police arrested him on a charge of voter fraud after a monthlong investigation.

Democrat Kevin A. Brown defeated Republican Tammy Lee Alexander in the treasurer's race with 73 percent of the vote. Both were first-time candidates for the office.

Brown, 47, 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.

"We put in a real good effort and were rewarded by the citizens of Petersburg to serve as its next treasurer," Brown said.

Once he takes office, he said he wants to help the treasurer's office become more efficient through technology and more transparent with the city's finances.

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.

Re-elected to office were Commonwealth's Attorney Cassandra Stroud Burns and Commissioner of the Revenue Pamela C. Hairston. Both ran unopposed.

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Colonial Heights Commissioner of the Revenue Marjorie C. DeDanko won re-election after a heated race with former co-worker Gayle R. Braswell.

DeDanko won with 55 percent of the vote. She was in a rematch with Braswell, whom she defeated four years ago.

During the final weeks of the race, former DeDanko campaign manager Pete 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.

Re-elected and running unopposed were Sheriff Todd B. Wilson, Commonwealth's Attorney William B. "Bill" Bray and Treasurer Joy W. Moore.

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or .

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .