Democrats to vote soon on Jones’ successor

Richmond Mayor-elect Dwight Clinton Jones' replacement in the House of Delegates could be all but decided this weekend.

Democrats in the 70th House District will vote in a primary Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. to pick their nominee for the seat.

In the heavily Democratic district, winning the party's nomination is tantamount to victory. Republican officials say they don't know of any challengers from their party.

Two Democrats have expressed intent to run -- Richmond City Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn and Henrico County lawyer Carlos Brown. All candidates must file a declaration with the party by Thursday.

Registered voters in the 70th, which includes parts of Richmond and the counties of Henrico and Chesterfield, will cast ballots on Saturday in an unassembled caucus, often referred to as a firehouse primary, at two locations, said Eric Payne of the Richmond City Democratic Committee.

Richmond and Chesterfield residents will vote at 31st Street Baptist Church, 823 N. 31st St., and Henrico residents will vote at the MathScience Innovation Center, 2401 Hartman St.

A special election will be held Jan. 6 to fill the vacancy, and the Democratic Party has until Dec. 8 to declare its nominee. Jones is vacating the seat at the end of the year to start as Richmond mayor Jan. 1.

Recently re-elected McQuinn, the longest-serving member on Richmond's City Council, supported Jones in his bid for mayor, and Jones has indicated that he would be inclined to support McQuinn as his successor.

She also has name recognition that could go far, particularly in such an abbreviated campaign.

Brown, whom Jones tapped to serve on his City Hall transition team, has worked at McGuireWoods and at McCandlish Holton since graduating from the University of Virginia.

He serves as senior counsel for Dominion Resources Services and lives outside the district, but he says he is establishing residency within the boundaries.

Any costs associated with the primary would be picked up by the Democratic Party.
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .