Virginia Beach, Virginia municipal elections, 2014
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The city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, held elections for city council on November 4, 2014. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 10, 2014.[1]
Six of Virginia Beach's eleven council seats were up for election. These included two at-large seats and the Districts of Bayside, Beach, Lynnhaven and Princess Anne.
An incumbent ran for re-election in every race.
Light rail and personal property taxes were some of the key issues that shaped Virginia Beach's 2014 election cycle.
City Council
Candidate list
At-large
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Note: Two seats were up for election.
- M. Ben Davenport
- George Furman, III
- Brad D. Martin - Incumbent Martin was appointed to city council in 2014.
- John D. Moss
- Incumbent Moss was most recently elected to city council in 2011.
- M. Ben Davenport
Bayside
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Louis R. Jones
- Louis R. Jones
Beach
- November 4 General election candidates:
- John E. Uhrin
- John E. Uhrin
Lynnhaven
- November 4 General election candidates:
- James L. Wood
- James L. Wood
Princess Anne
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Pieri E. Burton
- Barbara M. Henley
Rose Hall
- November 4 General election candidates:
- Beatrice R. “Petey” Browder
- James D. Cabiness II
- Stephen A. Johnston
- Shannon Kane
Election results
| Virginia Beach City Council, At-large, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 M. Ben Davenport |
32.5% | 47,853 | |
| John D. Moss Incumbent |
32.3% | 47,659 | |
| Brad D. Martin Incumbent | 26.5% | 39,032 | |
| George Furman, III | 8.1% | 11,867 | |
| Write-in | 0.7% | 971 | |
| Total Votes | 147,382 | ||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results | |||
| Virginia Beach City Council, District of Bayside, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Louis R. Jones Incumbent |
97.7% | 68,256 | |
| Write-in | 2.3% | 1,586 | |
| Total Votes | 69,842 | ||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results | |||
| Virginia Beach City Council, District of Beach, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| John E. Uhrin Incumbent |
97.6% | 69,462 | |
| Write-in | 2.4% | 1,738 | |
| Total Votes | 71,200 | ||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results | |||
| Virginia Beach City Council, District of Lynnhaven, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| James L. Wood Incumbent |
98% | 69,560 | |
| Write-in | 2% | 1,396 | |
| Total Votes | 70,956 | ||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results | |||
| Virginia Beach City Council, District of Princess Anne, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Barbara M. Henley Incumbent |
76.1% | 65,092 | |
| Pieri E. Burton | 23.1% | 19,741 | |
| Write-in | 0.8% | 717 | |
| Total Votes | 85,550 | ||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results | |||
| Virginia Beach City Council, District of Rose Hall, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Shannon Kane Incumbent |
48.1% | 37,415 | |
| James D. Cabiness II | 16.8% | 13,034 | |
| Stephen A. Johnston | 17.4% | 13,559 | |
| Beatrice R. “Petey” Browder | 17.3% | 13,424 | |
| Write-in | 0.5% | 365 | |
| Total Votes | 77,797 | ||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results | |||
Issues
A variety of different issues shaped Virginia Beach's three contested city council races in 2014. Below, Ballotpedia highlights what they were and how they impacted Virginia Beach's 2014 municipal elections.
Light rail
Between 2000 and 2014, Virginia Beach voters and elected officials regularly discussed extending into Virginia Beach a light rail system called the Tide that was already operating in the neighboring city of Norfolk. While many argued that the system could offer the city new transportation and economic opportunities, some raised concerns over the project's potential costs - estimated in 2013 at around $1 billion upfront.[2] In June 2012, the issue came up on the ballot in the form of a referendum that asked Virginia Beach voters: “Should the City Council adopt an ordinance approving the use of all reasonable efforts to support the financing and development of The Tide light rail into Virginia Beach?” 62% of voters responded affirmatively.[3] Afterwards, the city began exploring plans and options to fund the project, including the possibility of federal financial assistance.[2] 2014 city council candidates voiced different opinions on the Tide extension. Rose Hall incumbent Shannon Kane expressed support for the project, as did candidates Stephen A. Johnston and James D. Cabiness II. Beatrice Browder, however, doubted that the city could afford the project.[4] At-large incumbent John D. Moss also expressed reservations over the costs of light rail.[5]
Personal property taxes
Earlier in 2014, the Virginia Beach City Council voted to raise personal property taxes in the city. John Moss, who voted against the increase, was highly critical of it on the campaign trail, saying that it showed "a lack of discipline" on the part of city council. Another at-large incumbent, Brad D. Martin, who voted in favor of the increase, took a slightly different tone, saying that while he generally does not support tax increases he felt that this one was necessary. At-large challenger, M. Ben Davenport, on the other hand, supported the increase.[4]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Virginia Beach + Virginia + election"
See also
External links
- City of Virginia Beach - Official Candidate List
- United States Conference of Mayors - Elections in 2014
- Virginia Department of Elections - Official 2014 Election Results
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "November 4, 2014 Elections Candidacy Requirements For Local Offices," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pilot Online, "The Tide and Virginia Beach," September 19, 2013
- ↑ Pilot Online, "Light rail passes easily in Virginia Beach," November 7, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Pilot Online, "Debate introduces candidates for Beach City Council," September 12, 2014
- ↑ Councilman John Moss, "Light Rail," accessed September 18, 2014
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