The proposed Long Ridge Solar Farm, owned by brothers Christopher G. Weatherly and Glenn Scott Weatherly, will take up 41 acres of a 122-acre parcel along Long Ridge Road between Beaver Dam Road and Carolina Road. It will allow for cheaper energy for about 1,000 homes through the Virginia Shared Solar program, according to Cara Romaine, a senior developer with ESA Solar Energy who spoke in favor of the project.

Half of the energy produced by the project will support low-to-moderate income residents by providing 10% savings on their monthly power bills, Romain said. The site’s power lines will be connected to the grid underground via an existing power pole owned by Dominion Energy, which means it will not require the construction of a new substation.

This solar facility is expected to be able to operate for at least 35 years, according to the site’s decommissioning plan. The city has now approved 10 utility solar energy projects since 2019 covering a total of 2,020 acres, according to planning documents.

Speaking to council prior to the vote, Glenn Weatherly said his family has been on this farm since 1964 and he’s worked on it full-time since 1986. He said using some of their land for solar panels will provide him some “security.”

“I still want to farm … I’m pushing 60 years old this December, I’m looking for the easy life for a change,” Weatherly said.

The project was approved on a 7-2 vote, with council members Debbie Ritter and Jeff Bunn voting against. Ritter, who said she lives near a solar farm, called them “intrusive” and took issue with calling them “farms,” saying they’re more accurately described as industrial.

Ritter particularly highlighted the disruptions to travel during the construction period of the solar farms. She lamented the loss of agricultural land, listing things like transfer stations and proposed lithium battery storage facilities popping up across the area as signs of a negative trend.

“It all sounds great if you live in an urban area of the city or even a suburban area where (the solar project) isn’t where you live,” Ritter said. “This is an agricultural area … If the council wants to go ahead (with the project) that’s terrific, we’ll continue to give up valuable farmland.”

Two neighbors of the Weatherly’s farm spoke in favor of the project. Dana Todd, whose property is on Middle Ridge across the street from the Weatherly’s, said the addition of solar panels is a “good way to use the land and still make sure it stays farmable.”

“Supporting the Long Ridge solar project isn’t just about solar power, it’s about keeping our farmland safe and finding new ways for local farmers to make a living,” Todd said.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

Mayor Bobby Dyer described it as “a major snafu” at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “It’s our duty that when we have any event at the Oceanfront that there’s a positive light on it. This was not a positive light.”

He recommended that in order to rebuild trust, the festival organizers should commit to a long-term partnership, possibly for three-to-five years, and that the city must take a more proactive role.

“The city has been left out of the decision loop in terms of what goes on in operations,” said Dyer, who wants a contract with the festival team outlining the city’s expectations.

Festival organizers notified the city Friday afternoon, just hours after tickets went on sale, that the Oct. 12-13 event was canceled and they intend to reschedule it in April. Soon after the city was notified Friday, Pharrell Williams posted on social media that the festival wasn’t ready yet and ticket-buyers would be refunded.

While organizers are eyeing a move back to April, City Manager Patrick Duhaney said the decision to change the festival date hasn’t been solidified by the City Council.

Something in the Water was first held at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in 2019. Williams was originally asked to organize an event in late April to provide structured entertainment for college students who had been coming to the resort area each spring.

After inclement weather forced Williams to cancel the festival’s third day in 2023, he decided to move it to October this year in hopes of better conditions.

Duhaney noted money the city set aside for sponsorship — as much as $2 million — has not been spent. He read a letter from the festival team which indicated that issues with the lineup of performers prompted Williams to drop the October date.

“After spending considerable time with members of the music community, we have collectively decided that a festival in April will be far more substantial and impactful for the city of Virginia Beach and allow some of the participants who had committed and endured conflicts beyond Pharrell’s control to participate in April,” the festival organizers wrote.

The festival team promised to have “a concrete plan set within this calendar year.”

Councilmembers Amelia Ross-Hammond and Jennifer Rouse, liaisons to the festival, said Friday’s announcement came as a surprise to both of them.

“We felt blindsided,” said Ross-Hammond.

The two of them held several meetings with city officials and the festival organizers over the weekend.

“We received a lot of reactions, and questions and frustrations and concerns,” said Rouse. “We made sure to share that with the Something in the Water team as well as the city.”

Rouse is pushing the festival organizers to set the April date and lineup sooner than later, she said.

“They want to make an intentional effort to rebuild credibility and trust,” said Rouse.

Councilman Barbara Henley said the postponement is more than just a disappointment to business owners.

“It’s cost a lot of people some serious money,” she said, citing that some hotels are not going to have the income they were counting on.

“We take this as a learning experience,” Henley said. “We have to set benchmarks.”

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday decried Republican Donald Trump for inflammatory rhetoric about migrants in Springfield, Ohio, and on other topics, saying voters should make sure he “can’t have that microphone again.”

Sitting down for a rare extended campaign interview Tuesday with a trio of journalists from the National Association of Black Journalists, Harris said her heart breaks after threats of violence have disrupted the city following comments amplified by Trump and his running mate alleging, without evidence, that immigrants are kidnapping and consuming people’s pets.

Two days after Secret Service agents foiled an apparent assassination attempt on Trump, who blamed Democratic rhetoric for the latest threat to his life, Harris said that “there are far too many people in our country right now who are not feeling safe.” She referenced the threats to immigrants, but also the conservative Project 2025 blueprint for the next Republican administration and a GOP-led effort to restrict abortion access.

“Not everybody has Secret Service,” she said. “Members of the LGBTQ community don’t feel safe right now, immigrants or people with an immigrant background don’t feel safe right now. Women don’t feel safe right now.”

Harris said she personally has confidence in the Secret Service and feels safe under their protection. She spoke briefly with Trump on Tuesday to express her gratitude that he was safe, but in the interview said his rhetoric should be disqualifying.

“When you have that kind of microphone in front of you, you really ought to understand at a deep level that your words have meaning,” Harris said, without mentioning Trump by name. “Let’s turn the page and chart a new way forward and say you can’t have that microphone again.”

Harris said the Republican attacks on the city and migrants there were “lies that are grounded in tropes that are age old.”

The sedate interview in Philadelphia stood in contrast to former President Donald Trump ’s appearance before the same organization just a month ago, which turned contentious over matters of race and other issues.

The Trump interview opened a chapter in the campaign in which the Republican candidate repeatedly questioned Harris’ racial identity, baselessly claiming that she had only belatedly “turned Black” at some point in her professional career. Trump has since repeatedly questioned Harris’ racial identity on the campaign trail and during the September presidential debate.

Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s remarks as “the same old show.” During her September debate with Trump, she said it was a “tragedy” that he had “attempted to use race to divide the American people.”

The vice president insisted she is working to earn the vote of Black men and not taking any constituency for granted. Black male voters are traditionally one of the most consistently Democratic-leaning demographics in the nation. But Republicans have tried to make inroads, while Democrats worry about flagging enthusiasm at the polls.

“I think it’s very important to not operate from the assumption that Black men are in anybody’s pocket,” Harris said. “Black men are like any other voting group. You gotta earn their vote, so I’m working to earn the vote, not assuming I’m gonna have it because I’m Black”

Harris declined to say if she supported reparations for descendants of slaves, but said, “we need to speak truth about the generational impact of our history in terms of the generational impact of slavery, the generational impact of red lining.” She said expressed openness to studying the question “to figure out exactly what we need to do,” but said her focus was on building economic opportunity.

In Trump’s interview with NABJ, he lambasted the moderators and drew boos and groans from the audience at times. The interview also sparked debate within the NABJ convention itself, which operates both as a networking and communal space for Black professionals in media as well as a newsmaking event.

As with Trump’s appearance, the audience was made up of NABJ members and college students, but the tenor was markedly different. Where Trump called the reporters interviewing him “rude,” “nasty” and denounced their questions as “horrible,” Harris referred to the reporters who pressed her as “esteemed journalists.”

The crowd was inaudible throughout the Tuesday interview with Harris. In July, Trump’s comments were often met with laughter, shock and confusion from the room, which largely consisted of student journalists and media professionals outside political news.

Trump, his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and other Republicans have criticized Harris for largely avoiding media interviews or interacting on the record with reporters who cover her campaign events. She and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, gave a joint interview to CNN last month. Her campaign recently said she would be doing more local media, and last week she sat for her first solo television interview since becoming the Democratic nominee, taking questions from a Philadelphia station.

Asked whether Americans are better off today than four years ago when she and President Joe Biden entered office, Harris did not directly answer the question, instead referencing the state of the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and bringing up her plans to try to lower housing costs and promoting herself as a “new generation” of leader.

Harris said her candidacy offers the country a chance at “turning the page on an era that sadly has shown us attempts to by some to incite fear to create division in our country.”

Janiyah Thomas, Black media director for the Trump campaign, said Harris’ remarks to the National Association of Black Journalists on Tuesday reveal her record of failures for Black Americans.

“She told the NABJ that after three and half years of her failed policies, grocery prices are too high and the American Dream is unattainable for young Americans,” Thomas said. “We can’t afford four more years of Kamala Harris. It’s time to put President Trump back in the White House and restore economic prosperity.”

Harris has largely sidestepped traditional media appearances and instead focused on rallies, grassroots organizing and social media engagement, where the vice president can sidestep questions from independent journalists about her policy record and proposed agenda.

Tuesday’s event was moderated by Eugene Daniels of Politico, Gerren Keith Gaynor of theGrio and Tonya Mosley of WHYY, a Philadelphia-area public radio station that co-hosted the gathering.

Asked whether she would change U.S. policy toward the Israel-Hamas war, Harris said she endorsed Biden’s pause on 2000-lb. bombs to Israel and didn’t signal any daylight with the president.

Harris noted the killing of Israeli civilians — and some Americans – by Hamas on Oct. 7 and added that far too many “innocent Palestinians have been killed” in Israel’s response.

She added that the Israel-Hamas war has to end and a ceasefire and hostage deal must get done, while calling for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. She said the goal is to ensure “the Israelis have security and Palestinians in equal measure have security, have self-determination and dignity.”

NABJ noted the importance of hosting the conversation in Philadelphia, a major city in a battleground state with a large Black population. Philadelphia was also the home to one of the major precursor organizations to NABJ.

For years, the association has invited both major presidential candidates to speak before the convention. Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden all attended NABJ events as presidential candidates or while in office.

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Brown reported from Washington. AP writers Zeke Miller and Colleen Long in Washington contributed.

NEW YORK (AP) — The video was seen millions of times across social media but some viewers were suspicious: It featured a young Black woman who claimed Vice President Kamala Harris left her paralyzed in a hit-and-run accident in San Francisco 13 years ago.

In an emotional retelling from a wheelchair, the alleged victim said she “cannot remain silent anymore” and lamented that her childhood had “ended too soon.”

Immediately after the video was posted on Sept. 2, social media users pointed out reasons to be wary. The purported news channel it came from, San Francisco’s KBSF-TV, didn’t exist. A website for the channel set up just a week earlier contained plagiarized articles from real news outlets. The woman’s X-ray images shown in the video were taken from online medical journals. And the video and the text story on the website spelled the alleged victim’s name differently.

The caution was warranted, according to a new Microsoft threat intelligence report, which confirms the fabricated tale was disinformation from a Russia-linked troll farm.

The tech giant’s report released Tuesday details how Kremlin-aligned actors that at first struggled to adapt to President Joe Biden dropping out of the race have now gone full throttle in their covert influence efforts against Harris and Democrats.

It also explains how Russian intelligence actors are collaborating with pro-Russian cyber “hacktivists” to boost allegedly hacked-and-leaked materials, a strategy the company notes could be weaponized to undermine U.S. confidence in November’s election outcome.

The findings reveal how even through dramatic changes in the political landscape, groups linked to America’s foreign adversaries have redoubled their commitment to sway U.S. political opinion as the election nears, sometimes through deeply manipulative means. They also provide further insight into how Russia’s efforts to fight pro-Ukrainian policy in the U.S. are translating into escalating attacks on the Democratic presidential ticket.

The report builds on previous concerns the U.S. has had about Russian interference in the upcoming election. Earlier this month, the Biden administration seized Kremlin-run websites and charged two Russian state media employees in an alleged scheme to secretly fund and influence a network of right-wing influencers.

Russia-linked actors have spent several months seeking to manipulate American perspectives with covert postings, but until this point, their efforts saw little traction. Notably, some of the recent examples cited in the Microsoft report received significant social media engagement from unwitting Americans who shared the fake stories with outrage.

“As the election approaches, people get more heated,” Clint Watts, general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center said in an interview. “People tend to take in information from sources they don’t really know or wouldn’t even know to evaluate.”

Microsoft explained that the video blaming Harris for a fake hit-and-run incident came from a Russian-aligned influence network it calls Storm-1516, which other researchers refer to as CopyCop. The video, whose main character is played by an actor, is typical of the group’s efforts to react to current events with authentic-seeming “whistleblower” accounts that may seem like juicy unreported news to U.S. voters, the company said.

The report revealed a second video disseminated by the group, which purported to show two Black men beating up a bloodied white woman at a rally for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The video racked up thousands of shares on the social platform X and elicited comments like, “This is the kind of stuff to start civil wars.”

Microsoft’s report also pointed to another Russian influence actor it calls Storm-1679 that has recently pivoted from posting about the French election and the Paris Olympics to posting about Harris. Earlier this month, the group posted a manipulated video depicting a Times Square billboard that linked Harris to gender-affirming surgeries.

The content highlighted in the report doesn’t appear to use generative artificial intelligence tools. It instead uses actors and more old-school editing techniques.

Watts said Microsoft has been tracking the use of AI by nation states for more than a year and while foreign actors tried AI initially, many have gone back to basics as they’ve realized AI was “probably more time-consuming and not more effective.”

Asked about Russia’s motivation, Watts said the Russia-aligned groups Microsoft tracks may not necessarily support particular candidates, but they are motivated to undermine anyone who “is supporting Ukraine in their policy.”

Harris has vowed to continue supporting America’s ally Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion if elected president. Trump has demurred when asked about whether he wants Ukraine to win the war, saying in the recent presidential debate, “ I want the war to stop.”

At a forum in early September, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to suggest jokingly that he would support Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. election. Intelligence officials have said Moscow prefers Trump.

The Harris campaign declined to comment. The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

Earlier this summer, Microsoft found that Iranian groups have also been laying the groundwork to stoke division in the election by creating fake news sites, impersonating activists and targeting a presidential campaign with an email phishing attack.

U.S. intelligence officials are preparing criminal charges in connection with that attack, which targeted the Trump campaign, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

Microsoft’s new report also touches on how a Chinese-linked influence actor has used short-form video to criticize Biden and Harris and to create anti-Trump content, suggesting it doesn’t appear interested in supporting a particular candidate.

Instead, the company said, the China-aligned group’s apparent goal is to “seed doubt and confusion among American voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election.”

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The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The FBI and U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday were investigating suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in at least eight states, but there were no immediate reports that any of the packages contained hazardous material.

The latest packages were sent to elections officials in Massachusetts and Missouri, authorities said. The Missouri Secretary of State’s Elections Division received a suspicious package “from an unknown source,” spokesperson JoDonn Chaney said. He said mailroom workers contained the package and no injuries were reported.

It marked the second time in the past year that suspicious packages were mailed to election officials in multiple state offices. The latest scare comes as early voting has begun in several states less than two months ahead of the high-stakes elections for president, Senate, Congress and key statehouse offices around the nation, causing disruption in what is already a tense voting season.

Local election directors are beefing up their security to keep their workers and polling places safe while also ensuring that ballots and voting procedures won’t be tampered with.

On Tuesday, the FBI notified the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office that postal service investigators had identified what they described as a suspicious envelope that had been delivered to a building housing state offices. The package was intercepted and isolated, according to state officials. No employees from the secretary of the commonwealth’s office had contact with the envelope, which is now in the hands of the FBI.

Powder-containing packages were sent to secretaries of state and state election offices in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wyoming and Oklahoma on Monday. The packages forced evacuations in Iowa, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Hazmat crews in several states quickly determined the material was harmless. The FBI and postal service were investigating.

Oklahoma officials said the material sent to the election office there contained flour. Wyoming officials have not yet said if the material sent there was hazardous.

“We have specific protocols in place for situations such as this,” Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement after the evacuation of the six-story Lucas State Office Building in Des Moines. “We immediately reported the incident per our protocols.”

A state office building in Topeka, Kansas, was evacuated due to suspicious mail sent to both the secretary of state and attorney general, Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson April M. McCollum said in a statement.

Topeka Fire Department crews found several pieces of mail with an unknown substance on them, though a field test found no hazardous materials, spokesperson Rosie Nichols said. Several employees in both offices had been exposed to it and had their health monitored, she said.

In Oklahoma, the State Election Board received a suspicious envelope in the mail containing a multi-page document and a white, powdery substance, agency spokesperson Misha Mohr said in an email to The Associated Press. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, which oversees security for the Capitol, secured the envelope. Testing determined the substance was flour, Mohr said.

State workers in an office building next to the Wyoming Capitol in Cheyenne were sent home for the day pending testing of a white substance mailed to the secretary of state’s office.

Suspicious letters were sent to election offices and government buildings in at least six states last November, including the same building in Kansas that received suspicious mail Monday. While some of the letters contained fentanyl, even the suspicious mail that was not toxic delayed the counting of ballots in some local elections.

One of the targeted offices was in Fulton County, Georgia, the largest voting jurisdiction in one of the nation’s most important swing states. Four county election offices in Washington state had to be evacuated as election workers were processing ballots cast, delaying vote-counting.

The letters caused election workers around the country to stock up the overdose reversal medication naloxone.

Election offices across the United States have taken steps to increase the security of their buildings and boost protections for workers amid an onslaught of harassment and threats following the 2020 election and the false claims that it was rigged.

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LeBlanc reported from Boston. Jim Salter in O’Fallon, Missouri; Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan; Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

While the presidential race may be the main event, dozens of candidates are running for state and local offices in Hampton Roads. The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press voter guide — 757 Votes — explains what races are on the ballot and who is running for office.

The 2024 election guide contains Q&As with candidates running for mayor, city council, school board and in other special elections in Hampton Roads, as well as with candidates running for four congressional seats. The guide will be updated throughout election season with additional reporting on local races and candidates.

Early voting for the Virginia general election begins Friday, Sept. 20 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 2. Voters can cast ballots in person at their local registrar’s office or vote by mail.

Click on each race to learn more about the candidates.

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Congressional

U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia’s 1st District: Leslie Mehta (D), Rob Wittman (R).

U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia’s 2nd District: Missy Cotter Smasal (D), Jen Kiggans (R), Robert Reid Jr. (I).

U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia’s 3rd District: Bobby Scott (D), John Sitka (R).

Senate: Hung Cao (R), Tim Kaine(D).

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Chesapeake

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Chesapeake.

Mayor: Don Carey and Rick West.

City Council: Reagan Davis, Robert Ike Jr., E. R. “Jeff” Jefferies Jr., Patricia “Pat” King, Jennifer Naperala, S. Z. “Debbie” Ritter,  Les Smith Jr., Jeff Staples, and Eric Wray II.

School Board: Sam Boone Jr., Elijah Colon, Gregory Dono, Malia Huddle, Thomas Mercer Sr., Norman Pool, L. Jameel Shaheer, Daniel Stahler, Angie Swygert, and Rue Willis.

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Hampton

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Hampton.

Mayor: Jimmy Gray and Richelle Wallace.

City Council: Chris Bowman, Randy Bowman, Carolyn Campbell, LaToya Fleming, Hope Harper, Billy Hobbs Whalan McDew, Janice Richison and Aaron Weaver.

School Board: Stephanie Jackson Afonja, Ann Stephens Cherry, Tina Banks-Gray, Natalie Kidd and Reginal Woodhouse.

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Newport News

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Newport News.

City Council:

• • North District: Marcellus Harris
  • Central District: Rob Coleman, Scott Cox, Andrea Diggs, Stephen Ferguson, and Justin Kennedy.
  • South District: Clifton Atkins and Tina Vick.

School Board:

• North District: William Beverley, John Bloom and Rasheena Harris
• Central District: Rebecca Aman and Christopher Worthington
• South District: Maritsa Alger

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Norfolk

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Norfolk.

Mayor: Kenny Alexander, Giovanni “Gio” Dolmo and Tommy Leeman.

City Council:

• Superward 6: Jeremy Mason and Jeremy McGee.
• Superward 7: Carlos Clanton, James Graham, Phillip Hawkins, Rodney Jordan, Leon Judge and Christine Smith.

School Board:

• Ward 5 special election: Ken Paulson.
• Superward 6:  Rebecca Danchise Topping and Sarah DiCalogero.
• Superward 7: Alfreda Thomas and Ronald White.

Portsmouth

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Portsmouth.

Mayor: Harold S. Carothers III, Shannon E. Glover and Lisa L. Lucas-Burke

City Council: Sharon Anderson, De’Andre Barnes, Kathryn “Kitty” Bryant, William Smith “Bill” Dodson Jr., Malinda Johnson, Bruce LaLonde, Mia Phillips, Davy Smith III, Yolanda “Edmonds” Thomas, Kelvin Turner and Mark  Whitaker.

School Board: LaKeesha “Klu” Atkinson, Irene Boone, Kendall Bradshaw, Arnette “Love” McSwain, Lateacia Sessoms, Jaclyn  “Jackie” Walker, and Ingrid Whitaker.

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Suffolk

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Suffolk.

Mayor: David Bosselman, Michael Duman, and Clinton Jenkins

City Council:

• Nansemond Borough: Lue Ward
• Sleepy Hole: Roger Fawcett and Ebony Wright
• Whaleyville: LeOtis Williams and Jason Wooldridge

School Board

• Nansemond Borough: Valerie Fields and James Shores
• Sleepy Hole: Carly Bosco and Heather Howell
• Whaleyville: Thelma Hinton,  Sean McGee, and Jonathan Rankin

Sheriff special election: Interim Sheriff David Miles is running unopposed.

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Virginia Beach

Here’s a rundown of what is on the ballot in Virginia Beach.

Mayor: Bobby Dyer, Richard W. Kowalewitch, John Darrell Moss, Chris Taylor and Sabrina Devon Wooten.

City Council:

• District 1: Ryan Gilliam and David “Hutch” Hutcheson
• District 3: Michael Berlucchi, Christina M. Felder and Cleon Jones
• District 5: L.G. Shaw is facing Rosemary Wilson
• District 7: Cal “Cash” Jackson-Green and Mabinty Saffie Scott
• District 8: Cody Conner, Stacy Cummings, Phil Hines and Leland Jones

School Board:

• At large: Monty Gerald Ashliman, Jr. and Sharon Ruth Felton
• District 1: Rose Marie Dwyer, Jennifer Sue Franklin
• District 3: Mark Douglas Bohenstiel
• District 4 special election: Anissa M. Bowden, Alveta J. Green, and Shannon L. Kendrick
• District 5: Melinda Josa Rogers and Vincent Earl Smith
• District 7: Matthew Cummings and Noah Moreland

Sheriff special election: Aldo Dibelardino and Rocky Holcomb III.

Among other localities, the district includes Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight and parts of Chesapeake.

Jen Kiggans

Age: 53

Job title and company: Representative, United States House of Representatives

Highest level of education:Master of Science in Nursing, Vanderbilt University

Party affiliation: Republican

Previous elected office: Virginia state senator (District 7)

Military service: 10 years, U.S. Navy (Helicopter pilot)

Website: www.jenforcongress.com

What do you believe is the greatest problem facing our nation today and what would you propose to address that if elected?

The lack of strong leadership in our great nation. As a veteran, I know how important strong, competent leadership is to the success of any team. Strong leaders are accountable to the people they serve; unfortunately, what we’ve seen over the past four years has been the exact opposite, and it shows. We have an economy that Americans can’t afford to live in, a southern border that’s seen more than 8 million illegal crossings since 2021, and a world that grows more dangerous by the day. The Biden-Harris administration has missed no opportunity to blame others for their own shortcomings, despite all the major crises – starting with the Afghanistan withdrawal – that have occurred on their watch. The American people deserve so much more; it’s time for new leadership for our country.

The United States is currently providing significant military aid to Israel and Ukraine. Do you believe the U.S. should continue to provide funding to both or either of these nations? Explain why or why not.

I strongly believe that providing military aid to our allies is critical to achieving world peace: a belief that I’ve backed up with my votes in Congress. Without world peace we have nothing, and world peace can only be achieved through strength at home and abroad. As the proud representative of one of the most military-heavy districts in the country, I’ve fought tirelessly to give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to complete their mission, and will continue to do so when reelected. Providing military aid to repel attacks from thugs like Vladimir Putin and terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah ensures that members of our armed forces – many of whom I’m blessed to represent in Washington – will not be placed in harm’s way.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court should reconsider several of its past rulings, including one that protected the right to contraception. Would you support legislation in Congress to codify the right to birth control into law?

As a mother and healthcare provider, I believe that all women in our country should have reliable access to contraception. That’s why I’ve proudly supported expanding access to birth control (including eliminating co-pays) and fought to protect Americans’ access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Last year, I proudly cosponsored the Orally Taken Contraception Act of 2023, which would increase access to over-the-counter oral contraceptives. This is an issue I feel strongly about and as a woman will continue to fight for as a member of Congress.

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Missy Cotter Smasal

Age: 46

Job title and company: Virginia Citizen representative on the Chesapeake Bay Commission

Highest level of education: Master of Science in sports management from Old Dominion University

Party affiliation: Democrat

Military service: Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy

Website: www.missy4congress.com

What do you believe is the greatest problem facing our nation today and what would you propose to address that if elected?

I’m concerned about the world we’re leaving to the next generation. Extremists in D.C. have focused on trying to strip away basic freedoms like reproductive and voting rights, and delivered only chaos. Our system needs significant reform to recapture the trust and confidence of the American people. Money in politics has corrupted the system, with members like Kiggans, fighting to garner earmarks for big donors, instead of voters. The MAGA right’s hold on Congress has also created uncertainty by proposing unacceptable cuts to the VA, which Kiggans voted for, which stifles our local economy. When elected, I will put Virginians first. That means working with reasonable Democrats and Republicans to fight for us. We deserve a leader who rejects extremism, works to restore faith in our system and delivers results.

The United States is currently providing significant military aid to Israel and Ukraine. Do you believe the U.S. should continue to provide funding to both or either of these nations? Explain why or why not.

As a Navy veteran who served during the war on terror, I understand that we must protect our allies and defend democracy. So many of us in Coastal Virginia have deployed friends and family members, and their safe return is our priority. There’s no better fighting force in the world than the US military, and no stronger proponent of democracy than the United States, and therefore, we must lead the way. In Congress, I will support sending aid to Israel and Ukraine, ensure we stand up to dangerous actors such as Iran and Russia, never compromise on our national security, and stand by our allies.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court should reconsider several of its past rulings, including one that protected the right to contraception. Would you support legislation in Congress to codify the right to birth control into law?

As the only pro-choice candidate in this race, not only would I support legislation to protect birth control, but I also support legislation to protect abortion rights nationwide – a key difference between myself and Jen Kiggans. The MAGA extremists in Congress with whom Jen Kiggans has aligned herself want to restrict access to birth control and pass a national abortion ban. Kiggans has even tried to force her extreme anti-choice agenda onto military servicewomen, by voting twice to restrict abortion access for active duty service members in the NDAA. I will unapologetically defend reproductive rights, which include protecting birth control and abortion rights. Kiggans has proven she cannot be trusted on either.

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Robert Reid

Answers to the questionnaire were not received by deadline for publication.

Answers complied by The Virginian-Pilot staff.

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Hung Cao

Age: 53

Employment: Vice President, CACI International

Highest level of education: Master’s degree from Naval Postgraduate School

Party affiliation: Republican

Military service: 25 years in Naval Special Operations (explosive ordnance disposal and deep sea diving)

Website: www.hungforva.com

What do you believe is the greatest problem facing our nation today and what would you propose to address that if elected?

Our open border. Everything that’s going wrong stems from our open border. Housing costs are at an all-time high because there’s millions who were not here a few years ago for which we need to provide housing. The Biden administration spends a billion dollars a day which includes free cell phones and gift cards upon arrival, driving up costs. Our open border is a national security threat as tens of thousands of military-aged males from China, Yemen and Syria enter daily. When I’m elected, my first priority is to secure our border by supporting efforts to finish the wall and root out terrorists who entered the U.S. illegally. We also need to make America energy independent again to lower energy costs, but equally important is ending our reliance on Middle Eastern countries that hate us.

The United States is currently providing significant military aid to Israel and Ukraine. Do you believe the U.S. should continue to provide funding to both or either of these nations? Explain why or why not.

The United States has provided Israel with a lot of support for many years and it is more important than ever to continue to support Israel in every way that we can. We have always been friends of Israel through the Iron Dome and in return, they have provided us with critical intelligence from the region. However, I’ve always been against giving blanket amounts of money. A lot of the money Congress has allocated to Ukraine is going to their retired workers pension plans, but here in the United States, we can barely fund Social Security. We have to pay for Americans’ Social Security benefits before we give out more blank checks.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court should reconsider several of its past rulings, including one that protected the right to contraception. Would you support legislation in Congress to codify the right to birth control into law?

If elected, I will protect access to contraception and oppose any bill in the U.S. Senate that would limit access to contraception from the federal level.

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Tim Kaine

Age: 66

Employment: U.S. Senator

Highest level of education: J.D., Harvard Law School

Party affiliation: Democrat

Previous elected offices: 2nd District Member of the Richmond City Council, Mayor of Richmond, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Governor of Virginia, incumbent U.S. Senator from Virginia

Website: timkaine.com

What do you believe is the greatest problem facing our nation today and what would you propose to address that if elected?

The economy, reproductive freedom, and affordable healthcare are issues that I hear about all across Virginia. I’ve proudly helped pass legislation to create good-paying manufacturing jobs and boost investments in shipbuilding. Right now, women are facing threats to reproductive freedom around the country which is why I’m fighting so that women can make their own health care decisions without interference from out-of-touch politicians. I’ve worked to protect the Affordable Care Act and took on Big Pharma to lower the cost of insulin so now no drug company can charge more than $35. I know there’s more work to do which is why I’m focused on lowering costs for working families, protecting reproductive freedom, and making healthcare more affordable.

The United States is currently providing significant military aid to Israel and Ukraine. Do you believe the U.S. should continue to provide funding to both or either of these nations? Explain why or why not.

It is critical that we honor our commitments to our democratic allies around the world. The acts of terror on October 7th were horrific, and I’ve worked across party lines to ensure that Israel has the support it needs. At the same time, much more must be done to protect civilian life in Gaza. We must secure both a hostage release deal and a ceasefire to end the immense suffering in the region. Ukraine is a free nation defending itself, and the U.S. must continue to support them in holding Putin accountable. Hampton Roads is home to the headquarters of NATO in North America, and I’m proud to have passed legislation to prevent any President from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO. It’s critical that Congress continues to support not only Ukraine and our allies around the world.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court should reconsider several of its past rulings, including one that protected the right to contraception. Would you support legislation in Congress to codify the right to birth control into law?

Absolutely. I co-sponsored the Right to Contraception Act and worked to introduce the bipartisan Reproductive Freedom For All Act to codify Roe v. Wade in order to protect Americans’ access to abortion and contraception. In the two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republicans have threatened access not only to abortion but also birth control and fertility treatments, a position that is completely out-of-touch with most Virginians and most Americans. My opponent has pledged his support for a national law that could ban abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest, and maternal health. I’ll keep fighting to protect access to abortion, birth control, and IVF so that Virginia women are free to make decisions about their own health care and grow their families.

Answers were compiled by The Virginian-Pilot staff. 

The district includes Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth and parts of Chesapeake.

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Bobby Scott

Age: 77

Employment: Member of Congress, U.S. House of Representatives

Highest level of education: J.D., Boston College Law School

Party affiliation: Democrat

Previous elected office: Virginia House of Delegates (1978-1983); Senate of Virginia (1983-1993); U.S. House of Representatives (1993 – Present)

Military service: Massachusetts Army National Guard followed by service in the U.S. Army Reserve (1970-1976)

Website: www.bobbyscottforcongress.com

What do you believe is the greatest problem facing our nation today and what would you propose to address that if elected?

Protecting our democracy for future generations of Americans. Trump will unleash the radical Project 2025 plan, which will increase taxes on working families, give tax handouts to the wealthy, dismantle critical health care & worker protections, eliminate the Department of Education, & reverse the significant investments we have made that have kept our economy strong. If reelected, I will continue to advance legislation that levels the playing field for American workers. We must pass my Raise the Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage and my PRO Act to strengthen collective bargaining rights for workers. And we must pass my Roadmap to College Student Success to bring down the cost to attend college, help students access a quality degree, and address the student loan crisis.

The United States is currently providing significant military aid to Israel and Ukraine. Do you believe the U.S. should continue to provide funding to both or either of these nations? Explain why or why not.

It is critical for our national security that we continue to provide military aid to Ukraine and end Putin’s war of aggression. The failed policy of appeasement that led to World War II offers valuable lessons on what could happen in Europe if our nation turns its back on our democratic allies. I supported the recently enacted legislation to provide aid to Israel. I support the Biden-Harris administration in their efforts to ensure an immediate ceasefire, bring all the hostages home, put diplomatic pressure on the Netanyahu government to limit civilian casualties, and ensure that more humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians. This will bolster our efforts for a lasting peace and a two state solution, and guarantee the safety and dignity of the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court should reconsider several of its past rulings, including one that protected the right to contraception. Would you support legislation in Congress to codify the right to birth control into law?

Yes, and I am already a proud cosponsor of the Right to Contraception Act, introduced by my colleague Representative Kathy Manning of North Carolina. If re-elected, I will continue to fight to guarantee reproductive freedom for all.

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John Sitka

Age: 68

Employment: Retired

Highest level of education: Doctor of Education in Education Leadership, Liberty University

Party affiliation: Republican

Military service: Retired Navy

Website: sitkaforcongress.com

What do you believe is the greatest problem facing our nation today and what would you propose to address that if elected?

The economy, interest rates, and loss of border security have resulted in violent crimes and the proliferation of fentanyl.

The United States is currently providing significant military aid to Israel and Ukraine. Do you believe the U.S. should continue to provide funding to both or either of these nations? Explain why or why not.

Since our economy has out-of-control spending, any foreign aid to other countries is insane. Inflation is eating people’s paychecks, and seniors on fixed incomes cannot afford the US to spend their money on any country. That being said, I am very skeptical about sending money and resources to Ukraine. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have used this country to launder money from the aid we have given it. Additionally, there is no evidence that the aid that was given was used for its intended purpose. As for Israel, if there was any country in the world that needs our support, that is a country I can get behind. My direct experience with Israel goes back to 1983 with the US involvement as Peacekeepers in Beirut, Lebanon. They have always been our ally in a highly volatile region.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court should reconsider several of its past rulings, including one that protected the right to contraception. Would you support legislation in Congress to codify the right to birth control into law?

The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution states that any powers not given to the federal government, or prohibited from the states, are reserved for the states or the people. Therefore, I am not in favor of any legislation to codify the right to birth control into law. Virginia has very liberal laws concerning such matters. It would not be wise to have the federal government make such laws that affect other states since the Supreme Court has ruled on the matter. States need to fund those programs.

Answers compiled by The Virginian-Pilot staff.

The mayor is elected at-large to a four-year term, and the office has no term limits.

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Robert “Bobby” Dyer

Age: 74

Occupation/job title: Professional-in-residence, Robertson School of Government, Regent University

Highest level of education: Doctoral degree, Regent University

Previous elected offices held: Current mayor of Virginia Beach; Virginia Beach City Council member

Military service: United States Marine Corps

Website: www.bobbydyerformayor.com

What would be your top priority if elected? Affordability is the top concern, not only in our great city, but across the nation. The national economy with high inflation and interest rates hurts every family and every city government. Groceries and gas have skyrocketed in cost and so have costs in government in everything from roads to schools to employees. We lowered real estate taxes this year and have the lowest tax rate in Hampton Roads. We balanced that by fully funding our schools and dedicating hundreds of millions of dollars to combat flooding. We have been a ribbon-cutting champion in attracting new business and jobs, including everything from Amazon to small businesses across the city. These new jobs will help local families and new businesses will generate city revenue without relying on residential taxes.

What steps need to be taken in order to provide more affordable housing options in Virginia Beach? Housing challenges are so significant that our military partners list it as a major priority. I was chair the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, and their position is clear. Our executive director stated, “If the cost of housing in Hampton Roads continues to climb, this could have a negative impact on future military basing decisions.” Solving the housing cost crisis actually strengthens our partnership with the military. We’ve made attainable housing a top priority and are working to lower the costs of building new housing and increasing the availability of housing while preserving our great quality of life.

If elected, what actions would you take to increase economic development and lower tax burdens on residents in Virginia Beach?
I always say, “Friends don’t let friends’ kids find jobs in Northern Virginia. We’ll get them a career here.” We are attracting jobs in Virginia Beach, and partnering with Gov. Youngkin and his economic team, Virginia Beach is bearing the fruits of success. We’ve brought new companies here and overseas broadband cables are building a strong technology sector for job growth. We are also preserving the future of NAS Oceana and, as Virginia Beach’s first veteran Mayor, strengthening our partnership with the military to keep our community and economy strong. These efforts generate revenues that allow more reductions in taxes. Our taxes are much lower than neighboring cities and that’s due to our success at expanding the business tax base. We need even more successes in the future.

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Richard “RK” Kowalewitch

Age: 64

Occupation/job title: Self-employed, construction

Highest level of education: some college or professional certification

Website: www.RKforMayor.net

What would be your top priority if elected? My priority is to follow proper procedures to fix defects in the City Charter & to stop violations of election law. Below are two examples: a. Charter § 3.01:1 states Virginia Beach has a 7-3-1 at large voting system. The voting system was changed knowingly and illegally by City officials in 2022 to a 10-1 district system. Officials claim there is a court order. That court order was vacated. Va. Code § 15.2-200 was not followed to legally amend the charter. b. In the mayor’s race for 2024, there are three ineligible candidates. Two of the candidates have violated Charter § 3.02:2, and three have violated The Constitution of Virginia Article VII Section 8 and Va. Code § 15.2-1535. Please note that city employees are considered to be appointees. These candidates should not be on the ballot in November.

Editor’s note: The candidate has filed lawsuits challenging the district voter system and eligibility of other candidates. Those lawsuits are pending and no determination about legality has been made. 

What steps need to be taken in order to provide more affordable housing options in Virginia Beach? Unfortunately, in a free market economy, the market dictates what the price of houses will be. The City of Virginia Beach carries $1.2 billion in bond debt, not counting the unfunded unmandated pension liabilities. I do not think it is fair for citizens to pay for one person’s gains or the profits of any developers. I think it needs to be explored to provide some incentives for police, firefighters and teachers. They are a key part of the economic structure in a free enterprise system. I am for whatever will make this city better and is fair for all businesses and citizens. The citizens and businesses are already paying high taxes and fees. I want to decrease these, not increase them. I will be fiscally responsible with our budget.

If elected, what actions would you take to increase economic development and lower tax burdens on residents in Virginia Beach? The first step is to do an audit on all departments within the city to cut frivolous and unnecessary spending. It is estimated that 10-15% could be cut from each department. This would result in an immediate savings to residents in Virginia Beach. Second, all public private partnerships need to be fully vetted to make sure they are not competing with the private sector. Any PPP needs to be in favor of the taxpayers first, not for the developer. Businesses should not be asked to collect a tax to create their own competition.

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John Moss

Age: 70

Occupation/job title: Retired as Director Submarine Warfare Programs and Warfare Development, Commander Submarine Force Atlantic Command

Highest level of education: MA U.S. Naval War College (Senior Officer Class); MPA Old Dominion University

Previous elected offices held: Virginia Beach City Council member: At-large 2011-2022; At-large 1992-1995, and Kempsville Borough 1986-1990

Website: JohnMossforMayor.com

What would be your top priority if elected? Reducing the financial burden of local government taxes on families and businesses. Place fiscal discipline on spending growth by reducing the real estate tax rate and indexing it, and phasing out the personal (car tax) and business property tax over time. Like the private sector, the city’s technology investments must deliver productivity and cost reduction. Revenue growth from economic growth would not automatically be applied to increased spending. A portion of end-year budget surpluses will be returned to residents by reduction in tax rates, for example, the car tax.

What steps need to be taken in order to provide more affordable housing options in Virginia Beach? Affordable housing includes renting, first home purchase, and remaining in a home purchased. Increases in property taxes and shelter costs are now factors adversely impacting all categories of shelter affordability. Exerting downward pressure on the real estate property tax rate and completing flooding projects to slow insurance cost increases are easy low hanging fruit actions to improve shelter affordability. City Council should better leverage the Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation (VBCDC) whose mission is to provide affordable shelter. Transferring excess city, schools, Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) properties to the VBCDC would be a good start, for example, the old Circuit City property owned by the VBDA.

If elected, what actions would you take to increase economic development and lower tax burdens on residents in Virginia Beach?
I will make the case with council peers to end city council’s strategy of picking the winners and losers via taxpayers’ direct and indirect subsidies, for example the “wave pool”. Enact broad-based reform to our tax structure to accelerate economic growth. Let the free enterprise capital markets decide what is profitable and what is not. Reduce the time to open a business by extending the use of private sector sources to review Amazon’s site plans and construction to all businesses in a bonded environment. Implement the use of artificial intelligence software to achieve major productivity in delivering city services and providing the means to rely on auditable third verified-compliance of residents and businesses with city ordinances and regulations.

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Chris Taylor

Age: 40

Occupation/job title: City Council member, Virginia Beach

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s degree, Business Administration

Previous elected offices held: Current City Council member Virginia Beach, since 2023

Website: https://christaylorforvb.com/

What would be your top priority if elected? Stormwater/Flooding mitigation.

What steps need to be taken in order to provide more affordable housing options in Virginia Beach? Minimize special interest influence. City staff should identify what if any city properties could be developed for affordable housing. Gain support from citizens on plans for improvements in affordable housing.

If elected, what actions would you take to increase economic development and lower tax burdens on residents in Virginia Beach? My first action would be to direct the City Manager to review all policies related to economic development. We need an assessment of the effectiveness of current economic development strategies. We need to incentivize local small businesses to expand and grow their businesses. I would advise the City Manager to reduce vacancy savings projections, and utilize surplus monies to reduce the real estate tax rate. The council could also consider revising dedicated fund source policies, which would reallocate funds to assisting more small businesses.

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Sabrina Wooten

Age: 49

Occupation/job title: City Council member, Virginia Beach; adjunct professor at Regent University

Highest level of education: Masters Degree in Public Administration, Regent University; Doctoral student in Public Administration, Walden University

Previous elected offices held (if any): Virginia Beach council member, District 7, since 2018

Website: www.WootenforMayor.com

What would be your top priority if elected? The top priority of my administration will be to eliminate excess spending and increase the effective use of resident’s tax dollars by implementing the following: Yearly Assessment of Programs: Implement a regular review process to assess the effectiveness and relevance of government programs. Identify and eliminate obsolete programs that no longer serve their intended purpose. Cut excess spending by reallocating resources to more impactful initiatives. Public Engagement: Conduct public surveys, town hall meetings, or online platforms to gather feedback on spending priorities. Utilize feedback to prioritize funding for programs that align with community needs and preferences. Increase transparency in budgeting processes to build trust and accountability.

What steps need to be taken in order to provide more affordable housing options in Virginia Beach? 1) Secure increased funding from state and federal governments for affordable housing projects. For example, provide grant funding to non-profit housing organization. 2) Promote mixed-income developments. Encourage developments that integrate affordable housing with market-rate units. This can help prevent the concentration of poverty and provide a broader range of housing options within diverse communities. 3) Preserve existing affordable housing by implementing programs to renovate aging housing units to prevent deterioration and conversion to market rate properties. 4) Address homelessness by developing comprehensive strategies that support programs and services that assist individual’s transition into stable housing. 5) Collaborate with key stakeholders to create innovative solutions.

If elected, what actions would you take to increase economic development and lower tax burdens on residents in Virginia Beach? As Mayor I would take the following actions: Economic Development: Invest in infrastructure improvements such as expanded transportation networks and incentives to attract businesses in renewable energy sectors like wind and solar. Support local arts and culture initiatives to stimulate economic growth and tourism. Workforce Development: Develop training programs and certifications for jobs in renewable energy industries. Collaborate with educational institutions to align curriculum with industry demands. Lower Tax Burdens: Expand programs that assist with increasing costs and inflation, such as property tax relief for seniors and financial assistance for young adults. Advocate for policies that stabilize property taxes and utility costs to mitigate the financial burden on residents.