Meet the Mayors: Local Election Results

Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States, and Tim Kaine will be in the Senate for another six-year term. There were also plenty of local races in Virginia this year.

In the city of Richmond, Dr. Danny Avula won a four-year term as mayor. He is a former director of the Richmond City and Henrico County health districts, and he toppled four challengers by taking 46% of the vote. 

Incumbent Bobby Dyer, who has been in office since 2018, will serve another term as mayor in Virginia Beach. He declared victory on Wednesday with 41% of the vote in a five-way race.

Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover won a second four-year term. He will work with a city council that saw three new members elected. 

Across Northern Virginia, three cities also elected mayors: E. Michelle Davis-Younger won in Manassas, Catherine S. Read  won in Fairfax, and Keven J. LeBlanc Jr. won in Herndon.

One contest seems headed for a recount. In Roanoke’s mayoral race, Republican David Bowers took an election night lead of 19 votes over Democrat Joe Cobb out of more than 41,000 votes cast.

Ballot Measures Sweep the Commonwealth

Virginia voters approved a number of ballot initiatives on Tuesday.

Statewide, the constitutional amendment to provide tax exemptions to the spouses of service members who were killed in the line of duty passed almost unanimously: some 93% of Virginians voted in favor.

Northern Virginia voters passed a number of bond initiatives, many aimed at improving infrastructure. They included utilities and parks bonds in Arlington County, as well as transportation and public safety bonds in both Fairfax County and Loudon County.

Voters also gave the green light to a proposed casino project in Petersburg. More than 80% of voters there approved of the project, after voters in nearby Richmond turned down a casino twice.

Finally, Richmonders arguably brought home the best “I Voted” stickers in the state. A VCU student’s design featured a Virginia Opossum marking up a ballot.

Take a Hike!

The days are getting shorter but there is still plenty of daylight available to go on a hike, and Virginia has a number of beautiful walks available.

A pair of hikes will put you on the Appalachian Trail, which weaves across 557 miles of our state.

One takes you north from the Sugar Run Gap parking area to Pearisburg Cemetery and covers about 13 miles. Another, 15-mile hike, will take you from Tennessee’s Low Gap parking area to downtown Damascus. In both cases, a shuttle gets you back to your car.

Of course, there is more to the Commonwealth than the AT. Daring hikers can walk Old Rag Mountain. But be warned: the 9-mile loop is challenging and may require 8 hours for some to complete. 

If you’re not ready for that challenge, check out a shorter and flatter walk. There is probably one near you. 

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➤ Richmond: An election official was fired from her job and forcibly removed from her voting center on Election Day after 11 people were allowed to vote with an incorrect ballot. They were not allowed to cast an updated ballot. (More) 

➤ Joint Base Langley-Eustis: Army sergeant Quandarius Stanley died at a medical center in Texas six months after he was hurt while working on a temporary pier the military was assembling in Gaza. (Details)

➤ Newport News: The Treasurer’s Office said it has corrected the mistake after it sent real estate tax bills to 1,200 homeowners instead of to their mortgage holders. Taxes are due Dec. 5. (Details)

➤ Dinwiddie: A judge approved a motion by the Commonwealth’s Attorney to end the prosecution of two deputies who had been charged in connection with the death of Irvo Otieno last year. (More)

➤ Blacksburg: A Virginia Tech research team earned a $9 million federal grant to try to develop a CO2 storage facility in the Roanoke Valley. (Details)

➤ Rockingham: County Administrator Stephen King will retire in January after serving some 24 years in local government. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders and their new cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Both teams have only lost two games this season. (Watch Preview)

➤ The Washington Wizards visit Memphis to face the Grizzlies tomorrow. The team is 2-4 and on a two-game losing streak. (Preview)

➤ William & Mary senior Charles Grant earned an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, a game that features many top pro prospects. The nationally-ranked Tribe will host Elon on Saturday. (Details)

➤ Eleview International Inc. and two of its executives are charged with conspiring to export goods and technology illegally to Russia. The Virginia-based company was an e-commerce website where Russian customers could order U.S. products. (Details)

➤ Dollar Tree CEO Rick Dreiling resigned, saying his failing health is preventing him from staying in the job. The retailer is based in Chesapeake and has announced plans to shutter 1,000 locations. (More)

➤ The Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority has put a hold on its voucher program for now. The organization says it doesn’t have enough affordable housing for all the families that qualify. (Details)

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Doctor Reveals 30-Second Fix for Joint Pain

A Boston doctor found a simple way to fix joint pain at home. His method is based on Harvard research that reveals why some seniors stay active into their 90s. 

The secret? Most people make a key mistake with their joints every day. But when they stop, they experience life-changing relief.

Over 180,000 people have tried his 30-second method. Many say their joint pain is gone. Now you can watch his free video to learn this simple fix for yourself.

Click here to see how it works.

➤ Virginia Tech offers a class called “Monsters, Madness, and the Macabre” for students who want to explore how ghost stories have shaped the human experience. (Details)

➤ The Smithsonian National Zoo in Front Royal has successfully bred a cloned black-footed ferret, although there are no plans to release the endangered species into the wild. (More)

➤ In Richmond, several former hospitals are getting new life as residential buildings. (Details) 

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How much of the Appalachian Trail have you hiked?

1. End to end!
2. Some segments in Virginia
3. Segments here and in other states
4. I haven’t set foot on the AT

Monday’s Results:

Have you ever read an e-book?  

1. Yes: 51.8%
2. No: 48.2%

The recently retired Tony Bennett is the winningest coach in UVA basketball history. Who is in second place?

Show me the answer