Local Government & Politics
Petition to recall Portsmouth Mayor Kenny Wright fails
By Scott Daugherty
The Virginian-Pilot |
A Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday there were not enough valid signatures collected in an effort to recall Mayor Kenny Wright.
In all, organizers delivered 8,530 signatures. But Registrar Deloris Overton Short deemed only 6,012 valid, and Circuit Judge James Hawks said they needed 7,786.
"There was never a doubt in my mind," Wright said outside the courthouse before blasting some Portsmouth residents and others across the country who "spew hate, racism and all sorts of mean-spirited things."
"We are going in a positive direction in the city," said Wright, who is running for re-election against five challengers on Nov. 8. "I am looking forward to another four years."
Portsmouth resident and Norfolk businessman Robert Marcus spearheaded the recall petition. After learning it had failed, however, he tried to remain upbeat.
"This was a battle; this wasn't the war," said Marcus, who on May 19, 2015, was the first person to sign.
Marcus said he planned to turn his attention to the November election. He said he would endorse one of Wright's challengers but declined to do so outside the courthouse.
"Today is for mourning," he said, "not for celebrating something else."
It took Marcus and his allies about 14 months to collect the recall signatures. He dropped them off last month with Circuit Clerk Cynthia Morrison, who hand-stamped each of the 385 pages – a stack about 2½ inches thick.
From there, the paperwork was sent to Short to be reviewed and validated.
Marcus praised Short on Tuesday and said he had no doubt in her work.
Here are the reasons she invalidated 2,518 of the signatures:
199: The voter was not qualified to sign because he or she also was the petition's circulator, was not registered the date he or she signed, or provided an address that did not match.
218: The signature was a duplicate.
940: The voter could not be identified.
1,161: The petition paperwork was lacking. In all, 62 full pages were tossed because circulators failed to complete all necessary affidavits, didn't provide current addresses or didn't have their identities confirmed by a notary.
Even a successful recall would have had limited impact because Wright still could have run for re-election in November.
Latest Local Government & Politics
Richmond picks its first poet laureate
Hampton's annual MLK Jr. commemoration will honor Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and local heroes — virtually
Here's how government services will be affected by the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
Virginia Beach leaders voice concerns about the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Timing also would have been a challenge. State code says a special election can't be held within 55 days of a general election unless it's held on the same day. In this case, that would have meant before Sept. 15, if not on Nov. 8.
In 2010, Marcus' group gathered 8,494 signatures to recall former Mayor James Holley III. Wright won the election to replace him.
Scott Daugherty, 757-446-2343,
scott.daugherty@pilotonline.com
Kenny Wright
Robert Marcus
James Holley
Most Read • Local Government & Politics