The last time Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle had a political opponent was in 2013, when he first ran for the job and easily won.
This November, the Republican chief prosecutor is being challenged by Democrat Suzanne Seidel Richmond, an attorney who’s served as a prosecutor, public defender, appellate lawyer and attorney in private practice.
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Suzanne Seidel Richmond
Age: 46
Employment: Attorney
Education: Bachelor’s of science in sociology from Virginia Tech; Juris Doctor from Regent University.
Party affiliation: Democrat
Website: suzanneforvb.com
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the office now?
Every city and county in Virginia elects a commonwealth’s attorney, yet many residents in Virginia Beach don’t realize they have an elected prosecutor. The lack of community presence shows how far the office has drifted from the people it serves. The commonwealth’s attorney should be present in the community, accountable to constituents, and accessible. Prosecution should never be politicized or weaponized; it must be guided by fairness, facts, and the law. As commonwealth’s attorney, I will restore that balance by assigning prosecutors to precincts, attending civic league meetings, and partnering with schools, nonprofits, and community groups. When residents know their prosecutor and see the office in neighborhoods, it builds trust, strengthens safety, and reminds people that justice belongs to the community—not political insiders.
Why do you think you’re the best candidate for the job?
I am the best person to serve as commonwealth’s attorney because I am a native of Virginia Beach with 18 years of criminal law experience. Growing up here, I understand the values and concerns of our community and how those have evolved over the years. My legal career has spanned every side of criminal law—working as a law clerk, a prosecutor, a public defender, and handling criminal appeals as an assistant attorney general. I have tried hundreds of cases, giving me the judgment to hold violent offenders accountable while also pursuing fair, effective solutions that reduce crime long-term. What sets me apart is my commitment to restoring trust in the office through community presence, transparency, and integrity—because prosecution should never be politicized or used as a weapon.
If you could pick only one solution, how would you reduce violent crime in our community?
If I could choose only one solution to reduce violent crime, it would be to reduce poverty. Poverty creates instability and desperation—when people struggle to meet basic needs like food, housing, or healthcare, they may turn to crime for survival. It also limits access to education, jobs, and community resources, trapping families in cycles of disadvantage. Education is one of the strongest tools to break this cycle because it increases income potential, improves health, and reduces inequality. While the commonwealth’s attorney cannot eliminate poverty alone, I can ensure this office plays its part by supporting diversion programs, partnering with schools and nonprofits, and connecting at-risk youth to resources. Safer neighborhoods come from holding violent offenders accountable while also addressing the root causes of crime.
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Colin D. Stolle
Age: 55
Employment: Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, Virginia Commonwealth University; Virginia Law Reader Program
Party affiliation: Republican
Website: colinstolle.com
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the office now?
The link between mental health, substance abuse and criminal behavior is one of the most important issues we face. The criminal justice system is not designed to be a service provider, yet every day, we encounter people who need mental health or substance abuse treatment. Until there is a systematic change in how we help those experiencing these issues, the criminal justice system must continue to find innovative solutions. Virginia Beach’s Drug Treatment Court and Behavioral Health Docket are two avenues for addressing these problems. I helped start and still devote resources to these programs to ensure people get the help they need. There is no easy solution to these problems, but I look forward to continuing to work with the police department, sheriff’s office, court personnel, city agencies, and our community to search for ways to address these issues.
Why do you think you’re the best candidate for the job?
I am honored to have served as part of the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for the last 32 years and as commonwealth’s attorney for almost 12 years. Over my time in the office I have been responsible for removing from our streets some of the most violent criminals Virginia Beach has seen. I have extensive management experience in the office having served as a deputy, chief deputy and now commonwealth’s attorney. Today I manage a multimillion-dollar budget, as well as supervise 49 attorneys and over 125 total staff. Even with the demands of management and policy responsibilities, I’m very involved in the most serious cases. I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Youngkin to the Virginia State Crime Commission in August 2024 and in this role will continue to work with other Virginia leaders to improve the criminal justice system.
If you could pick only one solution, how would you reduce violent crime in our community?
There is no one solution; we must take a multi-faceted approach to keeping our city safe. Two policies I employ are ‘no deals for dangerous drug dealers’ and ‘use a gun, go to jail.’ I seek punishments for those who deal dangerous drugs. When appropriate my office seeks treatment options for those struggling with addiction. I don’t tolerate gun violence and firmly believe those who use a gun to commit a crime should serve time behind bars. It’s imperative that we continue to reach youth. My office works with schools to educate youth about the consequences of criminal activity. I was part of the Mayor’s Youth Violence Taskforce, helping develop community programs such as Parks After Dark. Keeping Virginia Beach safe is a partnership between law enforcement, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, city agencies, and citizens. It takes all of us working together to reduce violent crime.