Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales is seeking a third full term in office. Morales became the city’s top prosecutor after winning a 2015 special election, and was re-elected in 2017 and 2021. She’s being challenged by Portsmouth attorney Nathan Chapman and Steve Heretick, a lawyer who’s previously served as a state delegate, city councilman and federal prosecutor.
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Nathan A. Chapman
Age: 55
Employment: Attorney, Chapman Law Firm.
Education: Juris doctorate, Regent University; Bachelor’s of science, Liberty University
Party affiliation: Independent
Website: ChapmanForPortsmouth.com
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the office now?
Crime and public safety are the top concerns of our community, and we all agree on the need for effective prosecution as our families do not currently enjoy the safety they deserve. The commonwealth’s attorney’s role is to protect the public by fairly, consistently and ethically enforcing the law because the successful prosecution of crime will result in justice for victims and increased safety for our families. Keeping in mind the presumption of innocence that we all enjoy, the goal is never to “win at all costs”, but to seek justice. The current commonwealth’s attorney has failed as a leader. The office is plagued by procedural errors, case dismissals and lost trials due to poor preparation. The office has failed to retain skilled prosecutors and staff, leaving the rest overworked and demoralized. I will restore strong, steady, committed and effective leadership to the office.
Why do you think you’re the best candidate for the job?
I am absolutely certain that I possess the leadership skills and criminal justice system experience to be the best candidate to serve as our next commonwealth’s attorney. Prosecution requires more than just legal knowledge – it demands courtroom skill, leadership, sound judgment, compassion and a deep commitment to justice. I possess those traits as well as a strong command of criminal law, the rules of evidence and trial practice. I have a proven record of trial success, along with an unwavering sense of fairness and commitment to equal treatment under the law for all people. I will recruit and retain well-qualified prosecutors and support staff; rebuild a good, professional working relationship with law enforcement; and give victims of crime the support that they deserve. Our justice system depends on these things, and I am prepared to deliver them to the citizens of Portsmouth.
If you could pick only one solution, how would you reduce violent crime in our community?
I would rebuild the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office into a fair and effective prosecution team. Reducing crime in Portsmouth requires a multi-faceted approach that also supports our youth. As a defense attorney and guardian ad litem, I understand the challenges young people in our community face and how early intervention – especially with youth gun violence – can change lives. For low-level, non-violent offenses involving addiction, mental illness or juveniles, diversion, education and treatment can often break the cycle of crime, so I support proven programs offering alternatives to incarceration. That is why I have built strong partnerships with social services, the community service board, law enforcement and violence prevention groups. At the same time, I will prioritize firm and zealous prosecution of violent crime to make Portsmouth a safer place for our families.
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Stephen “Steve” Heretick
Age: 65
Occupation/job title: Attorney at Stephen E. Heretick, P.C.
Education: Juris Doctor, Villanova University Law School; Bachelor of Arts, the College of William and Mary
Previous elected offices: Virginia House of Delegates 79th District (2016-2021); Portsmouth City Council (2004-2012)
Party affiliation: Independent
Website: heretickforportsmouth.com
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the office now?
The most critical challenge facing the Portsmouth community is the lack of leadership, consistency, and stability within the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. The office has repeatedly failed to retain experienced attorneys and has seen the dismissal and/or delays of multiple serious cases, including those involving murder, child sexual assault, and other violent crimes, due to its chronic inability to abide by basic constitutional principles and the rules of legal practice. This has led to a dramatic erosion of public trust in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s ability to work productively with law enforcement and the community in maintaining public safety. No other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office in the state has had its attorneys disbarred, prosecuted for drug distribution, or experiences the revolving-door of staff turnover that this office has. Portsmouth deserves better.
Why do you think you’re the best candidate for the job?
I bring 35 years of first-chair litigation experience, including over 20 years of public service. I began as a law clerk for a U.S. federal judge before serving as an award-winning supervisory attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Afterwards, I joined private practice in two major law firms before launching my own practice 25 years ago, handling complex cases in state and federal courts across Virginia. I have also served on Portsmouth City Council and in the Virginia House of Delegates, where I demonstrated the sustained ability to work reasonably and productively to bring about meaningful changes in Virginia’s laws. I was appointed to the Virginia Board of Medicine, eventually serving as its first non-physician President. As a husband and father, I know how crime affects families and how badly Portsmouth needs proven leadership. Portsmouth deserves experience.
If you could pick only one solution, how would you reduce violent crime in our community?
As Portsmouth’s Commonwealth’s Attorney I will be sure to recruit and retain experienced attorneys and support staff who are genuinely committed to the hard work of being prepared, transparent and fair in the prosecution of every case, who will work productively with our Courts and public safety offices throughout that process, and who are deeply dedicated to giving a real voice to the victims of crime in our community. Portsmouth deserves justice.
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Stephanie N. Morales
Age: 41
Occupation/job title: Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney
Education: Norfolk State University, Bachelor of Arts; College of William & Mary School of Law, Juris Doctor
Party affiliation: Democrat
Website: stephaniemorales.org
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the office now?
The most important issue facing the office is ensuring justice that is both fair and accountable — especially for communities long over-policed and under-protected. As Commonwealth’s Attorney, I’ve led with a vision that’s smart on justice, and firm on violent crime. That means prioritizing safety and equity. I’ve built programs like Ctrl+Alt+Del and the Future Leaders Initiative to prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and support reentry. I’ve also championed reforms that end mandatory minimums and expand expungement. Justice must be data-driven, community-informed, and rooted in dignity. That’s the future I’m building — for Portsmouth, and for all of us.
Why do you think you’re the best candidate for the job?
I’m the best candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney because I bring a decade of proven leadership, rooted in fairness, safety, and real community connection. I’ve led bold reforms, prioritized violent crime prosecution, and created programs like Ctrl+Alt+Del for reentry and the Future Leaders Initiative, mentoring 300+ Portsmouth youth. I’ve championed policy aimed at ending mandatory minimums, and supporting mental health reform. As an adjunct law professor and national speaker, I’ve helped shape justice beyond our city. But this work is also personal — I’m a mother, a Norcom alum, and a lifelong Portsmouth resident. I lead with integrity, vision, and a deep love for this community. Experience matters — and I have it.
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 prevention — through youth engagement, community-based programs, and access to opportunity. That’s why I created the Future Leaders Initiative to invest in Portsmouth’s youth early. At the same time, I’m firmly committed to holding individuals accountable when serious harm occurs. Under my leadership, we’ve successfully prosecuted violent crimes including homicide, gun violence, and domestic abuse. Justice must be strong and consistent. That’s why we focus on violent offenses while building smart alternatives for nonviolent ones. We also support reentry through education and job-readiness via our Ctrl+Alt+Del Program. Prevention and accountability are not opposites — they are how we truly keep our community safe.