Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
CHESAPEAKE — The incumbent in Chesapeake’s commonwealth’s attorney’s race is projected to secure another term, while the sitting sheriff is poised to lose. Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Hamel appears to have defeated a challenge from Republican David Mick for another four-year term, according to Tuesday’s unofficial election results. Hamel received 57% of total votes as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, while Mick received 43%. Hamel ran as a Democrat in this year’s election after being elected in 2021 as a Republican. Mick is an assistant attorney general in the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. Hamel is a former Chesapeake City Council member. Energy was high Tuesday night at Recovery Sports Grill, where Hamel and Sheriff David Rosado mingled with other Chesapeake Democrats. Hamel said late Tuesday night he’s not yet claiming victory but is “cautiously optimistic.” “Campaigns are one thing, governing is another, and we’re looking to come in together once this is all over,” Hamel said. “I just want to see my team tomorrow morning and go back to business as usual.” Republican Wallace Chadwick, a Chesapeake police officer, is the presumed winner of a four-year term as the city’s fourth elected sheriff. He’s poised to defeat Rosado, who lost the Republican primary in June, ran in the general election as a write-in candidate with the support of local Democrats. Rosado assumed the role last year after former Sheriff Jim O’Sullivan retired. As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Chadwick received 60% of total votes cast, according to unofficial election results. The names of write-in candidates won’t be publicly available until after the election is canvassed and certified in the coming weeks. But with only 40% of the total vote in comparison, Rosado is expected to lose his bid for sheriff. Chesapeake GOP candidates and members mingled at Lockside Bar and Grill Tuesday night, where Chadwick spoke to supporters around 10 p.m. Though he didn’t officially claim victory then, he felt good about the vote totals. “We’re going to make that sheriff’s office a better place to work,” he said in his speech. Chadwick told The Virginian-Pilot that among his first order of business is a “culture change” and building up morale. “My messaging has been consistent the entire time during this whole campaign. It’s been about leadership, accountability and transparency,” he said. “(Deputies) feel like they have that voice returned back to them now, and that’s one of the things I want to change — that low-hanging fruit, those morale boosters and those things that can structurally change that department.” Other competitive races in Chesapeake this election include the treasurer and commissioner of revenue elections as well as a special school board seat. School board Amanda Quillin is poised to win election to fulfill a term on Chesapeake School Board through December 2026, defeating incumbent Daniel Stahler, who both ran as independents. The open seat was up for grabs due to current school board member Mike Lamonea’s bid for the Virginia House District 89 seat. Unofficial election results as of 11 p.m. Tuesday showed Quillin received 56% of total votes cast, while Stahler received 43%. Commissioner of Revenue Incumbent Republican Victoria Proffitt appeared poised to secure reelection to another four-year term as the city’s commissioner of revenue. The constitutional officer position assesses individual and business personal property taxes, issues city business licenses, prorates personal property taxes on motor vehicles and administers the city’s real estate tax relief program. Proffitt received 51% of votes cast as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, while Democratic challenger Jennifer Naperala received 49%. Treasurer Democrat Corrie A. Kring is slated to secure a four-year term as the city’s treasurer, defeating Republican Wendy Roenker. Kring previously made an unsuccessful bid for the office. The two made a bid for the open seat as Republican incumbent Ben White, who won a special election in 2023 following longtime Treasurer Barbara Carraway’s retirement earlier that year, did not seek reelection. As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Kring received 53% of votes, and Roenker received 46%.
