Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
CHESAPEAKE — An ongoing rift within the Chesapeake GOP has widened this election cycle, with one faction chiding what they see as unchecked “power brokers” working behind-the-scenes, while the other side chalks accusations up to complaints from losing candidates. The divisions have resurfaced in the sheriff’s race, where two candidates are competing to be the city’s fourth elected sheriff. Sheriff David Rosado, who’s seeking election as an independent candidate, is alleging he failed to earn a key political figure’s support after he rebuffed what he deemed a political favor. Rosado alleges he was asked by former U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes before the June Republican primary election to publicly apologize for and condemn a letter sent three years ago by Rosado’s predecessor and the city’s commonwealth’s attorney. The letter details a series of allegations of political intimidation within the Chesapeake Republican Party. Rosado said he declined the request. After that, he said Forbes opted to back his primary opponent, police officer Wallace Chadwick. Rosado served in the sheriff’s office for more than 20 years before he was appointed sheriff last year. He lost the June 17 primary to Chadwick, who earned 58% of the vote. Rosado, who has resigned from the local GOP chapter, is now running a write-in campaign against Chadwick in November’s general election with the Chesapeake Democratic Committee’s support. “They didn’t want the most qualified candidate. They wanted someone they could control. I wasn’t that — and I never will be,” Rosado wrote in a June 24 statement announcing his write-in campaign. “This wasn’t about the people — it was about the power brokers.” But in an interview with The Virginian-Pilot, Forbes denies he asked Rosado for a favor, recalling their interactions differently and characterizing the letter as a weaponization of the office. “I made clear to him that I wasn’t asking him to do anything, and I definitely never told him that I would endorse him, because I wouldn’t have endorsed him, even if he’d done that,” Forbes said. “It was the voters in the city of Chesapeake who said, ‘No, we don’t think so,’” Forbes added. “And he’s got to have a scapegoat to blame.” The meeting Then-Sheriff Jim O’Sullivan and Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Hamel sent the letter to Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office Sept. 27, 2022, requesting state-level assistance to investigate a host of allegations of intimidation by a GOP party official and political infighting within the local party. “During the past year there has been strife within the Republican Party of Chesapeake (‘RPC’),” states the letter, which was obtained by The Pilot. “While there is nothing new about political infighting or power struggles, recent events have escalated past politics to a level that we cannot professionally ignore and we must alert you and seek your help and guidance in our capacities as Sheriff and Commonwealth’s Attorney.” The letter references a local investigation in August 2022 into allegations levied against Shirley Forbes, who is the wife of Randy Forbes. It also details allegations of political intimidation by a Chesapeake GOP party official. The Pilot previously reported that the local investigation was passed off to the FBI due to concerns of potential interference. Shirley Forbes previously denied any wrongdoing. And in the three years since, the FBI has not made any public statements about it nor filed any charges. In an interview, Rosado said he met with Randy Forbes at Forbes’ office the morning of April 7. He was interested in an endorsement or public support from Randy Forbes for the primary. It was during the meeting Rosado said Randy Forbes asked him to publicly apologize for O’Sullivan’s request of Miyares to “place an investigation on Shirley Forbes and the Chesapeake Republican Party.” Rosado said he knew the letter existed, but was unaware of its contents. He said he was “confused” by the ask, and told Randy Forbes he wasn’t “going to apologize for another man.” He questioned why Randy Forbes was asking him rather than the author of the letter. According to Rosado, Forbes responded, “I’m talking to you because you’re the sheriff.” “And I stopped him and said, ‘OK, Randy, I’m listening to what you’re telling me, and I’m going to tell you how I feel. I feel as if you are giving me an ultimatum by what you’re saying, how you’re saying it, and what you want me to do,’” Rosado said. “And he said, ‘No, I am not.’” Randy Forbes emphasized he never made any request, adding that he agreed to meet with Rosado as a courtesy. He said Rosado first referenced O’Sullivan, which then prompted discussion of the letter. “(Rosado) said that he was doing things differently than O’Sullivan, and that he thought O’Sullivan had listened to the wrong people,” Randy Forbes said. Randy Forbes said he told Rosado he believed the letter was a weaponization of the sheriff’s office because it was authored by a political operative and because several investigations have concluded without any charges being filed. “There is no (indication) anywhere that they haven’t closed all those things because this is three years ago, almost four years, and nothing has come of that,” Randy Forbes said. Randy Forbes suggested if Rosado agreed the office had been inappropriately politicized, he could take steps to apologize to Shirley Forbes and everyone else referenced in the letter and emphasize that “this is never going to happen again from our department.” “I said, ‘I’m not asking you to do anything. I’m saying that I would if I were sitting in there wearing that uniform, this is what I would do,’” Forbes said. “But there was no talk about endorsing him, or not endorsing him.” O’Sullivan, who retired in 2024, told The Pilot his office helped send the letter to be “transparent” and “get to the truth.” “Just tried to get to the truth with an outside party that was independent and can give a real look into it,” O’Sullivan said. “Felt that it really needed to be looked into.” In a statement to The Pilot about the letter, Hamel said he and O’Sullivan believed the local Republican party was “being run by a select few” that he characterized as an “influence-peddling group that put self-interest above public service on many levels, from candidate selection to issues that would be decided by elected officials.” Hamel is also running for reelection this year. He was elected as a Republican, but has since left the party and is running for his second term as a Democrat against Republican David Mick. Allegations in the letter The letter mostly details a time when the Chesapeake GOP began to publicly fracture — when a dozen local Republicans said they publicly withdrew support for then-candidate Amanda Newins in her 2022 bid for City Council due to criminal and civil litigation against her alleging elder abuse. Newins was among the candidates endorsed by the GOP at that time. A jury in 2023 acquitted Newins on a felony charge of using fraudulent means to get her great uncle and aunt to give their house to her. The civil lawsuit was also dismissed last year after both parties settled their dispute. But the letter asserts that at least three political figures who withdrew their support of her candidacy were later threatened or intimidated by Chesapeake GOP chair Nicholas Proffitt, or an associate of his, as political retribution. They include former longtime Chesapeake Treasurer Barbara Carraway, and former Chesapeake School Board members Sam Boone Jr. and Thomas Mercer. The letter states Carraway, Boone and Mercer shared their experiences of potential political intimidation with O’Sullivan’s and Hamel’s offices, prompting the request for state-level assistance. Hamel and O’Sullivan were also among the dozen who withdrew their support of Newins. Hamel said he and O’Sullivan wanted to alert Miyares to their concerns because Proffitt worked in the attorney general’s office as a community liaison officer for Hampton Roads. “Nicholas Proffitt was not only allowed — but emboldened — to threaten elected officials,” Hamel said in his statement. It’s unclear whether Miyares was ever made aware of the letter. O’Sullivan said he never received a formal response from the attorney general’s office. Hamel said he attempted to at least receive an informal response, but that “there was never any response given whatsoever in any fashion, formally or informally, beyond that.” Neither Proffitt nor the attorney general’s office has returned multiple requests for comment. Neither Mercer, who had served on the school board for nearly 30 years, nor Boone, who had served since 2012, were endorsed by the local GOP in their unsuccessful 2024 reelection bids. Carraway, who also served for nearly 30 years, announced her retirement in June 2023 amid concerns among city officials about her performance. Reached by phone, both Boone and Mercer declined to comment on the letter and allegations. The Pilot attempted multiple times to reach Carraway for comment, but was unsuccessful. Of the dozen who signed onto the letter revoking support for Newins’ candidacy, four have lost their reelection bids and didn’t have Chesapeake GOP’s backing; four didn’t seek reelection; two have retired or resigned; and one is up for reelection this year without the Chesapeake GOP’s backing. A Chesapeake GOP letter obtained by The Pilot states that anyone who publicly supports Rosado or Hamel in this year’s election will be removed from party membership and barred from participating for four years, in accordance with state party bylaws. The letter was issued to party members June 24, according to Rosado, which is the same day he formally resigned from the party. “There’s a trend going on here,” Rosado told The Pilot. “If you do not accept their way, then it’s the highway.” But others, such as Mayor Rick West, say a party barring public support in that way isn’t uncommon, though he did say it’s “politics.” Though he openly supported Rosado’s campaign before the primary, West has laid low since. He told The Pilot he’s focusing on his role as mayor and trying “not to be involved in the political scene as much as possible.” 757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 election guide Endorsements Several current and former Republicans say the Chesapeake GOP doesn’t typically endorse candidates for constitutional offices in primary elections. But both Rosado and Chadwick believed earning the backing of notable party leaders like Forbes would carry weight with the city’s Republican voters. A lifelong Chesapeake resident who’s long been involved in local politics, Forbes represented the city and other parts of Hampton Roads for nearly three decades, both in the Virginia General Assembly and as a congressman. He served seven terms in the U.S. House before losing his seat in a primary fight in 2016 amid redistricting. While in Congress, Forbes was a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and founded the congressional Prayer Caucus and China Caucus. Forbes has long been “beloved” in the party, as former Chesapeake GOP chair Carole de Triquet described him in an article published by The Pilot in 2019. At the time, the Chesapeake GOP had rejected a request for party membership from Scott Weldon, who helped Scott Taylor beat Randy Forbes in the 2016 primary election. Though membership rejections rarely occurred then, de Triquet said at the time, “We’re very loyal to our elected officials and certainly most of all Randy and Shirley” Forbes. Randy Forbes, however, downplays his influence. “What my life is now, I spend it in my faith. I spend a lot of time on faith issues around the country and with my grandchildren,” Forbes said. “I’m not saying I’m not knowledgeable on some of these issues, but to say we’re some kind of kingpin that we’re crowned — I mean, that’s almost always from the losers.” It was two months or so after Rosado said he met with Randy Forbes that Forbes publicly voiced his support for Chadwick, a political newcomer. Chadwick is a veteran police officer with more than 20 years in the Chesapeake Police Department. It was after he began to get politically involved on the matter of department pay that he said several deputies and GOP members encouraged him to consider a run for sheriff. He began contemplating and seeking advice. Among the suggestions was to reach out to Randy Forbes for mentorship and guidance on navigating a political campaign. Chadwick said he then briefly chatted with him at political events but never directly asked for the Forbes’ support or endorsement because “it was a messy campaign, and they had friends on both sides.” “And I respected that,” Chadwick said. “I didn’t try and push them.” But Chadwick said “something happened” — though he’s not sure what — that prompted Randy Forbes to talk with Chadwick about his campaign. In mid-May, the two discussed his candidacy, policies, and military and police background in an “impromptu” meeting in public. Then on June 11, Randy Forbes posted a video to Facebook sharing his support for Chadwick — characterizing Rosado as too weak to combat crime and other issues. “Fifty years ago, it was OK to have a sheriff who wanted to spend most of his time doing magic acts, or ribbon cuttings, or perhaps putting up campaign signs for his supporters, or even leading funeral processions for people he likes,” he stated in the video. “We’re facing threats from gang violence and illegal immigrants and all kinds of threats that 50 years ago we couldn’t even imagine.” Randy and Shirley Forbes were both at Chadwick’s election watch party as well as his general election campaign kickoff event in August, casually viewing from a crowd of people. Chadwick said Randy Forbes has never asked him about the 2022 letter written by O’Sullivan and Hamel. Randy Forbes said he’s never discussed it with Chadwick. Because Rosado is now running as a write-in candidate, his name will not appear on the ballot. He insists his departure from the Republican party isn’t sour grapes. Rather, he said interactions during the campaign highlighted a general feeling of being unwelcome by the Chesapeake GOP. Rosado said he was proud to work under two Republican sheriffs, but ultimately didn’t feel he had the same level of party support. “I would walk into a room and feel unwelcomed,” Rosado said. “And I really was amazed how me as a person, what I represent and who I am, offended them.” There is no Democratic candidate running for election in the sheriff’s race, though the Chesapeake Democratic Committee has backed Rosado’s write-in candidacy. Chadwick said it’s “unfortunate” that Rosado is now touting the support of Democrats rather than rallying around the Republican nominee chosen by the voters. “You draw a contrast from differences about you and your opponent, but in the end of that, you’re supposed to come together and you’re supposed to agree to support the person in your party,” Chadwick said. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
