Half of Norfolk will get to choose a City Council member this November

Norfolk — Joe Lindsey’s appointment to a judgeship last fall set off a bit of a domino effect for Norfolk’s government.

Angelia Williams Graves, who was serving her third term representing central and eastern Norfolk on City Council, ran for and won a special election for Lindsey’s old 90th District House of Delegates seat in January.

That left an open seat on the council, which was filled a week later when the council appointed 31-year-old financial advisor Danica Royster.

Originally, the plan was for Royster to serve until the next scheduled City Council elections in May 2022, with whoever won then representing Superward 7 for the second half of Graves’ term, which runs through 2024.

However, a bill from Sen. Lionell Spruill approved during this year’s General Assembly has forced all cities with May elections to move them to November.

Mayor Kenny Alexander said the council didn’t want to push the special election for the seat back to November 2022, leaving an appointed — not elected — person on the council for nearly two years.

So the Superward 7 seat will appear on this year’s Nov. 2 ballot alongside the governor’s race and other state and local offices.

The deadline for candidates to file for the council seat is now June 8, Norfolk Voter Registrar Stephanie Iles said.

Anyone seeking to become a candidate will have to gather 125 valid signatures from Norfolk voters to qualify. Iles said she’s heard rumblings of interest but nobody has filed any paperwork yet for candidacy.

Royster, who’s currently filling the seat, confirmed Tuesday she would seek election to complete the term, saying she received encouragement and support from constituents and voters over the last few weeks.

Ryan Murphy, 757-739-8582, ryan.murphy@pilotonline.com