Convicted Virginia state legislator wins election while in jail

[n2doc]

Joseph D. Morrissey, a longtime Virginia legislator who ran his latest campaign while serving a jail sentence for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, on Tuesday won his bid for re-election to the state House of Delegates in a special election.

With all precincts reporting in Virginia's 74th house district, unofficial returns showed Morrissey, a former Democrat turned independent, capturing 42.3 percent of the vote.

The next closest candidate, in the three-person race to represent a district that includes part of the state capital of Richmond and portions of Henrico and Charles City counties, was Democrat Kevin Sullivan with 33.4 percent of the vote. Morrissey did not need to capture more than half the votes to win.

Morrissey's win capped off one of the most bizarre electoral campaigns in Virginia history.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/14/us-usa-virginia-election-idUSKBN0KN0A220150114

[giftedgirl77]

1. Wow, just wow....

[dhill926]

2. sounds like a real charmer...

the hell is wrong with people?

[Blue_Tires]

7. Well, to be fair, turnouts for state races are always ridiclously low...

as an incumbent, all you have to do is make sure your people show up at the polls, and it's an automatic reelection...

[Arkansas Granny]

3. Unbelievable!

[Gothmog]

4. This is amazing

[monmouth4]

5. This says way too much about Virginia...n/t

[bluesbassman]

6. The party of "Family Values".

Just another prime example of IOKIYAR.

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

8. Except that Morrissey isn't a Republican ...

Rather, he had held that seat as a Democrat, was more or less forced to resign it, and then was elected in this special election, running as an "independent."

The 74th District in the Virginia House of Delegates is a gerrymandered district, and is approximately 60% black and 33% white.

[bluesbassman]

9. Whoops. Serves me right for making an assumption. Thanks for the correction.

Well at least he's no longer a Dem!

[MousePlayingDaffodil]

10. Yes, and ...

... I think the Virginia Democratic Party is pretty much appalled that Morrissey was successful in recapturing this seat. The Party deserves credit for that.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. Morrissey takes seat in House of Delegates

Morrissey takes seat in House of Delegates

Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 1:30 pm

BY MARKUS SCHMIDT Richmond Times-Dispatch
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Twitter: @MSchmidtRTD

Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, I-Henrico, has been sworn in for another term in the General Assembly which is beginning its 45-day session today.

Morrissey took his oath of office, as he wished, in his new office on the 7th floor at the General Assembly Building. He was sworn in by G. Paul Nardo, clerk of the House of Delegates, shortly before 11:30 and he took his seat in the House at 11:45.

He is sitting in the front row now, next to newly elected Del. Joseph Preston, D-Petersburg.

Morrissey, who is serving a jail term after his conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, won a special election for the seat Tuesday night, defeating Democrat Kevin Sullivan and Republican Matt Walton.

Del. Joe Morrissey, I-Henrico, left, at his seat in the House of Delegates at the State Capitol in Richmond, VA Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. Morrissey, a former Democrat, resigned his House seat, then ran and won as an indipendent. Bob Brown, Times-Dispatch