Mayoral elections in Chesapeake, Virginia

Elections are currently held every four years to elect the mayor of Chesapeake, Virginia.

2004

2004 Chesapeake mayoral election

← 2000 May 4, 2004 (2004-05-04) 2008 →

Candidate William Ward W. Joe Newman James Walz Party Independent Independent Independent Popular vote 13,633 12,505 252 Percentage 51.40% 47.15% 0.95%

Mayor before election William Ward Independent Elected mayor William Ward Independent

The 2004 Chesapeake mayoral election was held on May 4, 2004. It saw the reelection of the incumbent mayor William E. Ward.

Election results ^[1]

Candidate		Votes	%
William Ward		13,633	51.40
W. Joe		12,505	47.15
James Walz		252	0.95
Others		134	0.50
Total votes		26,524	100

2008

2008 Chesapeake mayoral election

← 2004 May 6, 2008 (2008-05-06) 2012 →

Candidate Alan Krasnoff Rebecca Adams Party Independent Independent Popular vote 12,546 10,886 Percentage 53.46% 46.38%

Mayor before election Dalton Edge Independent Elected mayor Alan Krasnoff Independent

The 2008 Chesapeake mayoral election was held on May 6, 2008. It saw the election of Alan Krasnoff, a member of the city council. ^[2]

Election results ^[3]

Candidate		Votes	%
Alan Krasnoff		12,546	53.46
Rebecca Adams		10,886	46.38
Others		38	0.16
Total votes		23,470	100

2012

2012 Chesapeake mayoral election

← 2008 May 1, 2012 (2012-05-01) 2016 →

Candidate Alan Krasnoff Burnie Mansfield Jr. Harrietta Gibbons Party Independent Independent Independent Popular vote 12,578 3,327 935 Percentage 74.27% 19.64% 5.52%

Mayor before election Alan Krasnoff Independent Elected mayor Alan Krasnoff Independent

The 2012 Chesapeake mayoral election was held on May 1, 2012. The incumbent mayor Alan Krasnoff won a second term to his mayoral office. ^[4]

Election results ^[5]

Candidate		Votes	%
Alan Krasnoff		12,578	74.27
Burnie Mansfield		3,327	19.64
Harrietta Gibbons		935	5.52
Others		97	0.57
Total votes		16,937	100

2016

The 2016 Chesapeake mayoral election was held on May 3, 2016. The incumbent mayor Alan Krasnoff won by default due to the lack of opposing candidates. ^[6]

2018

2018 Chesapeake special mayoral election

← 2016 May 1, 2018 (2018-05-01) 2020 →

Candidate Richard West Jo Anne Gallant Party Independent Independent Popular vote 13,342 9,630 Percentage 57.81% 41.72%

Mayor before election Alan Krasnoff Independent Elected mayor Richard West Independent

On the municipal election of Chesapeake in November 2017, the incumbent mayor Alan Krasnoff ran for and won the election was the Chesapeake City Clerk of Court. Since Krasnoff left the post of mayor on November 14, Richard West, a city council member, became the acting mayor. ^[7] A special mayoral election was held on May 1, 2018. It saw the election of the acting mayor Richard West. ^[8]

Election results ^[9]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard West		13,342	57.81
Jo Anne Gallant		9,630	41.72
Others		109	0.47
Total votes		23,081	100

2020

2020 Chesapeake mayoral election

← 2018 May 19, 2020 (2020-05-19) 2024 →

Candidate Richard West Lenard Myers II Party Independent Independent Popular vote 21,888 9,087 Percentage 65.94% 27.38%   Candidate Steffanie Aubuchon Palmer Smith Party Independent Independent Popular vote 1,386 641 Percentage 4.18% 1.93%

Mayor before election Richard West Independent Elected mayor Richard West Independent

The 2020 Chesapeake mayoral election was held on May 19, 2020. It saw the reelection of the incumbent mayor Richard West. ^[10]

Election results ^[11]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard West		21,888	65.99
Lenard Myers II		9,087	27.39
Steffanie Aubuchon		1,386	4.18
Palmer Smith		641	1.93
Write-in		169	0.51
Total votes		33,171	100

List of mayors

The following served as mayors of Chesapeake:

• Colon L. Hall, 1963 ^[12]
• Howard R. McPherson, 1963-1965 ^[12]
• G.A. Treakle, 1965-1970 ^[12]
• William S Overton, 1970-1972 ^[12]
• Marian P. Whitehurst, 1972-1980 ^[12]
• Sidney M. Oman, 1980-1984, 1986-1988 ^[12]
• J. Bennie Jennings, 1984-1986 ^[12]
• David I. Wynne, 1988-1990 ^[12]
• William E Ward, 1990-2004 ^{[12] [13]} First African-American mayor
• Dalton S Edge, 2004-2008 ^[12]
• Alan P. Krasnoff, 2008-2017 ^[12]
• Rick West, 2017-present ^[14]

See also

• Chesapeake history

References

1. "2004 Mayor Special General Election Chesapeake City". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
2. "Krasnoff wins mayor's race in Chesapeake". The Virginian-Pilot. May 7, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
3. "2008 Mayor Special General Election Chesapeake City". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
4. "Krasnoff re-elected Chesapeake mayor; council gets Ike". The Virginian-Pilot. May 2, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
5. "2012 Mayor Special General Election Chesapeake City". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
6. "Chesapeake mayor, unopposed, wins third term". The Virginian-Pilot. May 3, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
7. "A shuffle at Chesapeake City Hall and one new, but familiar, face joins the City Council". The Virginian-Pilot. November 16, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
8. "Rick West will remain Chesapeake mayor after special election victory". The Virginian-Pilot. May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
9. "2018 Mayor Special General Election Chesapeake City". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
10. "Library staff steps up to assist with mail-in ballots". The Virginian-Pilot. May 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
11. "Commonwealth of Virginia Official Results, 2020 May City General". www.cityofchesapeake.net. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
12. "Former Mayors & Vice Mayors of Chesapeake", cityofchesapeake.net, retrieved July 17, 2024
13. "Meet Your City Council", cityofchesapeake.net, archived from the original on December 2, 2002 – via Wayback Machine
14. "City Council Members", cityofchesapeake.net, retrieved July 17, 2024