Here we go again: RPV resurrects lawsuit in Emmett Hanger’s 24th Senate District

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Saturday’s State Central Committee meeting in Staunton had barely been called to order when a dispute arose about an added agenda item and the order in which it would be heard.

The 24th Senate District lawsuit that had seen a federal judge rule against the 24th Legislative District Committee (see 24th Senate District: Court upholds laws of Commonwealth, Hanger gets primary) was resurrected even though it was not originally on the official agenda that was sent out by Chairman John Whitbeck. It had been added in the week before the meeting, a matter that brought protests from some but they were overruled and the matter was added as the second item to be addressed.

Please note that the referenced “Incumbent Protection Act” is a made-up name by those pushing the lawsuit.

Here is the email that was sent to State Central Committee members outlining the background and desire by SCC to change the method that incumbent elected officials have for re-election:

Sheets drops out of 24th State Senate District race; 3 candidates left

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The 24th Senate District is now down to three candidates after Donald Sheets’ announcement that he was dropping out of the race, as reported by Brian Carlton with the News-Virginian (see Senate candidate drops out of race).

“As a lifetime resident of Mount Solon, I have always had a strong desire to serve my community,” Sheets said. “When I heard that Emmett Hanger and Marshall Pattie were probably not going to participate in the convention, I realized that I had a very good chance of beating Dan Moxley. Last week, the United States judicial system dismissed the lawsuit filed by Ken Adams, [so] the process of selecting a Republican nominee for State Senator in District 24 will now come from a June primary that I will not be running in.”

Sheets, who had not collected petitions for a primary run, was left high and dry after Judge Elizabeth Dillon dismissed the lawsuit brought by the 24th Senate District legislative committee that would require conventions instead of allowing incumbents to pick their method of nomination. In the case of Senator Emmett Hanger, that request is a primary.