NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A court has so far not scheduled a hearing for a Virginia House candidate who asked it to declare her the winner of a race that may determine party control in the chamber.
Cheryl Penny is chief deputy clerk for Newport News Circuit Court. She said Wednesday that scheduling a hearing would take time if the three-judge panel calls for one. Two judges live in other parts of the state.
Democrat Shelly Simonds has asked the court to reconsider last week’s decision to tie the race between her and Republican incumbent David Yancey. The outcome would either help Republicans maintain control of the chamber or force a power-sharing agreement with Democrats.
If the court declines to intervene, the state elections board will determine the winner by drawing names from a bowl.
If Simonds losing the drawing, she should ask for a recount.
If Simonds wins the Coin Toss they’d probably toss it out, claiming it was unfair to decide the seat like that and look for more questionable ballots they can submit in Republicans favor.
Regardless of who wins this ridiculous drawing a recount will be called for. Unless the Republican legislature that appointed these Republican judges huddles and rushes through a law favorable to the Republican candidate.
Not sure why it should take a long time to hold an emergency hearing. It was reported yesterday that the case was being filed (and was widely anticipated even before that), and it was filed as soon as the courts opened this morning.
The article says that the judges live in different parts of the state, but, but so what?
Get your butt in a car or on a plane or whatever and get together and do your job.
They will have to check the stage coach schedule. This is Virginia, not like a modern part of the country, like Kentucky.