Va. Legislative Black Caucus member wins Dem nomination for state Senate
7/22/2016, 1:15 a.m.
Chesapeake Delegate Lionell Spruill Sr. appears to be on his way to the state Senate.
The 22-year General Assembly veteran easily won the Democratic Party nomination Saturday in a “firehouse” primary that was called to find a replacement for Sen. Kenneth C. Alexander, who left the General Assembly after winning the May election for mayor of Norfolk. He assumed the office July 1.
A member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, Delegate Spruill, 69, beat another member of the VLBC, Delegate Joseph C. “Joe” Lindsey, 56, of Norfolk, to gain the nomination that is tantamount to election in the 5th Senate District, which includes most of Chesapeake and part of Norfolk.
So far, Delegate Spruill will be unopposed in the special election that will be held Nov. 8, along with the general election. Should he win, he would serve the remainder of the Senate term until early January 2020.
Delegate Spruill served five years on the Chesapeake City Council before being elected for the first time to the House of Delegates in 1994. He represents the 77th House District, which includes portions of Chesapeake and Suffolk.
