Hampton councilwoman enters bid for city treasurer
Nov. races begin for constitutional officers
HAMPTON — Two decades ago was the last time there was a contested Democratic primary for Hampton treasurer. For the sheriff ’s office, the last time was in 2013.
This year, that will change. At least two people, including one City Council member, will seek the Democratic Party nomination for treasurer, and three people are seeking the party’s nomination for sheriff in the June 8 primary, according to Jim Avery, co-chair of the Hampton Democratic Party.
The deadline for filing required paperwork and petitions to run in the Democratic primary was Thursday. Virginian Republicans plan to hold a convention on May 8 to select their candidates. June 8 also is the filing deadline with the state election board for all candidates from other parties seeking to run in the general election held Nov. 2.
Councilwoman Chris Snead, who won her third council term last May, seeks the party nod for treasurer. She will face Tammy Ishmael, a former naval auditor.
Snead, 65, has worked in city government for 34 years, 15 of those as its budget director. Ishmael, 51, is a Hampton native, has worked in financial management for 25 years, with nearly nine years as an audit director for the Navy.
Interim Sheriff Karen Bowden will face challenges from Curtis Cooper and John Perkins. Bowden, 61, the city’s first female lead sheriff, was the former
undersheriff sworn in December after longtime sheriff B.J. Roberts died before his retirement. If she wins the primary, Bowden will run in a special election. This is Bowden’s first time running for elected office.
Cooper, 58, has served nearly four decades with the Hampton Police Division. This will be his third run for the sheriff ’s job, having unsuccessful runs in 2009 and 2013. Perkins, 65, also is a longtime Hampton police officer, now retired, and works part-time in the sheriff ’s office as a deputy.
Other Hampton seats up for reelection are Commissioner of Revenue, currently held by Ross A. Mugler and the city’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, Anton A. Bell. Neither have Democratic challengers.
Bell, 50, a career prosecutor, has served since 2012, gaining the seat after winning in the primary and later during the special election for the unexpired seat of Linda Curtis, a longtime prosecutor and former councilwoman. Bell also ran successfully in 2013 and 2017. Mugler, 59, has been in his job since 1992, making him Hampton’s longest serving constitutional officer.
Hampton treasurer Molly Ward is not seeking a third term. Ward, a Democrat, first served as treasurer from 2002 to 2008, winning the primary in a crowded race with six candidates. Later, Ward became Hampton Mayor, serving for two terms, while the deputy treasurer Robert Williams, a former police commander, was sworn in.
Ward returned in 2017 running unopposed after serving roles in both federal and state governments, including as the Secretary of Natural Resources during former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s administration.