No discussion of indictment at council meeting
Business as usual in Chesapeake despite felony charge
CHESAPEAKE — A week after City Council member Amanda Newins was charged with a felony, business went on as usual at Tuesday’s meeting.
Newins, elected in November, was indicted last week by a grand jury on a felony charge of financially exploiting a vulnerable adult. She also faces a lawsuit filed by her great aunt, who alleges Newins stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in property and cash.
The elder abuse lawsuit was filed less than two months before Election Day and caused a rift in the city’s political landscape. Many local Republicans rallied around Newins — a Republican, local lawyer and former city prosecutor. But about a dozen prominent Chesapeake Republicans announced they would not support her candidacy.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, attended by only a dozen or so, no mention was made of the new criminal charges.
Before and after the meeting, Newins avoided media. Her attorney, Kristin Paulding, previously said Newins plans to fight the charges and looks forward to the time when she can “finally tell her story.”
From the dais, Newins recused herself from a couple of votes regarding a general obligation bond up to $11.5 million for the Virginian Public School Authority, noting that she had a client who may benefit from the bond sale.
When council later voted on a series of requests from the fire department to apply for various grants, Newins disclosed her husband is a firefighter but that the city attorney’s office assured she could vote on such matters since it would benefit the entire department.
Newins later asked City Manager Chris Price to provide the council with proposals and information about how to potentially bring back curbside recycling services. Price said that discussion is slated for the spring, adding he plans to provide a variety of different options regarding recycling and waste management in general.
Interim City Attorney Catherine Lindley has told The Virginian-Pilot that Newins can continue to serve while the criminal case plays out.
Citing Virginia code, Lindley said any change in a member’s status would only follow a potential conviction. And if so, Newins would immediately be suspended by the Virginia State Bar and required to appear at a hearing before its board, according to the bar’s professional guidelines.
Council members Don Carey and Robert Ike were among the several Republicans who revoked their support of Newins after the lawsuit was filed. They have avoided public comment on the criminal case. But several council members defended Newins and continue to do, including Mayor Rick West and Vice Mayor John de Triquet.
In a Facebook post March 8, West said Chesapeake residents understand “only one side” of what he called “mere accusations.” At Tuesday’s meeting, West said he stands by the statements.
“They will wait to hear her side before making judgments,” West said in his Facebook post. “If we ever allow mere allegations to affect how we govern we will have abandoned our democratic principles.”
In response to one commenter asking how long the public has to wait to hear Newins’ side, West said “she is a very strong young lady and she is so confident of her innocence. She also understands the sources of these false allegations.”
De Triquet also reiterated his support, saying he’s not a judge or jury.