McClellan won’t seek reelection to Norfolk council
Norfolk City Councilwoman Andria McClellan announced Tuesday she won’t run again to represent one of the city’s two superwards.
McClellan, who was first elected to council in 2016, said it was a difficult decision. But in a public announcement she said she was proud of her work, such as co-authoring the city’s climate action plan and co-chairing of the mayor’s Commission on Social Equity and Economic Opportunity.
“I’ve had the opportunity to campaign for different positions over the last few years, which has been a lot of fun, and met a lot of new people, and recognizing where my family is and what other opportunities are out there, I decided to make this change,” she said in a Tuesday phone interview.
McClellan wanted to announce early enough that she wouldn’t run to allow those interested in running for office to come to a decision and make plans. McClellan said she also wanted to see out this weekend’s Engage Norfolk, an annual event she helped form, before making the news public.
“Honestly, the timing is because I want to be thoughtful of others who might want to enter the race and want to give them enough time to stand up an appropriate campaign and not wait until the last minute,” McClellan said.
This year’s city elections, held in November, include the mayor and superwards 6 and 7.
McClellan toppled incumbent Barclay Winn in 2016 to earn the Superward 6 seat, which covers the western and northernmost parts of the city.
While on the City Council McClellan ran unsuccessfully for higher office. Last year she lost the Democratic primary for state Senate District 21 to former city councilwoman Angelia Williams Graves. She also lost a primary election in 2021 for lieutenant governor.
McClellan ran unopposed in 2020 for Superward 6. After her term ends this year, McClellan said she plans to remain engaged with boards and other groups to pull for a better Norfolk.
“I hope that people will think of my tenure as a time when I was able to get more people interested and engaged in local government,” McClellan said Tuesday. “Because it really is a critical part of our lives and a lot of people overlook it.”