The Senate’s 3rd District was drawn into a Rorschach-worthy shape that needs little interpretation. It is a Republican safe haven, and it has remained so for more than two decades.
The district held by Senate Majority Leader Thomas “Tommy” K. Norment since 1992 begins in King & Queen County and stretches south to include Poquoson, Yorktown, as well as slivers of Hampton and Surry. Political acrobatics split the district in Williamsburg, meaning it misses Democratic-leaning populations near the College of William & Mary and all of Newport News.
Despite a clear disadvantage, Democratic challenger Herb Jones Jr. is campaigning this year to unseat Sen. Norment.
Mr. Jones, an Iraq War veteran former New Kent County treasurer, believes he can ride a blue wave of candidates trying to capture a majority in the Senate and House of Delegates, giving the party control of the Governor’s Office and the legislature.
He will need to overcome the Senate majority leader to do so.
During a late September interview, Sen. Norment, 73, was guarded about the topic of retirement, although it’s clearly on his mind.
The senator’s answers were guarded through much of the interview. And rightfully so. He knows any information that slips out could become breaking news across Virginia. That’s because he pulls levers and holds keys that few legislators will ever access.
Sen. Norment offered philosophical answers (rather than specific details) to questions about potential legislation involving guns, casinos and the budget.
The senator saw the July special legislative session called by Gov. Ralph Northam to address gun violence as a waste. He will wait for a report on gun control from the Virginia State Crime Commission before coming to any legislative decisions.
Sen. Norment wants to continue incrementally decriminalizing marijuana use and possession although that shift does not include legalizing the drug.
He says he is agnostic about gambling and casinos. However, any money taxed from those facilities should be earmarked for specific purposes – he hasn’t narrowed down what that might be – rather than placing the revenue in the state’s general fund.
This campaign season, Sen. Norment holds a commanding lead when it comes to the grease that lubricates election gears – money.
His campaign last reported holding nearly $1.1 million on Sept. 30, compared to Mr. Jones’ $34,803. Virginia campaign finance rules allow Sen. Norment to divvy his campaign account balance to other candidates as he sees fit. So there’s hope that residents in the 3rd District will not be forced to bare the advertisements that $1.1 million can buy.
Virginia Dental Association, Altria and the Virginia wine and beer wholesalers associations are some of the largest contributors to the senator’s campaign.
Mr. Jones believes Sen. Norment’s business relationships and the donations he receives are all signs the senator has become too cozy with special interests.
The 61-year-old has been active in local Democratic politics for several years. He describes is his initial decision to volunteer to run for the 3rd District seat as an “out of body experience” during a Williamsburg Indivisible Group meeting.
Mr. Jones said he is unhappy with how long it took Virginia to expand Medicaid, saying the commonwealth declined to accept a pile of federal aid by delaying expansion.
“We’re not being represented in the 3rd District,” he said.
Mr. Jones is not happy about the senator’s efforts to create a tourism tax changed in the city of Williamsburg as well as York and James City counties. The democratic candidate said he doubts he would have to leverage to repeal the legislation that created the tax, although he is disappointed in the lack of transparency that surrounded the bill when it was first introduced.
Mr. Jones sees the deal Virginia struck with Amazon for a new headquarters as a good decision, but he wishes the state would invest more in technology jobs in cities such as Danville, Petersburg and Roanoke.
As for gambling, Mr. Jones wants Colonial Downs, in New Kent, to be successful, but he doesn’t see a need for casinos to dot Old Dominion’s landscape. He believes one should be built in the western part of the state and one in the east.
The district’s next senator will be a key to ensuring the expansion of Interstate 64 between Richmond and Hampton Roads is completed. New Kent County is one of the fastest growing localities in all of Virginia, and it will take responsible leadership to ensure it reaches its fullest potential.
More information about Sen. Norment’s bid for re-election and Mr. Jones can be found on their campaign websites: senatornorment.com and herbjonesforvirginia.com.
And make sure you vote on Nov. 5. More information about the voting process is located at elections.virginia.gov.
