When a panel of federal judges this year moved the southern boundary of Newport News’ 94th House of Delegates district north from 50th Street to James River Drive, two fierce political rivals faced this question: Move or stay?
The two, Newport News School Board member Shelly Simonds and Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, lived about four blocks apart, on either side of James River Drive. Simonds had tried twice to unseat Yancey, including the tied election of 2017, in which Yancey drew the lot from a bowl that sent him back to Richmond.
But with the new line, her home of the past dozen years was no longer in the 94th. And under the Virginia Constitution, you have to live in a district to represent it in the House of Delegates.
Meanwhile, in addition that the northward move of one boundary line to precincts on the far side of Warwick Boulevard in Denbigh, neighborhoods with lots of African Americans that had been part of the Southeast Community-anchored 95th district, represented by Del. Marcia “Cia” Price, D-Newport News. The aim of the court order changes was to reverse the illegal packing of African American voters in the 95th (with changes elsewhere aimed to doing the same in 10 other Hampton Roads and Richmond area districts.
The shift made district that had inclined Democratic — giving statewide and national candidates an 4.5 percentage point edge — to one that became very Democratic. In theory, it was district that would favor Democrats by about 18 percentage points.
Simonds decided to move. She’s renting her in-law’s home, not too far from Menchville High School. But her younger daughter is finishing up her senior year at Warwick High.
“To minimize impact on my daughter who is in her final year at Warwick High School, my husband and daughter continue to live at my old house on Oakland Drive,” Simonds said.
“I am very blessed to have such an understanding family.”
Yancey, who lives two doors down from his parents and the house he grew up in said he got plenty of advice he should move.
“Lots of people, politicians, friends, said” ‘Dave you should move, you should go to a safer district’ … I said: ‘No. My family’s here. This is my home, This is where I grew up. This is where I live, This is the district I want to represent,” he said.
He stayed.
Shad Plank is the Daily Press blog that tracks Virginia politics. It takes its name from the traditional Shad Planking political get-together, though hopefully it is tastier than the roasted fish featured at that Sussex County event. To contact Dave Ress with tips or questions, call 757-247-4535 or email dress@dailypress.com.
