In their first bids for elected office, two City Council appointees will continue to serve after winning special races on Tuesday.
For the Beach District seat, Guy Tower beat at-large Councilwoman Rosemary Wilson and challenger Richard “R.K.” Kowalewitch, a construction contractor who ran unsuccessfully for the City Council last year.
The district includes the resort area to the east and extends west to Plaza and south to Corporate Landing.
“It really feels great to know that the voters have validated it,” Tower said. “I hope to be as accessible and transparent as possible.”
Tower, 78, a retired attorney and mediator, lives in Cavalier Shores. As a council member, he has participated in negotiations between the city and Venture Realty Group regarding the Dome site development at the Oceanfront.
Even though she lost, Wilson will still continue to serve as an at-large council member.
Wilson, 69, who lives in the resort area’s South End, decided to run for the Beach seat after the City Council appointed Tower in April. She said she wanted to bring stability to the district. Wilson works in real estate and has served on the City Council for 19 years.
The city charter doesn’t require council members to resign to run for a different seat. Tower, who had initially intended to not run, campaigned on the fact that a vote for him wouldn’t knock Wilson off the council.
Rose Hall
Councilman Michael Berlucchi, 39, defeated challenger C. Conrad Schesventer II, a hotel front desk worker, to represent the Rose Hall district, sandwiched between the Beach District and Kempsville, which borders Norfolk.
Berlucchi was appointed to the council in May to replace Shannon Kane, who resigned to move outside of the district and focus on running for the House of Delegates.
On election night, Berlucchi’s supporters gathered at the newest location of IL Giardino’s, an Italian restaurant on Virginia Beach Boulevard, to celebrate his victory.
“I was born and raised in Virginia Beach, and I never imagined in a million years that I would have the opportunity to serve our city,” he told the crowd.
Berlucchi works as a Community Engagement Manager for the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk. He is the former president of Hampton Roads Pride, an LGBT advocacy group, and previously served on the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission, a volunteer position.
Preventing flooding has been the top issue on the minds of Rose Hall residents since Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016.
On Tuesday night, Berlucchi said residents should not live in fear that their homes will flood.
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Virginia Beach City Council
Beach District
Richard W. “RK” Kowalewitch, 20,526
Rosemary A. Wilson, 46,269
Guy K. Tower*, 48,775
*-incumbent
100 of 101 precincts reporting
Rose Hall District
Michael Berlucchi, 77,899
C. Conrad Schesventer II, 24,005
100 of 101 precincts reporting
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Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
Alissa Skelton, 757-222-5155, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com
