Henrico County Democrats will need to pick a new leader to help them navigate the political waters heading into a competitive special election that will decide whether the Board of Supervisors tilts to the left or right.
On Monday night, Marques Jones announced his plans to step down as the chairman of the Henrico Democratic Committee, the organization that helps Democrats get elected and recruits candidates at the county level.
Jones said he is stepping down to focus on his campaign in 2019 to replace state Sen. Siobhan S. Dunnavant, R-Henrico, to represent voters in Senate District 12, which includes Henrico’s western end and parts of Hanover County.
Jones was elected chairman of the committee in December and previously served as vice chairman.
“Dunnavant is going to be a very formidable opponent,” Jones said in an interview. “It’s going to take a little bit of extra effort, and I need the time.”
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Jones said the Henrico Democratic Committee, which has about 200 members, will eventually vote on a new leader. Jones said he expects that other Democrats will challenge him for the shot to take on Dunnavant.
Jones said he won’t officially step down as chairman until Henrico Democrats pick a nominee to run for the Brookland seat on Henrico’s Board of Supervisors.
The Brookland seat will be up for grabs in a special election on Nov. 6 after Courtney Lynch resigned seven months after being sworn in.
The Brookland seat is being temporarily held by Harvey Hinson, a former deputy county manager who was also the interim appointment after Richard W. “Dick” Glover died.
So far, two Democrats have announced their hopes to seek the Brookland seat: Justin House, a pastor of a Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chesterfield County, and Danny Plaugher, the executive director of Virginians for High Speed Rail.
The pair gave dueling comments at the Henrico Democrats’ regular committee meeting Monday night.
Jones said the filing deadline for the Brookland seat is July 24 and that if more than one Democrat officially files, the Henrico Democratic Committee would likely hold a nominating event in August.