We’ve made it to the end of April! I trust you enjoyed the Easter holiday and this outstanding spring weather. Before we know it, the summer heat will be here.
Earlier this month, the General Assembly met in Richmond for its constitutionally-mandated Reconvene Session. I covered this during a special e-newsletter sent a few weeks ago. In case you missed it, you can view my thoughts here. The Governor’s deadline for final action on all legislation–including the state budget–is Friday at midnight.
Like March, the month of April was a bit quiet. That will change very soon. Starting in May, boards and commissions will begin meeting and handling bills that were referred during the regular session for additional study. I’ll be sure to update you on that work at the appropriate time.
I hope you continue to find these monthly updates helpful and informative. As always, let me know if you have any questions.
Primary Elections
Every year is election year in Virginia, and 2025 is no different.
With only one candidate properly filed for each office, Republicans will not have a primary this year. The nominees are: Winsome Earle-Sears for Governor, John Reid for Lieutenant Governor, and Jason Miyares for Attorney General.
Democrats will have a primary for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Abigail Spanberger is the Democratic nominee for Governor.
Early voting begins Friday, May 2nd and runs through Saturday, June 14th. Primary Day is Tuesday, June 17th.
Here’s where you can vote early:
- Chesterfield: Central Library, 7051 Lucy Corr Blvd, 9am to 5pm
- Additional satellite locations are not available during primary elections
- Colonial Heights: Registrar’s Office at City Hall, 201 James Ave, 9am to 5pm
For the record, I do not encourage Republicans to vote in Democratic primaries or vice versa.
Constituent Services
I want to remind you that my office is here to assist you with problems you may face with your state government. My team regularly assists with issues involving the DMV and Tax Department.
I am also glad to help recognize outstanding achievements for individuals living in the 74th district. Know someone with a milestone birthday or anniversary, or who is receiving a well-deserved award? Let me know and I’ll be more than glad to join in the celebration.
If you have a problem and you’re not sure if it is a state or federal issue, feel free to reach out. I’ll be glad to point you in the right direction if it isn’t something my office can fix.
You can easily contact my office by email at DelMCherry@house.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 946-1221.
Zoning Ordinance Modernization (ZOMod) Project
Chesterfield County is in the process of updating its zoning process. The original zoning ordinances were adopted in the 70s, with numerous amendments made in the 90s.
The County is currently conducting a series of open house events to introduce the proposal to residents. I had the chance to attend an open house at Matoaca Middle and learn more about the plan. I’ll admit that it’s rather complicated and I still have plenty of questions, but I appreciate county staff for their time and explanation of the proposal.
What’s the timeline look like on this project? The planning commission is expected to vote on the ZOMod plan later this summer. If the proposal is adopted by the planning commission, the full Board of Supervisors will consider it late summer or early fall.
If you would like to learn more about ZOMod, click here.
In the News
Here’s just a few recent news articles that you may find interesting:
- Progress-Index: Independence for Richard Bland College gets final push across legislative finish line
- Cardinal News: Chase falls short; Earle-Sears declared Republican nominee for governor, setting up fall campaign against Spanberger
- WTVR: How you can help create a safe haven for human trafficking survivors in Central Virginia
As always, it remains an honor to represent you in the Virginia House of Delegates. If I can be of assistance with a state-related matter, please let me know. I stand ready to assist you in any way possible.
Sincerely,
Mike Cherry