2011 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney election

The 2011 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney election was held on November 8, 2015, to elect the Commonwealth's Attorney of Henrico County, Virginia, concurrently with elections to the Senate of Virginia and Virginia House of Delegates. Incumbent Republican Commonwealth's Attorney Wade A. Kizer announced that he would be retiring from the position, making it an open contest.[1] Republicans Matthew Geary and Bill Janis[lower-alpha 1] and Democrat Shannon Taylor all ran for Attorney, with Taylor beating both in the general election.[2]

2011 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney election
November 8, 2011 (2011-11-08)
 
Candidate Shannon Taylor Bill Janis[lower-alpha 1] Matthew Geary
Party Democratic Independent Republican
Popular vote 25,975 21,540 9,045
Percentage 45.85% 38.02% 15.97%
Precinct results

Taylor:
     40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Janis:
     30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Previous Attorney

Wade A. Kizer
Republican

 Attorney

Shannon Taylor
Democratic

Background

Republican attorney Wade A. Kizer, who had been in office since 2000, announced his candidacy for the next term in 2009, while attorney Matthew Geary went against him for the Republican primary.[3] Geary won an against Kizer in the Republican primary, with many Republicans against the endorsement. In 2010, Kizer announced that he would not be running for another term and that he would retire from the office.[4] On August 11, 2011, the same day as the 5.8 earthquake in Virginia, attorney Shannon Taylor announced her candidacy for the Commonwealth's Attorney.[5] Days after, Republican Bill Janis entered the race as an Independent politician, dropping his bid for another term for the Virginia House of Delegates.[6][7][8][9]

The Republican Party of Virginia started questioning Geary's leadership because of having an extramarital affair with another woman in the recent years, with Geary admitting to the affairs but saying that he had ended them. Even with Geary admitting his affairs, the Republican Party of Virginia withdrew their endorsement of Geary and to endorse Janis instead.[10][11][12] The Henrico County Executive Committee called Geary "an angry and volatile candidate," with one of his consultants, Amanda Chase, leaving the campaign.[13][14]

Republican primary

Declared
  • Matthew Geary, prosecutor and former Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Richmond (2006–2009)

Withdrew
  • Wade A. Kizer, incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney[4]

Endorsements
Matthew Geary

Democratic primary

Endorsements
List of political endorsements

Other parties

Endorsements
List of political endorsements

Results

Taylor won the election with 45.85% of the total vote, with Janis coming second with 38.02% and Geary at last with 15.97%. Her win made her the first woman to become the Commonwealth's Attorney, with it also being the first time a Democrat had been in power since 1987.[5][19] Some attributed her win as a result of Geary and Janis splitting the Republican vote.[15][20]

In 2012, Janis was offered a job by governor Bob McDonnell in the Department of Veterans Services after weeks of speculation after his loss.[21][22]

2011 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Election[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shannon Taylor 25,975 45.85%
Independent Bill Janis 21,540 38.02%
Republican Matthew Geary 9,045 15.97%

References
  1. "Kizer will not run for re-election in Henrico". Richmond Times-Dispatch. PressReader. December 1, 2010.
  2. "INTERVIEW: Three-way race for the Commonwealth's Attorney". WWBT. October 20, 2011.
  3. "Geary to challenge Kizer for Henrico prosecutor". Virginia Lawyers Weekly. September 16, 2009.
  4. McKelway, Bill (August 6, 2011). "Kizer won't seek re-election as Henrico prosecutor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  5. McKelway, Bill; Martz, Michael (November 10, 2011). "Henrico elections strengthened shift in political balance". Richmond Times-Dispatch.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. McKelway, Bill (August 17, 2011). "UPDATE: Janis begins independent bid for Henrico prosecutor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  7. McKellway, Bill (August 18, 2011). "Janis enters Henrico prosecutor's race against Geary, drops House bid". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  8. Kumar, Anita (August 17, 2011). "Janis will not seek re-election in November; will run for prosecutor job". The Washington Times.
  9. Odor, Ken (August 12, 2011). "Del. Janis to run for Commonwealth's Attorney in Henrico". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  10. "Virginia's top Republicans removed from party". The Washington Times. October 14, 2011.
  11. "Some Thoughts on Matthew Geary". Blue Virginia. January 30, 2012.
  12. "Bill Janis is not qualified to be a Commonwealth's Attorney". Blue Virginia. September 4, 2011.
  13. "Consultant leaves Matt Geary campaign". WWBT. August 15, 2011.
  14. "Henrico GOP reveals details of heated meeting that ousted Geary". WWBT. August 16, 2011.
  15. White, Tom (May 19, 2015). "Meet the People Who Lost Their Jobs When Bill Janis Betrayed the Republican Party and Elected a Democrat". Virginia Right.
  16. Monfort, Ashley (August 30, 2013). "Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney addresses political ties to Morrissey". WWBT.
  17. Maclauchlan, Shawn (November 19, 2013). "Henrico Commonwealth Attorney releases statement in Morrissey case". WWBT.
  18. Hester, Wesley P. (September 2, 2011). "Bolling, Cuccinelli endorse Janis for Henrico prosecutor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  19. Sinclair, Melissa Scott (November 15, 2011). "The Taylor Plan". Style Weekly.
  20. "In upset, Taylor wins Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney race". WWBT. November 9, 2011.
  21. Rodriguez, Sarah (January 6, 2012). "Whatever happened to Bill Janis?". Virginia Lawers Weekl.
  22. Kumar, Anita (January 6, 2012). "McDonnell offers Janis, defeated in a November election, a job". The Washington Times.
  23. "Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney". The Virginia Public Access Project.
  1. Janis is a Republican who ran as an Independent politician against Geary.
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