Heretick loses city council seat

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Incumbent Steve Heretick lost his seat in the Portsmouth City Council Tuesday evening, while an incumbent, a newcomer and a former member filled three council seats.

As of Wednesday morning, with 97 percent of precincts reporting, Curtis Edmonds, Sr., Danny Meeks and Elizabeth Psimas were elected to city council, receiving 25 percent, 24 percent and 20 percent of the vote, respectively.

Heretick, who was first voted onto council in 2004 then again in 2008, placed fourth overall with 18 percent of the vote. Meeks had not been in office previously, while Psimas and Edmonds had previously served on council.

Psimas, along with Paul Smith, had filed to be on the city's ballot before June 12, the day state and local officials claimed was the actual deadline. However, a city charter change last year made the date one week earlier, without notifying anyone.

Psimas and Smith fought hard to stay on the ballot and were officially included in July.

"One of the things that the Virginia Constitution provides is you cannot make special rules with regards to elections for different cities," Psimas told WAVY.com last summer. "A rule is a rule is a rule, and you cannot deny someone the right to run for office or the right to vote."

Linda Ridenour had served on the Portsmouth Public School board and placed fifth with 14 percent of the vote.

The election came within weeks of the resignations of City Manager Ken Chandler and former Fire Chief Don Horton from his newest position with the city.