VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — An effort to enshrine the city’s 10-1 voting system in the city charter failed on Tuesday by coming up shy of the three-fourths majority needed to pass it.
The vote was 7-4, with Mayor Bobby Dyer and Councilmembers Michael Berlucchi, Barbara Henley and Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson voting against it. However, because changes to the city charter require 75% of the council members to be in support, the motion failed because it needed nine votes to move forward.
Had it passed, the city would have formally requested the General Assembly to approve the charter change in its upcoming session this January. The change has been attempted before, passing the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate but being vetoed by the governor due to a pending lawsuit.
Before the vote, Mayor Bobby Dyer told 13News Now, "As long as it’s under litigation, the governor will not sign it, and that’s what I was told."
The 10-1 system was adopted in 2022. It splits the city into 10 districts, each of which elects a single representative. There is also an at-large mayor elected, for a total of 11 seats on the City Council.
This system differs from the previous 7-3-1 system, which had seven districts with a representative, three at-large seats, and an at-large mayor.
Supporters of the 10-1 system say it more accurately illustrates the principle of “one person, one vote.” They also say it gives more people a chance to run to represent their community, increasing diversity and reducing the influence of special interests.
Virginia Beach NAACP President Eric Majette spoke to 13News Now Wednesday. He said the failed vote was a disappointment. "The citizen voices were not heard," he said. "Heard, but not heard."
“This system is a system where all voices are heard, regardless of who you are,” said Georgia Allen, who spoke during Tuesday’s meeting. She was one of nearly a dozen speakers on the topic, most of whom were in support of the change.
Detractors say it goes against the city’s charter – and there is a lawsuit against allowing 10-1 to move forward.
District 2 Representative Barbara Henley also spoke to 13News Now Wednesday. After voting against the change, she said, "A voting system is extremely important, and if you’re going to do a major change to your voting system, there needs to be a voter referendum."
Dyer said he was in favor of the former system and had concerns that there is “ambiguity out there right now” with the lawsuit pending.
“It’s really an emotional thing to a lot of people,” he said Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, several state legislators -- Sen. Aaron Rouse, Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, Del. Alex Askew and Del. Michael Feggans -- released a letter suggesting they will bring up the issue in the 2025 General Assembly session.
Below is the letter in full:
To the Virginia Beach City Council and Virginia Beach Residents,
As members of the General Assembly representing Virginia Beach, we write this letter to express our disappointment with the recent Virginia Beach City Council decision to halt the recommendation of the 10-1 district voting system into the legislative agenda for 2025 by a vote of 7-4. This system, overwhelmingly supported by 81% of residents, was designed to promote fair representation by ensuring each district elects a single council member, with only the mayor elected at large. Such a structure embodies the principles of “one person, one vote” and enhances the diversity of voices within our council.
The 10-1 system, adopted in response to previous findings of racially polarized voting, is a step forward in protecting the voting strength of underrepresented communities. It has already demonstrated its value in promoting inclusiveness and equity, with the 2022 election ushering in Virginia Beach’s most diverse City Council in its history.
Although this measure did not pass the required three-fourths majority in the recent council vote, we remain committed to advancing it. We plan to reintroduce the 10-1 system in the General Assembly’s 2025 session to continue advocating for our residents’ clear preferences and to fulfill our shared vision of an equitable electoral system in Virginia Beach.
Sincerely,
Senator Aaron Rouse Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler
Senate District 22 House District 96
Delegate Alex Askew Delegate Michael Feggans
House District 95 House District 97