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  • Democrat Scott Miles is a Virginia native. Miles received an undergraduate degree from William & Mary. He received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and has practiced law for 22 years in Virginia. Due to a special election, Miles is currently the Commonwealth's Attorney for Chesterfield County. Miles was previously an active-duty Army at Fort Bragg, NC, and served in combat during Desert Storm in Iraq and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

    Miles is a current member of the Greater Richmond Criminal Bar Association, the Chesterfield Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Criminal Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. He was previously the President of the Greater Richmond Bar Association, and currently serves as counsel for the membership of the Richmond Coalition of Police.

    Miles has run his campaign on criminal justice reform. He wants to reduce the use of cash bail, which has proven to be an unjust tactic of the justice system. Cash bail and pretrial detention essentially incarcerate lower income residents. While awaiting trial, before any sentences or verdicts have been made, the accused can be mandated to sit in jail prior to their hearing if they are unable to pay their bail. He recognizes that the ability to pay bail does not correlate to how dangerous you are. After winning the special election, Miles stated that as an alternative, he would have non-violent offenders agree to return to their court date in writing. Miles wants to end the War on Drugs, acknowledging that treating addiction like a crime affects families and a person’s ability to be successful in the future. He has committed to prosecuting drug related offenses as misdemeanors. Miles has stated that he does not want federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents near courtrooms because they intimidate immigrants in a way that can obstruct justice. Miles also wants to implement more treatment programs within county jails to lower the chances of recidivism. He also wants to appoint prosecutors to support the elderly who have fallen victim to crime.
     

    Stacey Davenport, Miles’ Republican opponent, has worked as a prosecutor, a public defender, and a defense attorney. She has voiced her opposition to the decriminalization of marijuana, stating that the law should not change until the legislature makes marijuana a legal substance, thereby ignoring the racial and socio-economic disparities in arrests and sentencing. Davenport has received financial support from right-wing conservatives including the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Kirk Cox.


    Miles is the more progressive choice for this race.

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    Scott Miles

    Democrat Scott Miles is a Virginia native. Miles received an undergraduate degree from William & Mary. He received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and has practiced law for 22 years in Virginia.

    Democrat Scott Miles is a Virginia native. Miles received an undergraduate degree from William & Mary. He received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and has practiced law for 22 years in Virginia. Due to a special election, Miles is currently the Commonwealth's Attorney for Chesterfield County. Miles was previously an active-duty Army at Fort Bragg, NC, and served in combat during Desert Storm in Iraq and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

    Miles is a current member of the Greater Richmond Criminal Bar Association, the Chesterfield Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Criminal Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. He was previously the President of the Greater Richmond Bar Association, and currently serves as counsel for the membership of the Richmond Coalition of Police.

    Miles has run his campaign on criminal justice reform. He wants to reduce the use of cash bail, which has proven to be an unjust tactic of the justice system. Cash bail and pretrial detention essentially incarcerate lower income residents. While awaiting trial, before any sentences or verdicts have been made, the accused can be mandated to sit in jail prior to their hearing if they are unable to pay their bail. He recognizes that the ability to pay bail does not correlate to how dangerous you are. After winning the special election, Miles stated that as an alternative, he would have non-violent offenders agree to return to their court date in writing. Miles wants to end the War on Drugs, acknowledging that treating addiction like a crime affects families and a person’s ability to be successful in the future. He has committed to prosecuting drug related offenses as misdemeanors. Miles has stated that he does not want federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents near courtrooms because they intimidate immigrants in a way that can obstruct justice. Miles also wants to implement more treatment programs within county jails to lower the chances of recidivism. He also wants to appoint prosecutors to support the elderly who have fallen victim to crime.
     

    Stacey Davenport, Miles’ Republican opponent, has worked as a prosecutor, a public defender, and a defense attorney. She has voiced her opposition to the decriminalization of marijuana, stating that the law should not change until the legislature makes marijuana a legal substance, thereby ignoring the racial and socio-economic disparities in arrests and sentencing. Davenport has received financial support from right-wing conservatives including the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Kirk Cox.


    Miles is the more progressive choice for this race.

    Scott Miles

    Democrat Scott Miles is a Virginia native. Miles received an undergraduate degree from William & Mary. He received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and has practiced law for 22 years in Virginia.

  • Democratic candidate Michael Jackson holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina Central University. He has served as a certified fraud examiner for the last 10 years. He currently lives in Chesterfield with his family. He has volunteered for the Special Olympics, as a Little League coach, and as an education advocate. He also is a servant leader in his church.

    Jackson was appointed to the Chesterfield Planning Commission in 2016 and elected chairman earlier this year. Jackson sees predatory lending as an important challenge in Chesterfield County. He has also prioritized transparency and financial literacy.He will strive to increase customer service foster a relationship that is built on reliability and fairness.

    His opponent is Republican Rebecca Longnaker. Though she is running as an Independent, she has been endorsed by the current Treasurer, who is a proud Republican. Longnaker’s platform does not say anything about equity or community building, nor does she address the need for transparency.

    Jackson is the more progressive choice in this race.

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    Michael Jackson

    Democratic candidate Michael Jackson holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina Central University. He has served as a certified fraud examiner for the last 10 years. He currently lives in Chesterfield with his family.

    Democratic candidate Michael Jackson holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina Central University. He has served as a certified fraud examiner for the last 10 years. He currently lives in Chesterfield with his family. He has volunteered for the Special Olympics, as a Little League coach, and as an education advocate. He also is a servant leader in his church.

    Jackson was appointed to the Chesterfield Planning Commission in 2016 and elected chairman earlier this year. Jackson sees predatory lending as an important challenge in Chesterfield County. He has also prioritized transparency and financial literacy.He will strive to increase customer service foster a relationship that is built on reliability and fairness.

    His opponent is Republican Rebecca Longnaker. Though she is running as an Independent, she has been endorsed by the current Treasurer, who is a proud Republican. Longnaker’s platform does not say anything about equity or community building, nor does she address the need for transparency.

    Jackson is the more progressive choice in this race.

    Michael Jackson

    Democratic candidate Michael Jackson holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina Central University. He has served as a certified fraud examiner for the last 10 years. He currently lives in Chesterfield with his family.

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below county races on your ballot.

  • Democrat Debra Gardner has lived in Chesterfield for the past 30 years. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in social work from North Carolina Central University. She was previously an adjunct Professor and taught graduate courses in Executive Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.

    Gardner’s board memberships show that she is invested in the community. Through her time in Virginia, she has served on the board of Smart Beginnings, The Virginia Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee, The Virginia Substance Abuse Services Council, and The Commonwealth Domestic Violence Prevention Response Advisory Board.

    Gardner is focused on improving the quality and safety of our public schools. She is in favor of environmental protections for the Swift Creek Reservoir. Gardner believes in equal opportunity for social and economic growth for all Virginians.

    Republican Chris Winslow has been on the Clover Hill Board of Supervisors since 2016. His website is under construction, but his social media shows that he is supportive of tax breaks for commercial properties.

    Democrat Debra Gardner is the more progressive choice for this race.

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    Debra Gardner

    Democrat Debra Gardner has lived in Chesterfield for the past 30 years. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in social work from North Carolina Central University.

    Democrat Debra Gardner has lived in Chesterfield for the past 30 years. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in social work from North Carolina Central University. She was previously an adjunct Professor and taught graduate courses in Executive Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University.

    Gardner’s board memberships show that she is invested in the community. Through her time in Virginia, she has served on the board of Smart Beginnings, The Virginia Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee, The Virginia Substance Abuse Services Council, and The Commonwealth Domestic Violence Prevention Response Advisory Board.

    Gardner is focused on improving the quality and safety of our public schools. She is in favor of environmental protections for the Swift Creek Reservoir. Gardner believes in equal opportunity for social and economic growth for all Virginians.

    Republican Chris Winslow has been on the Clover Hill Board of Supervisors since 2016. His website is under construction, but his social media shows that he is supportive of tax breaks for commercial properties.

    Democrat Debra Gardner is the more progressive choice for this race.

    Debra Gardner

    Democrat Debra Gardner has lived in Chesterfield for the past 30 years. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in social work from North Carolina Central University.

  • Arika Phillips currently lives in Chesterfield County. She received a career studies certificate in Early Childhood Education from John Tyler Community College, a bachelor's degree in Community-Based Education from Virginia Union University, and a master's degree from the University of Richmond in Nonprofit Studies. During college, Phillips was inducted into the International Educators Honors Society, Kappa Delta Phi.

    Phillips was a licensed childcare provider and participated in the Virginia Star Rating Program. She also participated in the Virginia Alliance of Family Child Care Association, National Association for Early Childhood Programs, and the National Association for Family Child Care. Phillips also served on the board of Childcare Connection of Richmond and Vicinities. Phillips has 5 children in Chesterfield County Public Schools. She is a member of the PTA and serves as a substitute teacher for Chesterfield County Public Schools.

    Philips lists recruiting and retaining trauma-informed faculty as a top priority. She also wants to expand access to early education and the collaboration of the community and school board. She is concerned about school safety while also wanting to prioritize approaches that don’t contribute to the school to prison pipeline.


    Justin Smith is the opponent to Phillips and Heffron. He currently lives in Chesterfield with his family and has been endorsed by the Chesterfield Republican Party. Smith lacks a stance around equity and ensuring that students have the support they need regardless of differences. He does not speak candidly about wanting to raise teacher pay.

    Philips and Heffron are both solid progressive choices on the ballot.

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    Arika Phillips currently lives in Chesterfield County. She received a career studies certificate in Early Childhood Education from John Tyler Community College, a bachelor's degree in Community-Based Education from Virginia Union University, and a master's degree from the University of Richmond in Nonprofit Studies. During college, Phillips was inducted into the International Educators Honors Society, Kappa Delta Phi.

    Phillips was a licensed childcare provider and participated in the Virginia Star Rating Program. She also participated in the Virginia Alliance of Family Child Care Association, National Association for Early Childhood Programs, and the National Association for Family Child Care. Phillips also served on the board of Childcare Connection of Richmond and Vicinities. Phillips has 5 children in Chesterfield County Public Schools. She is a member of the PTA and serves as a substitute teacher for Chesterfield County Public Schools.

    Philips lists recruiting and retaining trauma-informed faculty as a top priority. She also wants to expand access to early education and the collaboration of the community and school board. She is concerned about school safety while also wanting to prioritize approaches that don’t contribute to the school to prison pipeline.


    Justin Smith is the opponent to Phillips and Heffron. He currently lives in Chesterfield with his family and has been endorsed by the Chesterfield Republican Party. Smith lacks a stance around equity and ensuring that students have the support they need regardless of differences. He does not speak candidly about wanting to raise teacher pay.

    Philips and Heffron are both solid progressive choices on the ballot.

  • After growing up in Chesterfield County Schools, Dot Heffron taught 7th grade English at Providence Middle School. She is a member of the parent teacher association (PTA) for three different schools. Previously, she served as an English language tutor for several years. She is also an appointed member and chair of the Chesterfield County Special Education Advisory Committee. Heffron currently has three children in Chesterfield County Public Schools.

    Heffron lists equity and ensuring that all students feel comfortable as priorities for her. Transportation is another barrier to access, and she wants to fix the shortage of bus drivers if she is elected. Heffron lists equity as one of her priorities, stating that every student has a right to an education. She is concerned about school safety and wants to ensure School Resource Officers are trained in trauma-informed care and de-escalation strategies. She has been endorsed by the Chesterfield Democratic Committee.

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    Dorothy Heffron

    After growing up in Chesterfield County Schools, Dot Heffron taught 7th grade English at Providence Middle School. She is a member of the parent teacher association (PTA) for three different schools. Previously, she served as an English language tutor for several years.

    After growing up in Chesterfield County Schools, Dot Heffron taught 7th grade English at Providence Middle School. She is a member of the parent teacher association (PTA) for three different schools. Previously, she served as an English language tutor for several years. She is also an appointed member and chair of the Chesterfield County Special Education Advisory Committee. Heffron currently has three children in Chesterfield County Public Schools.

    Heffron lists equity and ensuring that all students feel comfortable as priorities for her. Transportation is another barrier to access, and she wants to fix the shortage of bus drivers if she is elected. Heffron lists equity as one of her priorities, stating that every student has a right to an education. She is concerned about school safety and wants to ensure School Resource Officers are trained in trauma-informed care and de-escalation strategies. She has been endorsed by the Chesterfield Democratic Committee.

    Dorothy Heffron

    After growing up in Chesterfield County Schools, Dot Heffron taught 7th grade English at Providence Middle School. She is a member of the parent teacher association (PTA) for three different schools. Previously, she served as an English language tutor for several years.