Cox, Morrissey criticize rush to judgment for the VMI superintendent
Two of Chesterfield’s state legislators reflected last week on the Nov. 9 special session.
State senators gathered at the Science Museum of Virginia while state representatives met virtually to consider amendments to bills proposed by Gov. Ralph Northam (D).
In an email to constituents, Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) said Northam had his chief of staff, Clark Mercer, call Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III to ask that he resign following claims of racism last month on the campus of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Peay resigned Oct. 26.
Cox said Northam failed to provide the same grace that he sought from others last year over a blackface controversy from when he was a student at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
“While I fully believe that the allegations should be examined, the language proposed by the governor failed to ensure any fairness in the investigation,” Cox said.
He said the $1 million for the investigation that was approved by the Legislature on Nov. 9 was “too high and circumvented the role of the (college’s) Board of Visitors.”
State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) said he agreed with Sen. Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) that Peay was denied due process.
“I don’t care what party you’re with … you do not deny people due process,” Morrissey said, noting that a similar situation happened last year when Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) was accused of sexual assault and rape by two women. Fairfax faced calls from numerous Democrats to resign, including the state’s Legislative Black Caucus and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).
“As an attorney, this bothers me to my core,” Morrissey said, referring to the rush to judgment against Peay. “I find it abhorrent when anyone is denied due process.”
However, Morrissey said he supports the $1 million for the investigation.
In regard to the budget, Morrissey said the Legislature approved $2 million for a road extension in Virginia Beach and $1 million for a hangar on the Eastern Shore.
Redistricting
Cox noted that Northam included technical amendments to the budget that will set in play the process to establish the redistricting commission that voters approved Nov. 3 by a vote of 65.9 percent to 34.1 percent.
“I’m anxious to get it underway,” Morrissey said. The state Senate and House will each appoint four members to the commission — eight total and four from each party — and nominate eight citizens who will be selected by five retired circuit court judges. The commission will redraw state Senate, state House and U.S. Congressional districts, on the 2020 census.
Cox said he has had several questions regarding the application process for individuals wishing to serve as citizen members of the commission. “That application process is still in the works, but is expected to be ready in the coming weeks,” Cox said.
Controversial bill amended
Cox noted that amendments to HB 5058/SB 5029, which was designed to prevent police from stopping vehicles for minor infractions, passed. “Two amendments were adopted that would strip out some of this problematic language, although law enforcement is still prohibited from stopping cars with defective equipment. Roads will be less safe. Having heard the concerns from many across the district regarding this bill, I voted against it,” Cox said.
The modified bill allows police to stop drivers for not having working brake lights or not having headlights on after dark. The bill prohibits officers from conducting a vehicle search solely based on smelling marijuana and from stopping a driver for excessive window tint, a loud muffler, or expired tags or inspection stickers if not more than three months delinquent.
Morrissey sponsored the Senate version of the bill and said he is against “pretext stops” by law enforcement.
Petersburg office
Morrissey noted that he is currently renovating a “170-year-old iconic house” at 111 S. Market St. in Petersburg for use as his Senate office. He expects that it will be open sometime in March.
