Virginia Beach picks former City Council member to represent Lynnhaven District
A former City Council member is back in City Hall after a 6-4 vote in his favor Tuesday night. The City Council selected Linwood Branch to serve in the Lynnhaven District.
Councilman Jim Wood vacated the seat abruptly Sept. 1 due to the demands of a new job, he said.
Fourteen people originally applied for the position. The council narrowed the list to four last week.
Branch, 66, will fill the seat until an election next November. Several people spoke in favor of Branch, including former Mayor Will Sessoms. Several others asked the council not to pick Branch because of his ties to the resort area. Branch owns Days Inn at the Beach.
The City Council deliberated in a closed session Tuesday after hearing from the public.
Council members John Moss, Aaron Rouse, Guy Tower and Sabrina Wooten voted for Richard Maddox, another former council member.
“I will not concede that we have made the best choice,” Moss said after the vote. He then walked out of the council chambers when the mayor invited Branch to speak.
Branch thanked the council members who voted for him and said for those who didn’t, “I’m going to earn your respect and support also, I hope.”
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
