The race for three seats on the Charlottesville City Council has officially begun now that two people have filed candidacy papers with the city registrar’s office.
Educator Wes Bellamy is making his second run for the Democratic nomination while Belmont resident Lena Seville is exploring a possible run.
The seats currently occupied by Councilors Kathy Galvin, Satyendra Huja and Dede Smith are all up for re-election this year. None of the three have announced their election plans yet.
In Charlottesville, candidates must file a statement of organization, a certificate of qualification, a declaration of candidacy and a statement of economic interests. They also must eventually submit a petition with the names of 125 registered city voters.
Seville has so far only filed the statement of organization and the qualification certificate. Bellamy has only filed the organizational statement, which lists the campaign’s financial institution.
“Candidates with activity in regard to the June primary or November General Election have their first campaign finance report due on April 15,” said Dianne Gilliland, the acting city registrar.
Neither is considered an official candidate until they have submitted both a declaration of candidacy and the petitions. Both Bellamy and Seville indicated in their paperwork that they would run as Democrats.
Candidates seeking a party nomination must submit their paperwork to their party chair no later than March 26.
Charlottesville Democrats will select their three candidates in a primary election June 9, according to co-chairwoman Erin Monaghan.
Charlottesville Republicans could not be reached for comment, but Gilliland said they are undecided whether they will choose a caucus or a primary for their candidate selections.
Seville is a member of several citizen committees including the Transit Riders Association and the Charlottesville Tree Commission. In an interview, she said she is exploring if there is support for a possible candidacy.
Bellamy is an Albemarle High School teacher and the founder of Helping Young People Evolve. He placed third in the June 2013 Democratic primary after initially tying with Bob Fenwick. After provisional ballots were counted, Fenwick edged Bellamy by only five votes and went on win in the general election.
Bellamy is from Atlanta and moved to the area initially to take a job at the National Ground Intelligence Center. He was unavailable for comment Thursday.
The Charlottesville School Board seats held by Colette Blount, Amy Laufer, Jennifer McKeever, and Willa Neale also are up for election. None have announced their plans, and the race is non-partisan.
Three Albemarle County supervisor seats are also up for election this year. The Rivanna District seat is open because Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd has opted not to seek a fourth term.
Ann H. Mallek’s seat in the White Hall District also is up for re-election and she has not yet announced her plans.
Jane Dittmar has not said whether she will seek a full four-year term. She was elected in November 2013 to fill the unexpired term of former Supervisor Christopher J. Dumler.
“We will likely nominate our candidates via a mass meeting in April or May,” said Richard Brewer, chair of the Albemarle County Democratic Committee.
The Albemarle County School Board seats held by Ned Gallaway, Barbara Massie Mouly, Steve Koleszar and Jason Buyaki will also be up for election. Koleszar announced Thursday he would seek a sixth term.
