In Virginia, Commonwealth’s Attorneys — known as district attorneys in other states — are elected for four-year terms and are in charge of prosecuting criminal and traffic offenses. Kemper M. Beasley, III is running unopposed for Commonwealth’s Attorney of Buckingham County.
Beasley is the incumbent. He was appointed in 2021 and won a special election in 2022. Beasley was the only candidate certified by the Virginia Department of Elections this spring, though voters can write in other candidates’ names if they choose.
Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire based on over 200 responses we received to a voter survey. The candidate answered these questions by email in August.
Can you explain what the job of Commonwealth’s Attorney is and why you are running?
Kemper M. Beasley, III: The Commonwealth’s Attorney represents the state and county in criminal cases that appear in his jurisdiction. The role requires the individual to work with law enforcement, victims, and court personnel to ensure fair and just court proceedings. I am running for the position to serve Buckingham County in this role and work towards keeping the community safe and fair.
What are the biggest challenges facing the office?
Beasley: The challenges of the office are helping victims through the emotions and difficulties of court proceedings along with weighing punitive measures versus rehabilitative measures when dealing with defendants.
Do you have any certifications or qualifications for this position that you want voters to know about?
Beasley: I received my juris doctorate from Liberty Law. I also received a degree in history from Hampden-Sydney College and a masters of theological studies from Duke University.
What is your philosophy about prosecuting crimes?
Beasley: My philosophy on prosecuting crimes is to consider each case individually and determine the proper steps to ensure justice for the victim and community and pursue resolutions that weigh punitive and restorative outcomes.
More about Buckingham County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney
- Beasley’s campaign contributions from Virginia Public Access Project
- NBC News reported on baseless voter fraud allegations in Buckingham County and quoted Beasley saying he found fraud
- Beasley spoke with the Farmville Herald when he won a special election in 2022
- Beasley wrote two columns for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, one about the value of jury trials and another about the right to tell your story in court
As you get ready to vote, here are some key dates and links from the Virginia Department of Elections:
- Sept. 22: First day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office.
- Oct. 16: Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration. You can also register after this date, and on election day, but you will vote with a provisional ballot, could take longer for officials to count because they will verify your eligibility.
- Oct. 27: Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Your request must be received by your local registrar by 5:00 p.m.
- Oct. 28: Voter registration offices open for early voting.
- Nov. 4: The last day of in-person early voting at your registrar.
- Nov. 7: Election Day
Need to know if you’re eligible to vote? Here are resources from the Virginia Department of Elections.
