oh, Richmond. you really love your crooks and creeps.

http://www.richmond.com/news/local/central-virginia/charles-city/article_a9102796-ca6f-5eb0-b3eb-967881e4ca50.html



Del. Joseph D. Morrissey on Tuesday won a special election to keep his seat in the 74th House of Delegates district, making him the first jailed lawmaker in modern Virginia history to win reelection.

On the eve of the General Assembly session, Speaker of the House William J. Howell, R-Stafford and House Democratic leaders said they still find Morrissey's conduct unacceptable and will explore all options to oust him from the legislature.

Morrissey, the Democrat-turned-independent, defeated Democrat Kevin Sullivan and Republican Matt Walton in spite of Morrissey's ongoing legal woes and controversy over his conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

With all 33 precincts reporting, Morrissey had 42.26 percent of the tally, to Sullivan's 33.37 percent, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. Walton trailed with 24.13 percent of the vote.

Morrissey, who did not issue a statement after his victory, learned the results from behind bars at the Henrico County Jail East, where he has access to a pay phone and a television in the group room.

The lawmaker was sentenced in December to six months in jail after entering an Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was allowed to campaign at daytime under a work release order, but had to report back to jail by 8 p.m. Tuesday, said Henrico County Sheriff Mike Wade.

Morrissey arrived at the jail seven minutes after his curfew, but Wade said there will be no consequences. “We’ve never taken anybody off of work release for being seven minutes late,” he said.

“This is a victory for the ages,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor for political science at the University of Mary Washington.

“Rarely has a politician with as many problems emerged victorious. For a man who has more baggage than Amtrak to win speaks volumes for his ability to connect with the district despite all of his liabilities.”

About 53,000 registered voters live in the majority-minority district that includes parts of Richmond, Henrico County and all of Charles City County. A total of 6,720 cast ballots in the special election.