Candidate announces for Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue

UPDATE: See press release below.

According to several sources, Evans Poston announced last evening his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Commissioner of the Revenue. I am told that Poston has the support of all members of the Norfolk City Council except one, as well as most of the other constitutional officers and members of the state legislature.

Poston, who will be 32 in December, works in business development, in the marine and logistics division of USI. He holds an MPA from Old Dominion University and is married with two children.

The current Commissioner of the Revenue was elected as a Democrat, but has fallen out of favor with the party and the public in recent years due to numerous issues. Unless the party kicks her out (again), she, as the current office holder, will have the opportunity to chose the method of nomination (which, by the way, I think is absolute BS). In the past, a choice of a firehouse primary may have helped her to win renomination but now that others know how to play the game – as evidenced by Daun Hester’s win in the 89th firehouse primary – that avenue may be closed.

She could, of course, follow in the footsteps of her nemesis/BFF (depending on the day), treasurer Tom Moss, and run as an independent.

Regardless, I think her days are numbered.

The election will be held in November 2013.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I’ve known Evans’ father for years and I sit on a board with his mother.

UPDATE: Here is the press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 14, 2012

LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER AND NORFOLK NATIVE ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR NORFOLK CITY COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE

Poston plans campaign focused on transparency, consistancy, and professionalism.

Norfolk - Touting his strong ties to the community, Norfolk native Evans Poston announced tonight that he is seeking the Democratic nomination to become Norfolk’s next Norfolk Commissioner of Revenue.

Poston made public his plans at a monthly meeting of the Norfolk City Democratic Committee.

“For many years, there has been a leadership void in the office of the Commissioner of Revenue,” Poston said.  “I’m running to restore faith in this position. Norfolk deserves a commissioner who can forge and maintain healthy, working relationships with the business community, has sound judgment, and who will restore the public’s trust and be good stewards of the public’s money.

“What I will not do is run to maintain the status quo, which is not the message anyone wants to hear,” he said.

A Norfolk native, Poston graduated from Maury High School and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the College of William and Mary and Old Dominion University.   He is a licensed insurance broker working in Norfolk.

Poston is already recognized as a leader, having been voted among the Top 40 Under 40 by Inside Business.  He’s a member of Norfolk’s Environmental Commission and the Norfolk Crime Line Board.  Poston is married and the father of two young children.

“In the coming months, I look forward to sharing my vision for an efficient, well-run Commissioner of Revenue’s office with the citizens of Norfolk,” said Poston.

Poston also released a list of supporters who are backing his bid for the Democratic nomination.   They include:

Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, Vice-mayor Anthony Burfoot, City Councilman Paul Riddick, City Councilman Barclay Winn, City Councilman Andy Protogyrou, City Councilman Tommy Smigiel, Senator Ralph Northam, Sheriff Robert J. McCabe, City Treasurer Thomas W. Moss Jr., Clerk of the Circuit George Schaefer, 89^th House of Delegates nominee Daun Hester, Former Delegate Paula Miller