An independent candidate in the 82nd House District has dropped out of the race. John O. Parmele, Jr., a seven-time candidate, withdrew from the race before anyone even knew he was in.
He did it because he didn’t want to pay a $100 fine for filing his candidate papers late.
Can’t blame the guy. After all, he only had $500 to start with.
Right now, that leaves only Democratic candidate Bob MacIver as the challenger to Republican incumbent Bob Purkey. Of course, that could change between now and the June 12th filing deadline.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Hello Vivian – The news release did not give all the reasons why I quit the race. As noted, I have done this 7 times before and THOUGHT I knew the process. The instructions have a single page that shows the forms required and the deadlines for each, those being 7 pm on June 12th. However, there is another, single page that states whenever money is received or spent the Statement of Organization – Candidate must be submitted within 10 days. In the past, this has never come up. On the day I received the forms from the local Board of Elections office, I spent 70 cents to make copies of the Petition of Qualified Voters which I needed to circulate to get my name on the ballot. That expenditure started the 10-day “clock” running, and I just didn’t realize it (in other words, I blew it). But as you probably know, the mindboggling instructions from the State BofE can drive a candidate crazy with back-and-forth, hide-and-seek paragraphs about what to do and what not to do. When I sent my “resignation” letter to the local and state BofE, I suggested that ALL the requirements be put on ONE or TWO pages in a nice checkoff format so the average citizen could file his papers in an orderly fashion and on time. I have 23 years administrative experience in the Navy, and a BSBA and MPA degree, and I should not have made the goof. But you can ask anyone who, like yourself, has had to navigate through those confusing instructions. I think they would respond that they are poorly written and not designed to make it easy for a candidate to upset the “good old boy network” in Richmond (and elsewhere). Thanks for your blog. John O. Parmele, Jr., 1316 Yawl Pt., Va. Beach, VA. 23454-2041. (former Independent candidate, 82nd District). P.S. – If they had let me pay the “fine” to the SPCA or another charitable organization, rather that to the State Treasury, perhaps I would have remained in the race. But as I told them, I pay enought in taxes to the local and state treasuries. Have a great day !!!
Vivian – I have a bad habit of not proofreading my work when I am pressed for time, as in the case above. After re-reading my comments, I noticed 2 typos in the P.S. section. The correct P.S. should read: If they ……….., rather THAN……….., them, I pay ENOUGH ……. (END OF CORRECTION). Things like that bother me so I just wanted to get it right. I enjoy your blog.
Vivian – Marc Davis, reporter for the V-P, did a follow-up on this issue based on a letter I received from the Governor’s office stating that the SBE agrees there may be confusion in the way the candidates instructions are laid out, and that they will look into my suggestion of consolidating and streamlining them in the future. The letter thanked me for my input. No word yet on my fine, which I have appealed since I am no longer a candidate. I am no longer in the race, but hope a revised set of instructions make it easier for those candidates who follow. The article appeared about a week ago in the V-P. John
John – thanks for keeping us informed on this. I do hope that they will abate your fine.