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byline: Kate Andrews

Youngkin has 5-point lead in UMW governor’s race poll

In the most recent round of dueling gubernatorial poll results, Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin has a five-point lead among likely voters against Democrat Terry McAuliffe, Virginia’s former governor seeking a second, nonconsecutive term, according to a University of Mary Washington statewide survey conducted earlier this month.

In UMW’s poll of 1,000 Virginia adults conducted Sept. 7-13 by Research America Inc., Youngkin held 48% support of likely voters — 528 out of the total polled — against McAuliffe’s 43%. Third-party progressive candidate Princess Blanding had the support of 2% of likely voters, while others said they were undecided. The story changed among the 885 registered voters surveyed, with 46% favoring McAuliffe and 41% for Youngkin, followed by 2% for Blanding, who is running under the Liberation Party’s banner.

UMW called it a “tight contest,” with the differences between the two major-party candidates falling within margins of error, giving neither a clear lead. The margin of error for likely voters is 4.1%, while the margin for the total sample is 3.1%.

“To borrow from Mark Twain, the reports of the end of Virginia’s status as a swing state are greatly exaggerated,” Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, said in a statement. “The large number of undecided voters at this stage demonstrates that either major party candidate can become the next governor of Virginia.”

Liberation Party candidate Princess Blanding

Significantly for the gubernatorial race, UMW’s poll shows only three points difference between Youngkin and McAuliffe in Northern Virginia among likely voters — 48% to 45%, with the former governor ahead. However, Northern Virginia is considered a heavily blue region of the state that Democratic candidates usually carry easily.

Of three major nonpartisan polls taken the same time in Virginia, the contest definitely appears to be up for grabs. The Virginia Commonwealth University L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs reported Monday that McAuliffe has a nine-point lead over political newcomer Youngkin, as well as 23% of respondents saying they were undecided. The Washington Post-George Mason University poll released Saturday reported that McAuliffe led with 50% against Youngkin’s 47%.

UMW’s poll also showed down-ticket Republicans with narrow leads over Democrats among likely voters surveyed. Winsome Sears, the GOP candidate for lieutenant candidate, had 47% support over Democratic Del. Hala Ayala’s 41%, while Republican Del. Jason Miyares held 46% over Democratic incumbent Mark Herring’s 42% in the attorney general’s race. Those surveyed also expressed disapproval of the direction the country and the state are headed, with 48% saying they disapprove of President Joe Biden’s job performance and 44% approving of it.

“This is an electorate in a very foul mood,” Farnsworth said. “We shouldn’t be surprised. COVID has created the biggest health care and economic shocks to the world in decades, and we prematurely thought the crises were over. So it is no wonder that voters are expressing high levels of frustration.”

Early voting began last Friday and continues through Election Day on Nov. 2.

New jobless claims in Va. surge by 300%

After three weeks of declining unemployment claims statewide, the number of new claims shot up more than 300% last week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. At the same time, continued claims dropped by more than 3,000 for the filing week ending Sept. 18.

The VEC said in Thursday’s report that the end of federal benefits Sept. 4 could be behind the steep increase in new claims last week, which came after a 38% decrease the previous week. Initial claims totaled 15,962 last week, an increase of 12,140 from the week ending Sept. 11 — the nation’s second-highest increase, after California. Continued claims totaled 37,569 last week, down 3,055 from the previous week.

Initial claims were 50.8% higher last week than the 10,582 new claims filed the week of Sept. 19, 2020, and continued claims were 80% lower last week than the 188,195 continued claims this week last year. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

The majority of the claimants who filed for benefits last week reported being in these industries: health care and social assistance; administrative and waste services; retail; and accommodations/food service. The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. The city of Roanoke also saw a significant increase in new claims, from 43 the previous week to 269 during the Sept. 18 filing period.

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 351,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised level. There were 815,892 initial claims in the comparable week last year.

VCU poll shows McAuliffe with 9-point lead in governor’s race

A new statewide poll from Virginia Commonwealth University shows Democratic former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe with a nine-point lead over Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, a far different take than the much tighter race indicated by a Washington Post-George Mason University poll released Saturday.

VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs released its second Virginia gubernatorial poll results Monday, indicating that while McAuliffe has 43% of likely voters’ support and Youngkin only 34%, the attorney general and lieutenant governor races have gotten closer in the past month.

VCU’s August poll showed the two gubernatorial candidates in practically a dead heat, while Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring and lieutenant governor candidate Del. Hala Ayala held 10-point leads over their respective GOP opponents, Del. Jason Miyares and Winsome Sears.

“Our recent poll relative to the governor’s race and statewide elections showed interesting results,” former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said in a statement Monday. “Neither McAuliffe nor Youngkin had 50% support. The increase in the undecided and those unable to commit for either is noteworthy. The poll was taken prior to any debates. How the candidates show the people what they propose dealing with the pandemic and its effects are obvious concerns. The narrowing of the lead by the Democratic candidates in the lieutenant governor and attorney general races and increased ‘undecided’ shows ‘the jury’ may be out awhile longer.”

The poll of 811 adults in Virginia was conducted Sept. 7-15 with a margin of error of 5.35%, which increases to 6.93% when considering likely voters only. In the attorney general race, incumbent Herring has a six-point lead over Republican Miyares, 39% to 33%, and Ayala appears to have lost ground against Sears, with a 33% to 30% lead that falls within the margin of error. However, 20% of voters said they remain undecided or unwilling to vote for either lieutenant governor candidate.

It’s a similar story for the two major-party governor contenders; 23% of those polled said they are still undecided or are unwilling to vote for either candidate. A third-party candidate, Princess Blanding, is considered a possible spoiler for McAuliffe among progressive Democratic voters. Blanding — the sister of Virginia teacher Marcus-David Peters, who was killed by a Richmond police officer in 2018 — was not included in Thursday’s first gubernatorial debate, but according to a Youngkin campaign internal poll cited by FiveThirtyEight, her presence could help Youngkin beat McAuliffe.

A poll of 907 likely voters conducted Sept. 7-13 by The Washington Post and GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government showed McAuliffe with a much narrower lead, 50% over Youngkin’s 47% — within the margin of statistical error. Mark Rozell, the Schar School’s dean, called the race a “toss-up” in the Post.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s falling approval numbers may also hamper McAuliffe’s campaign for a second, nonconsecutive term. The Wilder School poll shows 46% of Virginians approving of the job the Democratic Biden is doing, down five points from August — likely influenced by factors such as the U.S. military’s turbulent exit from Afghanistan and increasing disagreements over the Biden administration’s coronavirus responses, including vaccine-or-testing mandates for companies employing 100 or more workers.

In state delegates’ races, Democrats maintained a slight edge over Republicans in the VCU poll, with 43% of respondents saying they’d like the party to retain control next year. Five percent were undecided, and 39% wanted Republicans to regain power in the House.  Democrats hold a 55-seat majority in the House of Delegates, and all 100 seats are up for grabs.

Virginia’s early voting period started Sept. 17, and Election Day is Nov. 2.

Va. Beach apartment complex goes for $28.1M

Arbor Trace Apartment Homes, a Virginia Beach complex in the Oceanfront area, has sold for $28,175,000 to Hill Property Partners LLC, S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. announced Monday.

The neighborhood at 624 Suhtai Court is made up of 148 two-bedroom units, which will receive upgraded flooring and new appliances and fixtures. The community also includes a dog park, pool and fitness center. Bill Overman, John Wessling and Paul Peck of Nusbaum represented the buyer, and the seller, Ginkgo Arbor Trace LLC, was represented by Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer in the Sept. 10 transaction.

Hill Property Partners is a private investment firm founded by managing partner Mitchel Hill, and it has owned and developed more than 10,000 multi-family units across the U.S. Its offices are based in New York City and Port Washington, New York.

“HPP is very excited to be entering the Hampton Roads market, with the purchase of Arbor Trace Apartment Homes,” Hill said in a statement. “HPP plans on enhancing an already established community and making it an even better place for our tenants to live. This purchase would not have been possible without the persistence and professionalism of the S.L. Nusbaum brokers, who helped us craft a deal that won out over nearly 20+ offers.” Nusbaum will continue to manage the property.

U.Va. Credit Union president and CEO to retire

Alison DeTuncq, who has served 22 years as president and CEO of the University of Virginia Community Credit Union in Charlottesville, plans to retire in May 2022, the institution announced this week.

She started her career at the credit union 32 years ago, and during her tenure as its leader, the credit union’s assets grew from $130 million to more than $1.3 billion. DeTuncq oversaw three charter expansions that increased membership to 20 counties and five cities, as well as increasing the number of branch offices to 18, and she was behind the credit union’s award-winning financial literacy program that expanded to other Virginia credit unions, as well as participating the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax preparation services. The credit union employs 250 people and has a membership of 70,000 individuals and businesses.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as the credit union’s chief executive officer and to be a part of the credit union movement,” she said in a statement. “I am most thankful to the great team I had the privilege to work with for so many years, from the dedicated volunteer board of directors and committee members, to the incredible staff who have been so committed to the success of our credit union.”

DeTuncq, who has served in several capacities with the Virginia Credit Union League and won its Eugene H. Farley Jr. Award of Excellence, is also president and CEO of the U.Va. Community Credit Union’s mortgage business, Member Options LLC, and serves on its board. She also was the first board chairman of VIZO Financial Corporate Credit Union after it was formed in a merger.

The U.Va. Community Credit Union’s board of directors has partnered with Shanley Search Partners to find DeTuncq’s successor.

Peraton appoints government and customer relations SVP

Mara Motherway joined Peraton Inc. in September as the Herndon-based federal contractor’s senior vice president of government and customer relations, a newly created position. She comes from Booz Allen Hamilton, where she served as vice president for government relations and military affairs.

Motherway reports to Mike King, Peraton’s executive vice president and chief growth officer, and is responsible for Peraton’s public policy and government affairs strategies, according to a news release from the company.

Earlier this year, Peraton completed both the $7.1 billion purchase of Chantilly federal IT contractor Perspecta Inc. and the $3.4 billion acquisition of Northrop Grumman Corp.’s federal IT and mission support services business, with the backing of Peraton parent company Veritas Capital, a New York-based private equity firm.

“Peraton has grown in 2021 to become our nation’s largest mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider,” Chairman, President and CEO Stu Shea said in a statement. “Having a strong government relations function under a proven leader will ensure Peraton continues to align its mission to the national security objectives of our policymakers. I’m excited to welcome Mara to the company at such a critical time. Her decades of experience in national security and track record of success in the government affairs arena will scale this capability and be a force multiplier for our business.”

Motherway also held military intelligence and defense business development roles at Booz Allen, and she was director of special projects for BAE Systems’ intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance business. She also was a U.S. Navy officer for more than two decades, including serving as aide to the chief of naval operations, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the National Defense University and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Va. unemployment rate drops to 4% in August

In August, the state’s unemployment rate was at 4%, a 0.2-point decline below July’s rate, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. The state’s unemployment rate has declined for 15 months straight, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August 2020, the state’s jobless rate was at 7%, 3 points higher than last month. Virginia continued to see an expansion of the labor force, with 5,550 people starting jobs last month, totaling 4.247 million statewide, and the number of unemployed Virginians decreased by 7,678 since July. The state also recorded over-the-year job gains of 2.2%. Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continues to be below the national rate, which was 5.2% last month.

“Virginia’s economic recovery continues to outpace the nation,” Northam said in a statement. “Our unemployment rate remains well below the national average and has fallen consistently every month for the past 15 months. More people are working and businesses are continuing to flock to our commonwealth — even with the ongoing threat of COVID-19. I’m proud of our roaring economic growth, and I look forward to seeing these trends continue.”

The number of employed Virginians increased by 13,228 to 4.07 million in August, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Friday. The private sector saw an increase of 1,500 jobs last month to 3.2 million jobs total, while public sector jobs grew by 9,000 to 704,500, marking the largest job gain last month in one sector, according to the VEC, after a 8,800 decline in July.

Employment rose in six of 11 major industry sectors, declined in four, and was unchanged in one, the VEC reported.

The second largest increase occurred in the miscellaneous sector (+4,600 jobs) to 185,500. Leisure and hospitality gained 2,300 jobs, rising to 347,500 in August. Other increases included finance, construction and manufacturing. The largest job loss during August occurred in trade and transportation with a decrease of 3,400 jobs to 653,400. The second largest decrease occurred in professional and business services (-2,600 jobs) to 773,100. Other decreases included education and health services, and information.

The VEC reported that five out of Virginia’s 10 metropolitan areas saw nonfarm job gains during August, with Northern Virginia gaining 3,700 jobs and Winchester ranking second with 5000 more jobs. The Richmond area lost 2,400 jobs during the month, the most in the state, followed by Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, which saw a 2,000-job decline.

After some increases in unemployment claims last month, statewide new jobless claims have decreased for the past three weeks.

Va. rolls out digital proof for vaccinations

The Virginia Department of Health has started adding scannable QR codes to COVID-19 vaccination records, digitizing the proof-of-vaccination process, the state announced Thursday.

VDH said QR codes available now cannot be altered or forged, and health information is available from the codes only if and when a person chooses to share it. Businesses or organizations can download a free verification app to scan codes.

Previously, people vaccinated in Virginia had to show paper cards when asked to provide proof of their vaccination status, but QR — short for “quick response” — codes commonly used in retail and logistics sectors let anyone to show proof of vaccination with a digital or printed code. Virginia is the fifth state in the nation to use the SMART Health format for QR codes. Starting Thursday, any person vaccinated in the state can visit vaccinate.virginia.gov to obtain their free vaccination record with QR code, which can then be saved to a phone gallery, printed on paper or stored in a compatible account, according to VDH.

Many employers and universities have required workers and students be vaccinated with few exceptions, and Gov. Ralph Northam mandated that the 122,000 state executive branch employees get vaccinated by Sept. 1 or be required to show proof of negative COVID tests weekly.

Similarly, President Joe Biden has ordered federal employees to be vaccinated or be tested weekly for the coronavirus, as well as a White House-mandated emergency rule requiring private sector businesses with 100 or more employees to make their workers get vaccinated or be tested regularly. Republican governors, however, have pushed back against the strategy, which would affect about 100 million Americans in total, and some have threatened to sue.

Virginia’s QR codes are available to anyone whose vaccination record includes a working phone number and is entered in the Virginia Immunization Information System, which tracks nearly all doses of the three vaccines administered in Virginia, with the exception of shots administered by certain federal agencies or Virginians who got vaccinated outside the state. Anyone whose record cannot be retrieved automatically can call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1) for assistance.

As of Thursday, 58% of Virginia’s population is fully vaccinated, and more than 10.2 million vaccine doses have been administered in the state. Everyone age 12 or older is eligible to be vaccinated.

 

Old Point Trust names new president and CEO

Hampton-based Old Point Trust & Financial Services has a new president and CEO, its parent company announced Thursday. A. Eric Kauders Jr., who led Bank of America’s $16 billion fiduciary business in three states, started his new job this week, succeeding Eugene M. Jordan II, now Old Point Financial Corp.’s general counsel and corporate secretary.

Jordan served as the trust’s president and CEO for 19 years, and he will continue to chair its board of directors, according to the news release. Kauders, a graduate of William & Mary and the University of Virginia School of Law, was previously an attorney with McGuireWoods, where he specialized in fiduciary, contract and bankruptcy matters. He serves on the Virginia Council on Economic Education board and the Virginia Bankers Association’s Trust and Wealth Management Committee.

“Eric’s wealth management acumen will be a great benefit to Old Point as we continue with the execution of our strategies for profitability and growth,” Old Point Financial Corp. Chairman, President & CEO Robert F. Shuford Jr. said in a statement Thursday. “I have the utmost confidence in his ability to help further Old Point Trust’s success while maintaining our dedication to unmatched local support and service.”

Old Point Trust is the largest wealth management firm based in Hampton Roads and is a subsidiary owned by Old Point Financial Corp., along with Old Point National Bank, which serves the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions.

 

Danville casino price tag now set at $500M

Danville’s forthcoming Caesars Virginia casino and resort is going to be bigger than expected, with the project expected to cost $500 million, $100 million more than previously estimated. Caesars Entertainment released new renderings and more details Thursday for the casino.

Part of the additional cost will go toward a larger hotel with 500 guestrooms, 200 more than initially proposed. The casino will include 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, an entertainment venue that can accommodate up to 2,500 people, 1,400 slot machines and table games, a World Series of Poker-branded live poker room plus new restaurants and bars. Groundbreaking is set for December, with opening expected in late 2023, and Caesars expects to produce 900 construction jobs and 1,300 permanent jobs after opening.

“Over the course of the last two years, myself, City Council and staff have taken great care to develop plans, alongside residents and Caesars Entertainment, to create a resort that will positively impact the community through new tax revenue, jobs, partnership opportunities with local businesses and tourism dollars,” Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones said in a statement Thursday. “We are confident that Caesars Virginia will honor the old Dan River Mills’ Schoolfield site and become a pillar of pride for Danville and its people.”

Danville is one of four Virginia cities with casinos in the works, after Virginia lawmakers approved commercial casinos in five economically challenged cities across the commonwealth in 2020. The other three cities with casinos approved by local voters are Bristol, Norfolk and Portsmouth, and Richmond voters will weigh in on a casino referendum on November’s ballot.

Earlier in the year, Danville City Council created a new zoning district for the Caesars Virginia casino, which is set to be built in an industrial zone in the Schoolfield neighborhood, allowing new rules governing building height and signage specific to Caesars’ plans.

“Caesars Virginia will be an economic driver for the region, both as a tourist and entertainment draw and through the more than a thousand good-paying jobs the resort will create,” Anthony Carano, Caesars Entertainment president and chief operating officer, said in a statement Thursday. “The people of Danville have entrusted us to build a world-class resort, and we look forward to proving that trust was well founded with an incredible resort worthy of the iconic Caesars brand.”