The disposition of Republican Senator Christie New Craig in the 2023 race for Virginia’s 19th Senate District was clouded with controversy following allegations around her residential status. It appeared that her opponents, including two Republican challengers and one aspiring Democrat, didn’t stumble upon any convincing facts to refute New Craig’s claim of being a District 19 inhabitant. However, the recent media spotlight on New Craig’s cryptic residency unleashed varying reactions amongst her erstwhile contenders. Republicans exhibited an air of indifference, ‘believing nothing tangible could transpire’. Their Democrat counterpart, a fading political newbie who had tasted defeat against New Craig, clamored for deeper probes into the issue.
Unfolding developments reveal the political greenhorn, Myra Payne, regretting the lack of substantial probes into the matter at the time of election; her personal constraints inhibited her from independently digging into New Craig’s domicile mystery. Tim Anderson, New Craig’s fellow Republican and a primary opponent, claimed his efforts to expose New Craig came up short. He conceded he had no usable evidence against New Craig, who had been immersed in this contentious backdrop. Anderson remarked on the long-standing allegations around New Craig, citing his team’s inability to ascertain or extract any proof against her claims.
For the 19th District race, encompassing parts of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, New Craig had included her address falling within the 600 block of Valor Court, Chesapeake, asserting it as her place of occupancy. Interestingly, the property fell within the precincts of District 19. However, the property lease information painted a different picture; it omitted New Craig’s name from the list of tenants for the four-bedroom house. According to claims by the property owners, New Craig was not one of their lessees nor were they made privy to her use of the address.
The plot thickens as the individuals related to the property were themselves linked to New Craig’s campaign. The house was rented to Barbara Sgueglia, New Craig’s election filing listed campaign treasurer and her current chief of staff. New Craig maintained silence on using the Valor Court address and offered no documents supporting her residency there.
Regulations in Virginia insist candidates to be at least one-year residents of the districts they aim to represent. A maze around New Craig’s residential status was raised by Anderson’s team. As part of their primary election strategy, they frequently checked the Valor Court property to catch a probable glimpse of New Craig herself or something suggestive of her residence there. Despite harboring intentions to exploit any findings, Anderson confirms they couldn’t gather anything substantial.
Another contender in the primary race was local business magnate, Jeff Bruzzesi. He voiced trouble accepting New Craig’s not residing within the district during her run. Emphasizing the fact that any scrutiny worth note would have been surfaced before, Bruzzesi appears nonchalant over the current turn of events. Anderson, with a successful history in House District 83 in 2021, had to vacate his seat due to redistricting conflicts with fellow Republican Rob Bloxom.
Plans are afoot for Anderson to seek election to House District 97, a domain dominated by Michael Feggans, a Democrat who ousted Republican Karen Greenhalgh in 2023. Anderson, as of now, resides in Virginia Beach’s Bow Creek area since his house purchase in August.
Payne confessed that local Democrats had prompted her during the campaign to probe into New Craig’s real residential status. Though, she professed being resource-deprived to initiate an independent investigation. She felt that the support she received from local Democratic parties was inadequate and sought their help in unraveling the mystery.
When Payne voiced her doubts to higher authorities, she was guided to seek legal and investigatory help, involving monetary spendings she could not afford. As a result, she resisted raising it as an election issue. Spokesperson from the Virginia Department of Elections iterated the candidate’s obligation of providing accurate filing information. They suggest any objection or allegation of election law violation be tackled with local commonwealth’s attorney’s office involvement.
However, Virginia code spells a severe penalty, in the form of a Class 5 felony, for any intentional false material statement related to election matters. Payne’s plea seems to have found some resonance, as there have since been queries to the state Senate about addressing plausible actions.
But matters of investigation lie beyond the purview of the party. The party’s stance urges for a proper investigation by relevant authorities and promises to respond appropriately based on the investigation outcomes. Anderson, on his part, cast doubts on any significant measures that could possibly be undertaken.
Adding a touch of cynicism, he cited a 2023 legal challenge destined for state Senator Ghazala Hashmi on similar residency concerns. A judge dismissed the case, ruling that Hashmi managed to establish a domicile at the rented apartment she used for running in District 15, despite maintaining her long-standing family home elsewhere.
Regarding New Craig, Anderson expressed, her not being a leaseholder doesn’t necessarily signify her absence from the residence. Unless there is concrete evidence against New Craig’s residence there, mere non-existence on the lease agreement does not justify any action against her.