Rundown of Tuesday’s primaries

Pop quiz, hotshot: do you know which primaries take place tomorrow?

June 9, 2014; 7:19 AM • by Nathan Cushing

Is there one with national significance?

Yes, and it’s the Republican primary for US House of Representatives 7th District (PDF). It’s held by incumbent Eric Cantor, who has represented the district since 2001. David Brat is challenging him tomorrow for the chance to take on the running Democrat, as well as Mike Dickinson and Libertarian James Carr in the general election.

Any primaries that are more local?

Yup. Three Democrats are running for Clerk of Court in the city of Richmond (PDF).

The incumbent is Edward Jewett, who has served in the Clerk’s office since 1985 and became Clerk at the end of 2013 when the Hon. Bevill M. Dean retired.

He will be challenged by Scott Bailey and Melvin Lorenzo Todd.

What does a Clerk of Court actually do?

The Clerk, elected to an eight-year term, has the authority to probate wills, grant administration estates, and appoint guardians. But mostly the Clerk handles the administrative matters for the Circuit Court, the trial court with the broadest powers in Virginia.

From Virginia’s Judicial System:

The circuit court handles all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000. It shares authority with the general district court to hear matters involving claims between $4,500 and $25,000. The circuit court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called felonies.

The circuit court also handles family matters, including divorce. In addition, the circuit court hears cases appealed from the general district court and from the juvenile and domestic relations district court.

June 9, 2014 7:19 AM · in East End Daily, Fan of the Fan, and more 3