SUFFOLK, Va. - The Electoral Board unanimously voted Monday to remove Art Bredemeyer from appearing on the ballot in the Suffolk Borough City Council race this fall.
Dozens of people have come forward to say their signatures on petitions to qualify Bredemeyer as a candidate were forged.
All of the signatures in question were collected by the same campaign staffer, who said she lived at an address in Newport News.
Last week, News 3 went to the address in Newport News where the staffer swore she lived, but a woman at the home said she did not live there.
In an email to the registrar Monday morning, a State Police investigator said the staffer resides in Hampton and had not been associated with the Newport News address since May 2021.
Due to those issues, the Electoral Board voted 3-0 to disqualify Bredemeyer. He does have the right to appeal the decision to the State Board of Elections.
Bredemeyer was not in attendance during Monday's meeting, but News 3 spoke with him shortly afterward. He said he was not notified about the meeting ahead of time.
"I think it's a very unfair and improper process. I wish they had given me the courtesy to at least let me know there was a meeting occurring today," he said over the phone.
If Bredemeyer is not on the ballot, John Rector will be running for the seat unopposed. Rector did attend the hearing.
"I think it's a little bit of a sad day for politics in Suffolk. Voters deserve a choice and perhaps they should've been given a choice, but under the circumstances I don't think the board had any other choice, but to act in the way they did," said Rector.
The Electoral Board chairman said he's never heard of something like this happening in Suffolk. "I don't think the public likes seeing it, but I think they expect us to act," said Brent Rowlands.
Bredemeyer said he was meeting with his campaign manager on Monday afternoon to talk about potential next steps.
Later in the day, he released the following statement:
"Unbeknownst to me, the Suffolk Electoral Board posted an unusual public notice on their website this past Saturday for an immediate meeting regarding my candidacy to be held this morning, Monday, August 22, 2022. I was in no way informed of this meeting prior to the press alerting me after the meeting took place. While I am disappointed at the Board’s decision to remove me from the ballot. Also, I am concerned about the legality of the board’s decision making process.
Let me reiterate, this matter concerning the freelancer who collected alleged unauthorized signatures is still under investigation which I fully support. Currently, I am reviewing my options and I have no further comment at this time."
