RICHMOND, Va. -- Embattled State Delegate Joe Morrissey (I - 74th House District) is running for a seat in the Virginia State Senate. Morrissey confirmed his plans to WTVR CBS 6 political reporter Joe St. George Saturday afternoon while collecting signatures outside the Farm Fresh Market in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom. Morrissey said he planned to run for the Virginia State Senate seat currently occupied by Virginia State Senator Rosalyn Dance (D - 16th Senate District).
Morrissey's announcement is the latest piece in a puzzle involving some well known Central Virginia political names. Last week former Richmond Mayor Leonidas Young announced he would seek Morrissey's current seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Young, who served time in prison, made the announcement from Morrissey's Henrico law office.
Morrissey is now back in Virginia after he spent time in Georgia for the birth of the child at the center of his recent arrest and conviction.
"I will be making a statement," Morrissey said regarding the identity of the child's father. The mother is a teenager who once worked in Morrissey's law office.
Morrissey served time in Henrico jail after he entered an Alford plea for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The charges were tied to his relationship with the former employee. Morrissey is still facing charges for allegedly forging documents in that case. His next trial is set for April.
This is a developing story.
