RICHMOND, Va. — Joe Morrissey continues to lead to the race for Richmond mayor, according to a newly released poll.
The Southeastern Institute of Research conducted the poll on behalf of ChamberRVA.
The results indicated Morrissey would win 20-percent of the vote.
Jack Berry came in second with 17-percent, followed by Levar Stoney with 15-percent.
While no other candidate finished with more than 10-percent of the vote, 38-percent of those polled indicated they were undecided.
Morrissey’s 20-percent polling number is down from the 28-percent he earned in an August poll conducted by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University.
That poll also had Jack Berry in second place (16-percent), but Stoney was listed in the fifth position (seven percent).
Morrissey’s campaign did not issue a statement on the poll results, but Berry and Stoney’s camps did.
“Jack Berry is the only candidate in the race who can beat Joe Morrissey,” Berry for Mayor campaign co-chairman Zarina Fazaldin said. “This is now the second recent poll showing Jack in a close second behind Joe, with a strong lead in three districts. Additionally, this poll shows strong support for Jack citywide. It is time for the Richmond community and other candidates in the race to rally around Jack.”
“Levar is running second in every district, which is evidence that he’s the only one with the ability to put together a broad coalition to win,” Matt Corridoni, with Stoney for RVA, said.
The leading mayoral candidates will debate Monday night in Richmond.
“Knowing in which districts Mayoral candidates are leading, falling or catching up, is of huge significance as we plan Monday night’s ChamberRVA Mayoral Candidate Debate,” Ned Massee, Chair of ChamberRVA and Founder of Croatan Advisors, said. “Our elected officials are making decisions every day that impact the ability of businesses to compete in an ever challenging world of commerce, and one should consider how the candidates’ positions will impact our workplaces as well as our personal lives. The future of Richmond depends on it.”
In order for a candidate to winner Richmond mayor on Election Day, he or she must win five of the city’s nine districts. If not candidate wins five districts, a runoff election between top voter getters will occur.
