Briefly… for Nov. 7-20, 2013

Voter turnout hovers close to 50%

As expected, New Kent County went almost solidly Republican while the Democrat ticket swept Charles City County in Tuesday’s general election.

In New Kent, 7,321 or 54.5 percent of the county’s 13,422 registered voters cast ballots. Turnout in Charles City reached 44.5 percent as 2,357 of the county’s 5,300 registered voters trudged to the polls.

In the governor’s race, New Kent favored Republican Ken Cuccinelli 4,360-2,120 while Charles City opted for Democrat Terry McAuliffe 1,557-827. Libertarian Robert Sarvis garnered 766 votes in New Kent and 135 in Charles City.

A Republican ticket sweep in New Kent fell short by one precinct in the lieutenant governor’s race. Democrat Ralph Northam won the Watkins precinct 291-264, but the county as a whole preferred Republican E.W. Jackson 4,218-2,954. Charles City, meanwhile, went with Democrat Ralph Northam 1,682-804.

Republican attorney general candidate Mark Obenshain won New Kent 4,786-2,411 while Democrat Mark Herring carried Charles City 1,580-926.

Duo charged with drug possession

New Kent Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested two men after detecting an odor of marijuana during an investigation of suspicious activity.

Deputies arrested Matthew Ryan Holzschuh, 24, of 18200 block of Polish Town Road, Barhamsville, and Nicholas Webster Cesare, 22, of the 100 block of Queen Anne Drive, Williamsburg and charged them with one count each of possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

According to a police report, both men were observed acting suspiciously on Oct. 26 at a Providence Forge gas station. When deputies arrived to speak to the pair, an odor of burned marijuana was noticeable. Deputies searched the men’s vehicle, subsequently arresting both suspects on the alleged offenses.

Both were being held on $1,500 bond each and are scheduled to appear in New Kent General District Court in November.

In an unrelated incident, James Earl Glenn, 32, of the 5700 block of Pine Fork Road, Quinton, was arrested on DUI (3rd offense), possession of marijuana, driving revoked, and refusing to submit to a breath/blood test. According to a police report, Glenn’s car was pulled over after sheriff’s deputies received a call on a suspicious vehicle. After completing an investigation, deputies arrested Glenn for the alleged forementioned offenses. He was being held on a secured bond.