Hopewell City Council seat filled after embezzlement conviction
VENN
HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- The Hopewell City Council seat left vacant after a councilor was found guilty of embezzlement has officially been filled.
Dominic Holloway, Sr., who previously served as the city councilor for Hopewell's Ward 7, was suspended from office after he was found guilty of embezzling public funds in late July.
Since that guilty verdict was handed down, the city has been working on appointing a suitable person to fill this vacant seat. In mid-August, it was announced that there were five candidates under consideration:
- Anthony Bennett Jr. — Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority
- Patience Bennett — The former city mayor, who previously served on the council and is a member of the Planning Commission and Wetlands Board
- Timothy P. Flynn — Retired firefighter from Fort Lee
- Patrick Mason — EMT instructor
- Lovena Rapole — Serves on the Keep Hopewell Beautiful Board
On Monday, Sept. 8, a Hopewell City Circuit Court judge appointed Rapole to serve as Ward 7's councilor for the duration of Holloway's suspension.
If Holloway does not file an appeal, at the end of his suspension, he will forfeit his city councilor seat. His term as city councilor does not end until Dec. 31, 2027.
