Editor, Gazette-Journal:

On the very last day to file, Bob Hicks, a Democrat (who ran his last race as an independent), made it known that he will be seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for Commonwealth’s Attorney against Holly Smith, a lifelong Republican.

The nomination will be determined tonight at the Republican Mass Meeting to be held at Botetourt Elementary School on Main Street. Registration to participate begins at 5 p.m. and will close no later than 6:45 p.m.

Holly is Commonwealth’s Attorney for James City County, but cut her teeth in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office in Newport News. She has prosecuted everything from child sex and abuse cases, vice and narcotics offenses, gun crimes and white collar crimes to juvenile and domestic related crimes. She was promoted to Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney of a violent crimes unit, where she assisted in supervising and managing a team of trial attorneys who specialize in the prose...