Villanueva certified winner in Va. Beach House seat

The Virginia Beach electoral board certified Republican City Councilman Ron Villanueva the winner in a House of Delegates seat in Virginia Beach late Tuesday night.

Villanueva led Democratic Del. Bobby Mathieson by 14 votes after the electoral board reviewed rejected absentee votes and provisional ballots.

"It just confirms what we knew last week that Ron Villanueva won the election,'' said Gerry Scimeca, Villanueva's campaign manager. "He's looking forward to serving the people in the 21st district."

The State Board of Elections is expected to certify those results Nov. 23. Mathieson will then have 10 days to ask for a state-funded recount.

Mark Henson, Mathieson's campaign manager, criticized the electoral board for deciding not to count some absentee ballots. 

"There are still open questions in this race, and it is in the best interest of the voters of the 21st District to seek a recount,'' Henson said. "Bobby Mathieson will continue to fight to ensure every single legally cast ballot gets counted in an open and transparent manner."