S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter
Non-Partisan | Virginia
Candidate Profile
BIOGRAPHY
Name
S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
City of Chesapeake City Council, At-Large Seats
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 1965-69
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Elizabeth River Project, Board member, Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation
Board of Trustees, Chesapeake Rotary Club
Womens Division, HR Chamber of Commerce Chesapeake, Past President, Central Chesapeake Republican Womens Club
Past President, Republican Party of Chesapeake
Womens Club of South Norfolk, Board member, Chesapeake General Hospital Auxiliary
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Chesapeake City Council, 1998-1006, 2008-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Republican Party of Chesapeake
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Tanya Gould (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Barry Knight (2020)
Republican Women's Organizations (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Lionell Spruill Sr. (2024)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Campaign Finance Reports for Friends of Debbie Ritter (from Virginia State Board of Elections)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
ECONOMY
I support using taxpayer funds to lobby the state legislature and/or U.S. Congress.
Agree
It is the responsibility of city government to provide subsidized housing at taxpayer expense.
Neutral
Property taxes should be abolished.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Government should not discriminate against individuals, organizations, or business owners who affirm marriage as between one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
City officials should have the right to proclaim their city a sanctuary city for illegal aliens.
Disagree
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Episcopalian
Children have the right to be protected from sexually explicit materials in publicly funded libraries, including school libraries.
Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
All filings by candidates for municipal office, including ballot application and campaign finance reports, should be available for public online access on the city website within 24 hours of filing deadline.
Strongly Agree
Ballot measures which include bond issues should fully disclose both the potential tax rate increase and actual monetary increase for the average single family residence.
Strongly Agree
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) instruction should be required for all city employees.
Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Taxpayers should subsidize green initiatives such as electric vehicle charging stations.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
no
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
no
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Protect public safety.
Candidates and officeholders should be required to disclose all business investments and real estate, whether in the city or in an area currently proposed for annexation.
Agree
Please list your business investments and/or real estate, whether within the city or in an area currently proposed for annexation.
none
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Republican Primary 2022 General Election
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Individuals convicted of violent crimes
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Disagree
LOCAL
I support annual financial audits of every city department by an independent, third party auditor.
Neutral
Our City has an internal auditor that conducts departmental audits and significant layers of financial oversight in budget and finance issues. An external auditor to perform annual department audits would be cost prohibitive for a City our size. Our City Auditor is an independent appointee by the City Council and has the authority to use external auditors for specialiized sunjects.
Please list up to three issues or projects that you think need the most attention.
Recruitment and retention of law enforcement and first responders, preservation of open space and agricultural lands, general upkeep of exisitng infrastructure/
