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Virginia Democrats have chosen Kevin J. Sullivan as their candidate to replace disgraced Del. Joseph D. Morrissey. But the salacious political circus surrounding Morrisseys seat may not end with the caucus, as allies of the lawmaker plan a lawsuit to challenge the nominating process.

Sullivans experience in this community makes him is a strong fighter for our Democratic values and priorities, Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, who is also the state Democratic Party chairman, said in a statement.

Morrissey (D-Henrico), who is serving a six-month sentence for a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, was not a candidate in the caucus, which he has criticized as disenfranchising regular voters. However, he could still run in the general election as an independent, a move that would once again force Democrats to contend with a politician whom they would rather see disappear from public life.

Unofficially, about 40 people participated out of a pool of about 100 qualified Democratic committee members in the Richmond area. Twenty-four voted for Sullivan.

A retired brewery worker and Teamster who now runs an alpaca farm with his wife, Sullivan beat out Henrico County School Board member Lamont Bagby and former state delegate Floyd Miles Sr. for the Democratic nomination.

After his conviction on the misdemeanor charge, Morrissey announced last week that he would resign from office effective Jan. 13 but would run again for his seat in the special election. He contends that he is innocent of all charges stemming from his relationship with a 17-year-old receptionist and says he pleaded guilty only to avoid a possible decades-long prison sentence. He and the teenager were framed, he said, by her jealous ex-girlfriend.

A work-release agreement allows Morrissey both to campaign and should he be elected to serve in the legislature by day and be in jail at night. However, the future of that arrangement is in doubt after the lawmaker violated its terms by arranging a news conference without alerting the sheriffs office. A hearing on the issue will be held this week.

With only a few days between Morrisseys resignation and a Tuesday deadline to choose a nominee, Democrats limited Monday evenings caucus to party committee members who live in the Henrico County district.

Morrisseys law partner, Paul Goldman, has said a lawsuit will be filed challenging the constitutionality of the caucus.

Party leaders, Goldman said, would do anything to stop Joe Morrissey from getting nominated. For that reason, he added, he advised his partner not to participate in the caucus.

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Democrats pick new candidate for Morrisseys Henrico County House seat