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Kevin Sullivan, a former political coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, is the Democratic nominee to run for Del. Joseph D. Morrisseys seat in the Jan. 13 special election. He will face Republican candidate Matt Walton, an engineering teacher at Glen Allen High School.

Less than 24 hours before Tuesdays nomination deadline in the 74th House District, Democrats picked Sullivan in a firehouse primary Monday evening a process that has sparked a controversy for its exclusiveness.

Held at two locations, in Henrico County and Charles City County, the primary was open only to about 100 party members in good standing but not to the general public, according to the rules posted Friday by the Democratic Party of Virginia. Of those eligible to vote, only a few more than 40 showed up.

Sullivan defeated two Democratic opponents Floyd Miles, who served as the 74th District delegate from 2002 to 2006; and Lamont Bagby, a Henrico County School Board member. In the final round of voting, Sullivan defeated Bagby 24-16.

Morrissey announced last week that he would resign his House seat Jan. 13 following a misdemeanor conviction on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He initially said he was seeking to run again in the special election, but he announced Saturday that he would not seek the Democratic nomination in what he called a sham process.

David Lambert, CEO of Lambert Optical and son of the late state Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III., also decided to withdraw his bid Saturday.

I wouldnt say (the nomination process) was a sham, but it wasnt done in a way that was operable for anyone to get in it, Lambert said Monday, adding that it was also not set up for the people in the district to have a voice for who they want to pick.

But Lambert said he has not changed his plans to run in the June 2015 primary.

Republicans and some Democrats including Paul Goldman, Morrisseys law partner and a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia have criticized the nomination process, alleging it was designed to shut out the public.

Goldman had unsuccessfully worked on a last-minute lawsuit to stop the primary. He had also advised Morrissey not to seek the Democratic nomination. Morrissey is now considering a bid as an independent candidate.

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Democrats pick Sullivan as nominee for Morrissey's seat