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Martinsville Today
By the People, for the People
Martinsville Mayor Faces Removal Petition Review
Commonwealth's Attorney continues examining citizen-filed petition to oust Mayor LC Jones from City Council.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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Martinsville Commonwealth's Attorney Patrick Flinn is reviewing a citizen petition seeking to remove Mayor LC Jones from his elected position on the City Council. The petition was certified as properly filed, and Flinn has made it his top priority to determine if valid grounds exist for Jones' removal, though the process is complicated and unprecedented in Virginia.
Why it matters
The potential removal of an elected mayor is a rare and significant event that could have major implications for the city's leadership and governance. The review process highlights the challenges of removing an elected official and the need to balance thorough investigation with timely resolution.
The details
Flinn said he is handling much of the review work himself due to a lack of investigators and potential conflicts of interest. He has received cooperation from some people but not others, complicating the process. Flinn noted that removing an elected official is nearly unprecedented in Virginia, so he is 'writing the book as we go' in terms of the legal process.
- The citizen petition was filed with Martinsville Circuit Court more than three weeks ago.
- On January 22, the General Registrar certified the petition as properly filed.
- Flinn said the review will not stretch on indefinitely, and a decision is expected before summer.
The players
Patrick Flinn
Martinsville Commonwealth's Attorney who is reviewing the citizen petition to remove Mayor LC Jones from office.
LC Jones
The current mayor of Martinsville who is facing a potential removal from his elected position on the City Council.
What they’re saying
“I know some people in the public got a kick out of the top priority thing, but it really is true. Ninety percent of what I'm doing is just working on this. I still have to make the office run, but I'm chasing down everything I can with this within my realm of influence and power and what I can legally do.”
— Patrick Flinn, Commonwealth's Attorney (Henry County Enterprise)
“The silver lining — the curse — of someone being cooperative is that it gives even more information that I then need to parse through.”
— Patrick Flinn, Commonwealth's Attorney (Henry County Enterprise)
“We're kind of writing the book as we go with this because there isn't a lot of history on it. There are some cases here and there, but we're kind of figuring this out as we go together, so it is a long process, it's a challenging one, but I'm working as hard as I can on it.”
— Patrick Flinn, Commonwealth's Attorney (Henry County Enterprise)
What’s next
Even if Flinn's review concludes soon, the overall process could still take time as it moves through the legal system.
The takeaway
The potential removal of an elected mayor is a rare and complex process that highlights the challenges of holding public officials accountable while ensuring a thorough and fair investigation. The outcome of this review could have significant implications for Martinsville's leadership and governance.
