2 Martinsville lawyers vie for commonwealth’s attorney’s seat

This year, Martinsville will have a contested commonwealth’s attorney race as a pair of independents vie for the position. 

On Nov. 4, voters will make their choice between Lynda Hartsell and Patrick Flinn.

Flinn found his way to Martinsville in 2021. After his studies at George Mason University and Liberty University School of Law, he said he began searching for his ideal place to practice law, eventually settling on Martinsville, where he worked as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney. He currently serves as deputy commonwealth’s attorney. 

Hartsell has practiced law in Martinsville under her own firm for about six years. 

“I have prosecuted cases, defended clients, and represented vulnerable children and families,” Hartsell wrote in her Cardinal News Voter Guide questionnaire. She did not respond to separate questions for this story. “That broad experience means I know how to build strong cases and anticipate challenges in the courtroom.”

Both candidates are running for the seat currently held by Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Hall, who is not seeking reelection. 

Both candidates said they feel the city is at an important juncture, emphasizing the need for new ideas and change, such as increased cooperation with law enforcement and accountability to the community.   

“We need experienced leadership who knows what it takes to address the challenges we currently face,” Flinn wrote in an email. “I have the knowledge and experience to run the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, and I also bring new ideas on how we can overcome these challenges.”

Hartsell wrote that as a homeowner and active community member, she knows the direction residents prefer for the city. She is an Oklahoma native who has lived in Virginia for 19 years.

“I’ve developed a strong connection to the people and issues that matter most here,” Hartsell wrote.

Both candidates touted their legal experience, and both described the role of victims as a major legal challenge facing the city.   

“I believe it’s important to strengthen case preparation and ensure victims are part of the process every step of the way,” Hartsell said. “That means reviewing cases thoroughly before they go to court, working closely with law enforcement, and maintaining open communication with victims so they understand what’s happening and have a voice in decisions like plea agreements. It’s about building an office culture that values preparation, collaboration, and transparency.”

Flinn said victims play a key role in cases, and he hopes to reflect that if elected commonwealth’s attorney. 

“The biggest challenge facing Law Enforcement today is the lack of cooperation with victims and witnesses,” Flinn said. “They are hesitant to call the police when a crime occurs, they do not want to cooperate when the police respond, and they do not want to talk to the prosecutors when a crime is charged. Only together as a community can we come together to address this challenge.”

Hartsell said that the community is best served under a certain kind of commonwealth’s attorney, one who sets a certain example for staff. 

“It’s about building an office culture that values preparation, collaboration, and transparency,” Hartsell said. The commonwealth’s attorney’s office has a staff of nine. As of August, the commonwealth’s attorney was paid a salary of $171,912. 

Flinn said the office must ultimately answer to the members of the community. He said that there are best practices a commonwealth’s attorney must adhere to for complete accountability. 

“As Commonwealth’s Attorney, I will be transparent and inform the community on what happens within the office,” Flinn said by email. “I will Educate and Partner with the community with regular outreach programs so the community can understand how the judicial system and the office works. And finally, I will Modernize the office by implementing new technologies and new programs to better serve the community.”