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With less than two weeks until the June 20 deadline, candidates are continuing to step forward to run in the fall elections. Many have had their candidacies qualified for inclusion on the Nov. 7 ballots while others are still gathering signatures.
Rockbridge County and Lexington Circuit Court Clerk Michelle Trout and Commonwealth’s Attorney Jared Moon have qualified to be candidates for reelection. Sheriff Steve Funkhouser said this week that he will be a candidate for reelection.
Two of three seats on the Rockbridge County School Board will apparently be contested. Lenna Ojure and Anne Russek are running for the Buffalo District seat on the School Board currently held by Wendy Lovell, who is not seeking re-election.
Walkers Creek School Board member Neil Whitmore has qualified to be a candidate for reelection. He is being challenged by Lex LaMotte. Kathy Burant has qualified to run for reelection to her Natural Bridge School Board seat.
All three incumbent members of the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors whose terms expire this year have qualified to be candidates for re-election – Leslie Ayers of the Buffalo District, David McDaniel of Natural Bridge and Robert Day of South River. To date, none has opposition.
Michele Clark and Melissa “Missy” Whitesell have qualified to be candidates to succeed county Treasurer Betty Trovato, who is not seeking reelection. Wendy Gilliam is a third prospective candidate for treasurer. Brook Tomlin has qualified to be a candidate to succeed county Commissioner of Revenue David Whitesell, who is not running for reelection.
In Buena Vista, Jennifer Humphrey has joined incumbents Stanley Coffey and Steve Webb in qualifying to be candidates for City Council. Vice Mayor Cheryl Hickman, the third Council incumbent whose term expires this year, is gathering signatures.
Tyson Cooper, whose term on Council doesn’t expire this year, has qualified to be a candidate for mayor. Bill Fitzgerald, the current mayor, is not seeking reelection.
The three incumbent members of the Buena Vista School Board whose terms expire this year – Mac Felts, Teresa Ellison and Wayne Flint – are seeking reelection. Felts and Ellison have qualified.
Recently appointed Buena Vista Treasurer Amy Hudson has qualified to be a candidate in the special election for this state constitutional office.
The only candidate to file to run in Glasgow’s elections thus far is Town Council incumbent Lisa Rogers, who has qualified. Other Glasgow incumbents whose terms expire this year are Mayor Paul Williams and Town Council member Tom Camden. The term for the Town Council seat formerly held by Andrea Bradley also expires this year.
In Goshen, there may be a special election for one Town Council seat. It is currently held by Joey Sampson, who was appointed following the resignation of Debbie Bowden.
Herbie Huffman and Robert Deyo have qualified to be candidates for reelection to their Buena Vista seats on the Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Beecher “Billy” Grose Jr. and incumbent Charles Winder have filed their candidacies to be Lexington’s representatives on this board. No one has yet filed to run for the county seats on this board that are currently held by Reid Macky and Tim Goodbar.
Two of the three seats in the General Assembly whose reconfigured districts encompass all or portions of the Rockbridge area are being contested.
Candidates for reconfigured House of Delegates District 36 are incumbent Ellen Campbell and Democratic challenger Randolph Wolfe. District 36 encompasses portions of northeastern Rockbridge County as well as part of Augusta County and all of the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro.
Republican Del. Chris Head and Democratic challenger Jade Harris are candidates for reconfigured Senate District 3. This district encompasses all of Rockbridge County, Buena Vista and Lexington and the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt and Craig, the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro and Covington and parts of Augusta and Roanoke counties.
Republican Del. Terry Austin is thus far unopposed in his bid to represent reconfigured House of Delegates District 37. This district encompasses southern and western parts of Rockbridge County, all of the cities of Lexington, Buena Vista and Covington, and all of Botetourt, Alleghany and Craig counties.
