More Candidates Step Up In Local Fall Races
With the June 17 filing deadline looming in just a few weeks, candidates are lining up to get their names on the ballots for the Nov. 4 general elections.
Also, early in-person voting begins this Friday, May 2, for the June 17 primaries. Del. Terry Austin of the 37th District, which includes Buena Vista, Lexington and southern Rockbridge County, is being challenged by Austen Schwend of Botetourt County in a primary election to determine the Republican nominee in the Nov. 4 election.
Sharron Burgess of Covington is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to be a candidate for the 37th District House of Delegates seat. If other candidates enter the race, there will be a Democratic caucus. If not, Burgess will be the Democratic nominee.
A statewide primary is being held June 17 to determine the Democratic Party’s nominees for lieutenant governor and attor- ney general.
Candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for lieutenant governor are Alex Bastani, Ghazala Heshmi, Babur Lateef, Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado and Levar Stoney. Candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for attorney general are Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor.
Republican and Democratic nominees in the other statewide races have been determined. Republican Party nominees are (for governor) Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, (for attorney general) incumbent Attorney General Jason Myrares and (for lieutenant governor) John Reid. The Democratic Party nominee for governor is former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger of the seventh congressional district.
Republican incumbent Del. Ellen Campbell of the 36th District, which includes northern Rockbridge County, has secured the party’s nomination to be a candidate for reelection on Nov. 4. Challenging Campbell is Democratic Party nominee Makayla Venable of Stuarts Draft.
Multiple candidates are running in the two local sheriffs’ races that will be held Nov. 4. In Buena Vista, Sheriff Randy Hamilton is being challenged by Alan Buzzard and Chris E. Wheeler. All three have qualified to have their names on the ballot.
Rockbridge County and Lexington Sheriff Tony McFaddin, appointed on an interim basis following the resignation of Steve Funkhouser, is running against Chris Norris and Fred Smith in a Nov. 4 special election to fill the remaining two years of the sheriff’s term of office. All three have qualified to have their names on the ballot. Prospective candidates in this special election have until Aug. 15 to file their paperwork.
In Rockbridge County, two members of the Board of Supervisors and two members of the School Board will be elected Nov. 4. Seeking to succeed Kerrs Creek Supervisor Dan Lyons, who is not seeking re-election, are Boyd Brown, Steve Hart and Scott Guise. Boyd has qualified to have his name on the ballot.
Incumbent Walkers Creek Supervisor Jay Lewis is facing a challenge from Steve Reese. Both are circulating petitions to get their names on the ballot. Kerrs Creek School Board member Catie Brown and South River School Board member Corey Berkstresser are both circulating petitions to run for re-election.
Buena Vista Mayor Tyson Cooper has qualified to be a candidate for reelection. Jessee Lineberry is circulating petitions to be a candidate to challenge Cooper. Buena Vista incumbent City Council members Stanley Coffey, Melvin Henson and Danny Staton have all qualified to be candidates for reelection.
Buena Vista School Board members whose terms expire this year are John Rice, John Roberts, Roy Mohler and Lisa Kerr. Rice is not seeking re-election. Mohler has picked up petitions to run for reelection.
Constitutional officers in Buena Vista whose terms expire this year are Treasurer Amy Hudson, Commissioner of Revenue Ashton Beverly and Commonwealth’s Attorney Joshua Elrod. Elrod has qualified to be a candidate for re-election.
In Lexington, constitutional officers whose terms expire this year are Commissioner of Revenue Karen Roundy and Treasurer Pat DeLaney. Roundy is not seeking reelection. Kelly Glass is a candidate to succeed Roundy.
In Glasgow, terms of office expire later this year for Mayor Paul Williams and Town Council members Kent Dunn, Lisa Rogers and Tom Camden. No one has yet filed paperwork to be a candidate for any of these offices.
