Boyd Brown II, a retired U.S. Army infantry officer with multiple combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, moved to Rockbridge County 20 years ago with his family in order to “put down roots.” Since moving here, “I’ve spent years listening to neighbors, volunteering in the community and supporting efforts that improve our quality of life.”
He’s served eight years on the county’s Economic Development Authority and is presently its chair. He said his “proven leadership experience, deep understanding of business and financial management and familiarity with local issues … make me well qualified” to be a candidate for Kerrs Creek supervisor.
“Our most complex local challenge is a growing retired population and a shrinking workforce,” he said. “You don’t have to look far to see that a lot of businesses are short-staffed and that many of our local kids leave after high school because of limited job options … and the problem is only getting worse. Our local government needs to explore innovative ways to help existing businesses grow; help create higher paying jobs for local workers so they’ll stay here; and attract young families, skilled workers and new businesses.”
During his time on the EDA, Baker said, “We’ve led multiple projects that helped local businesses grow or attracted new businesses to create new jobs and support local citizens. Since 2017 we’ve seen Modine, Mohawk, White’s Travel Center and Devils Backbone expand, and Dynovis/ UTS Systems, XFS Global, Tru Hilton and other businesses establish new locations in Rockbridge. The EDA administered COVID grants to provide funding to help local businesses stay open, supported expansion of broadband internet service, managed housing and infrastructure improvement projects, and, under my leadership as [as chair], developed the first-ever economic development strategic plan for Rockbridge County. We’ve made all these positive steps without any radical changes to zoning or the county’s master plan, and I’m committed to continuing that practice.”
He said his priorities on the Board of Supervisors, if he’s elected, would be “higher paying jobs, affordable housing and quality childcare.” He said he would “only support economic development efforts that do not alter Rockbridge County’s fundamentally rural/agricultural culture and natural beauty. The designated development corridor along Route 11 that includes water, gas, sewage and power services is where I intend that we should focus any development.”
Asked about the county’s longterm solid waste plan, Brown said, “I’d have to see the budget impact of the collection centers versus unmanned Dumpsters before I could make any sort of decision on this topic. It’s harder for people to dump their trash since there are fewer collection centers than there were Dumpster sites, and I wonder if that’s causing more illegal trash dumping.”
A native of Fernandina Beach, Fla., who went to high school in Savannah, Ga., and college in Spartanburg, S.C, Brown said he’s been a national security professional for over 39 years, founding and running his own 40-person government contracting company for seven years and working for several others following his retirement from the Army. He and his wife Laura are the parents of two daughters who went to middle and high school here.
Looking toward the county’s future, he remarked, “There’s a delicate balance between the principle that a property owner should be able to do whatever they want with their property within the limits of the law and the principle of being a good neighbor. Trends like the development of solar fields, event venues and others require that the supervisors carefully examine each issue on a case-bycase basis. I’m committed to approaching these situations with an open mind, listening closely to all stakeholders, and not rushing to a decision.”
BOYD BROWN
