By Alison Murtagh
Albert “Jay” Lewis II handily won the Walkers Creek seat that his father is leaving on the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors. Daniel E. Lyons beat two opponents for the Kerrs Creek seat on the board. Altogether, they defeated three challengers.
The two winners in the county board races were known for their involvement with local school systems. Lewis, with 54.6 percent of the vote, is finishing a term on the county School Board. Lyons, who won with 47.2 percent, retired in 2015 as superintendent of Lexington public schools after a long career in that system.
Lewis, who ran as an independent, defeated Republican Richard Kopp, owner of County Line Collision, an auto body shop. Kopp also lost a run for the seat in 2013.
In Kerrs Creek, Lyons defeated Susan Lawrence, who made a name for herself as a critic of the scandal-ridden local Department of Social Services. Lyons also beat Steven Hart, an engineering professor at Virginia Military Institute.
In the five precincts of Walkers Creek, Lewis won 852 out 1,559 votes.
In Kerrs Creek, with four precincts, Lyons collected 761 votes. Lawrence got 530 votes and Hart, 310.
The winners will serve a four-year term.
Walkers Creek is represented by Albert W. “Buster” Lewis Jr. while Kerrs Creek is represented by Russell S. “Rusty” Ford. Both men are stepping down at the end of their terms in December.