By Katie Eubanks and Haley Stoltz
David Sigler won Lexington’s special mayoral election Tuesday, earning nearly three-quarters of the vote and defeating his former city council colleague.
Sigler received 1,460 votes, while city council member Nicholas Betts got 495, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Board of Elections. All votes have been counted except for provisional ballots.
“I’m humbled, I’m honored. The citizens of Lexington came out in force, and they participated in this election,” Sigler said in a telephone interview Tuesday night. “I’m excited that I have the opportunity to work with a great city staff and a great city council, and I know that I’ve just got enormous shoes to fill.”
The election was held to determine who fills the remainder of former Mayor Frank Friedman’s term. Friedman died unexpectedly in July at the age of 60. Sigler will serve through 2028.
A longtime councilman, Sigler, 47, was appointed interim mayor after Friedman’s death. Betts is completing his first term on city council.
“He was a strong candidate, and he’s a friend,” Sigler said of Betts. “It’s been an honor to serve with him for the last four years on council.”
City council unanimously appointed Sigler interim mayor in a 6-0 vote in July. He had already filed to run for another term on council before deciding to run for mayor. As a result, his name appeared twice on the ballot, under both the city council and mayoral races. If elected to both offices, Sigler said before the election, he would take the mayor’s office.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the new council members that will be taking office in January, as well as the current council,” Sigler said.
Betts, 36, a local attorney, had previously decided not to seek another city council term. He has served on the city’s planning commission and on the board of directors for the Rockbridge Area Relief Association. He said he decided to challenge Sigler for mayor because he has the experience and passion to continue serving.
In an interview Tuesday night, Betts congratulated Sigler. He said he looked forward to finishing his term on council and then returning to practicing law.
“I just look forward to finding ways to help people in the future outside of politics,” Betts said.
The candidates discussed their leadership and the challenges facing the city during a Sept. 22 forum hosted by 50 Ways Rockbridge, a local nonprofit group.
Sigler has served on city council since 2014, working under former mayors Mimi Elrod and Friedman. He has also served on the boards of Main Street Lexington, the Regional Tourism Board and the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization.
Sigler has described his leadership style as dependent on the situation, saying he would adjust his approach based on whether council members needed him to lead a discussion or give others an opportunity to speak.
The next mayor will have to contend with critical issues facing the city, including a shortage in affordable housing, aging infrastructure, and rising costs. The city’s budget for fiscal year 2027 allocates nearly $19.9 million for infrastructure.
Sigler had identified affordability as one of the city’s greatest challenges, specifically regarding rising construction costs and the expense of maintaining municipal services.
“Lexington’s water and sewer rates have increased a good bit in the past eight or nine years,” he said in an interview before the election. “And they are projected to continue to increase as we have to accomplish more and more projects.”
Betts emphasized communication and collaboration as a central part of his leadership philosophy, saying he wanted to bridge the gap between new and old council members. He also emphasized the importance of being adaptable and being able to have difficult conversations.
Lexington’s mayor presides over a six-member city council, which serves as the city’s legislative and policy-making body. The mayor can participate in council discussions but votes only to break a tie.
The mayor also appoints council committees and represents the city at public events, while council members vote on ordinances, the annual budget and other city policies. The mayor has limited voting power, but the position plays an important role in guiding council discussions and building agreement on decisions affecting the city.