By Ava Tallat-Kelpsa
Voters are still waiting to find out who was elected to Glasgow Town Council after write-ins accounted for about 40% of the votes, according to unofficial Virginia election results.
In September, a group of Glasgow residents filed a petition seeking to oust Mayor Paul Williams, saying they wanted to replace him with someone who would listen to them. Mary Beth Reynolds, who filed the petition, ran as a write-in candidate for town council.
Four candidates were on the ballot for Glasgow Town Council. Natalie Harris, Brandall Branch and Marcie Hill are the incumbents. Newcomer Kris Springer, who works in technology, said he sought a seat because he believes the council needs to improve communication with residents. Reynolds and another resident, Charles Gibbs, waged write-in campaigns.
Current unofficial results show that 40% of votes went to write-in candidates. Glasgow Town Manager Allyson Finchum said she won’t know who won until she hears from county elections officials.
The final results won’t be available until sometime next week, said Sheila Hall, the county’s voter registrar.
“The website will be updated when we know, but the board has to meet, and they have to actually approve those write-ins,” Hall said. “There is just a lot involved.”
election. Write-in candidates got 40 percent of the votes for Glasgow Town Council and officials
won’t know who won until they get final results from the county. (Photo by Ava Tallat-Kelpsa)
The environment at recent council meetings has often gotten hostile among council members, as well as between council members and residents, according to Reynolds. The petition failed and Williams is not up for re-election until next year; Williams said he has done nothing wrong.
In Goshen, Thomas McCraw was re-elected mayor while incumbents Derrick Ogden, David “Chris” Robertson and Michael Hicks won for town council.
In Rockbridge County, Toria Brown was voted in for a full term as supervisor representing the Walkers Creek district, a position she has been filling on an interim basis since former supervisor Jay Lewis was found ineligible to serve in March because he didn’t take the oath of office.
She said that she wants to continue to balance the beauty of Rockbridge County while improving economic development in the region.
In Goshen, McCraw ran unopposed for mayor. Incumbent council members Derrick Ogden, Chris Robertson and Michael Hicks were reelected; newcomer Jeff Shaffer lost in his bid for a seat.