John Alexander is the Republican Party nominee to run for Botetourt Commonwealth’s Attorney this fall.

Alexander was appointed to the position earlier this year when Joel Branscom was named circuit court judge.

Alexander said at the time he would seek the Republican Party nomination to run to fill Branscom’s unexpired term, which ends in December 31, 2019.

Republican Party Chair Donald Helms confirmed last week that Alexander is the only candidate who qualified to run for the party nomination after Ronnie Clay said he was dropping out of the nominating process.

The Republican Party had scheduled a mass meeting June 19 to select a nominee, but that’s not necessary now, Helms said.

Clay, when he announced earlier this year that he was going to run for the position, said he wasn’t sure if he’d seek the Republican nomination or run as an Independent. He did not respond to inquiries about whether he will run as an Independent.

Alexander has been an assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney since1996 when he was hired by the Roanoke County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney. He then served as Chief Assistant in that office until he was hired by Branscom in 2006 to serve in Botetourt.

Alexander holds a law degree from George Mason University where he graduated in 1989.

He worked at Coulter and Coulter in Roanoke before joining the Roanoke County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.

Alexander has served as president of the Botetourt County Bar Association.

— Ed McCoy