By Matt de Simone
The June 17 dual primary elections in Botetourt County saw a voter turnout of a mere 14 percent, with 3,920 ballots cast out of 27,179 registered voters. All 10 county precincts reported their results on election night.
In the Republican Primary for the 37th District House of Delegates seat, incumbent Terry L. Austin won with 61.01 percent of the vote, receiving 2,369 votes. His opponent, Austen M. Schwend, received 1,514 votes, accounting for 38.99 percent.
“Thank you to everyone in the 37th House District who came out to vote in the Republican Primary,” Austin said when asked about his recent nomination. “It’s a privilege to serve you in Virginia’s House of Delegates, and I’m honored to continue representing our shared conservative values and economic interests in Richmond. Together, we as Republicans must remain united and focused on retaining the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, while reclaiming a Republican majority in the House of Delegates. I ask for your vote in the General Election this fall.”
In the race for the Board of Supervisors in the Amsterdam District, Tim T. Snyder secured victory with 56.46 percent of the vote (642 votes), defeating Dirk B. Padgett, who received 495 votes or 43.54 percent. Results were reported from both precincts in that district.
“This victory is a reflection of our shared commitment to preserving what makes Botetourt such a strong and vibrant community,” Snyder said in a June 17 statement on social media. “I’m deeply grateful for your trust and support, and I look forward to working together as we head into the general election – upholding the values and traditions that make Botetourt a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.”
In the Board of Supervisors Buchanan District contest, Linda M. Rottman received 56.91 percent of the vote, totaling 622 votes, while current Board Chair Amy Stinnett White garnered 471 votes, or 43.09 percent.
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“I am so very grateful to all of the residents who came out to vote, to the people who campaigned door to door with me, and to the many people working behind the scenes who strongly contributed to this victory,” Rottman said when asked about her nomination and future campaign plans for this November’s election.
“As far as my campaign plans for the November elections go, one of the key issues for Buchanan District residents was not being listened to by the incumbent. I intend to continue reaching out to residents as I did for the primary and listening to them so that if I win in November, I’ll be ready to hit the ground running in representing their interests. I will also shortly be announcing a phone number for a dedicated line to make it convenient for district and county residents to get in touch to express their views. We’ve shown that there is power in coming together.”
