Last fall’s presidential election was barely over when the race to move into the Virginia Governor’s Mansion in Richmond got into full swing.
Botetourt voters will help pick a new Governor in November along with a Lt. Governor and Attorney General.
Botetourt voters will also join with those in adjoining jurisdictions to choose House of Delegates members for the 17th and 19th Districts.
Voters in two Botetourt Election Districts will also pick representatives to serve four-year terms on the Board of Supervisors and School Board.
The two major political parties will have candidates for the statewide offices, and it appears both will have candidates for both House of Delegates seats that represent parts of Botetourt.
Both major parties will pick their statewide candidates in June 13 primaries, and if needed, the candidates for both parties will also use June 13 primaries to pick their candidates.
Candidates running for a party nomination must submit their paperwork to the party no later than March 30 with certain forms filed with the registrar. Then the parties have until April 4 to certify those candidates to be on the ballot on June 13.
Non-party candidates— Independents— have until June 13 at 7 p.m. to file declarations and have enough signatures of support to be on the November ballot. All School Board candidates mush run as Independents.
Board of Supervisors & School Board
Amsterdam District representative on the Botetourt Board of Supervisors Todd Dodson has filed to run for the Republican Party nomination again, according to Director of Elections and General Registrar Traci Clark. Dodson also chairs the Botetourt Republican Party.
I. Ray Sloan has also filed to run for the Republican nomination for the Buchanan District seat on the Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Republican John Williamson III is not running for a second term.
Michelle Austin Crook of Buchanan was collecting signatures to run for the Buchanan School Board seat that she was appointed to late last fall. She filled the seat that Kathy Sullivan held before her death.
Ruth Wallace of Daleville, who represents the Amsterdam District on the School Board, is expected to run for re-election again.
Clark said she’s received several calls requesting information regarding becoming a candidate but has had no other official filings yet.
House of Delegates
Terry Austin of Buchanan is seeking the Republican Party nomination to run for re-election to the 19th District House of Delegates seat he’s held for two terms.
Austin has been circulating petitions to be on the June 13 primary for the district that stretches from Alleghany County across the majority of Botetourt and into Bedford County.
There have been no other announced candidates for the Republican nomination in the 19th District.
The 19th District Democratic Committee is expected to have a candidate to run in November for the seat. The Democratic Committee has announced that Reagan Flaherty of Bedford will run for the seat. She currently chairs the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and helped with organizing the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. in January after President Donald Trump’s election.
Incumbent Chris Head is seeking the Republican Party nomination to run for re-election to the 17th House seat that includes part of the Cloverdale/Troutville area in Botetourt, parts of Roanoke County and parts of Roanoke City. Head lives in Botetourt and is seeking his third term. He won the Republican nomination two years ago over Harry Griego of Roanoke.
He did not have a Democratic Party opponent in the 2015 fall election, but is expected to this fall.
Djuna Osborne of Roanoke announced she is seeking the Democratic Party nomination to run for the 17th District seat. She lives in Roanoke and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Troutville Town Council
Town of Troutville voters will fill half of the six seats on Town Council in the November election. Three seats are up for election each year since the town opted for staggered council terms. Candidates have until June 13 to file to be on the November ballot.
State Offices
Lt. Governor Ralph Northam and former Congressman Tom Perriello are running for the Democratic Party nomination for Governor.
There are three declared candidates running for the Republican nomination, Ed Gillespie, Corey Stewart and State Senator Frank Wagner.
Three Republicans have declared to run for the Lt. Governor’s job, Del. Glenn Davis, State Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel and State Senator Bryce Reeves.
Three Democrats are also running for their party’s nomination, Justin Fairfax, Gene Rossi and Susan Platt.
Incumbent Democrat Mark Herring is unopposed for his party’s nomination for a second term as Attorney General.
Three are running for the Republican nomination, John Adams, State Senator Rob Bell and Chuck Smith.
