Why I’m Asking for Your Vote on June 17
My name is Dirk Padgett, and I’m running for the Amsterdam District seat on the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors. I’m asking for your vote because we need new leadership – leadership that listens to everyday citizens, not just developers and political insiders.
I am proud to be a United States veteran, having served two combat tours in Kuwait and Iraq. I also served in the Office of Military Commissions prosecuting the terrorists who attacked our country on 9/11. I served as a federal, state and military prosecutor for over 22 years. Whether through the military, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, or as a state prosecutor in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, I have dedicated my life to serving our community and country.
Over the past several years, decisions made by the Board of Supervisors and the Planning and Zoning Commission – often with the encouragement of the current county administrator – have prioritized rapid development over responsible planning. As a result, traffic on the 220 corridor has become a daily nightmare, our schools are overcrowded, and our real estate and personal property taxes continue to rise.
Lord Botetourt High School faces critical infrastructure challenges that demand thoughtful, well-planned solutions – not more Band-Aid fixes. And all of this has happened while the average citizen’s voice has been ignored.
We need commonsense, balanced leadership. I have spent my life leading – through my military service during multiple tours in Iraq, during my time as a Commonwealth’s Attorney, and now in my private law practice. I understand what it means to serve, to listen, and to lead with integrity.
On June 17, I ask for your support and your vote. Together, we can bring accountability, transparency, and smart planning back to our county government.
Dirk Padgett
Candidate for Amsterdam District
Botetourt County Board of Supervisors
Snyder shares more about candidacy
As a 46-year resident of Botetourt County, I’m proud to share more about my candidacy for the Amsterdam District seat on the Board of Supervisors. I’m running to ensure our community remains a safe, vibrant, and affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
Over the course of this campaign, I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people across the Amsterdam District. My faith in our community has never been stronger. The kindness, commitment, and passion of our residents inspire me every day and reinforce why I am committed to serving.
In my many conversations with residents, one thing has become clear: communication in our community must improve. If elected, I will work with county officials to share factual, timely information in a way that is clear and accessible to everyone. Social media has too often worked to divide and confuse. I believe in – and will continue practicing – an honest, face-to-face, direct approach that promotes open dialogue and strengthens trust. I will always work to create more opportunities for people to be heard and for all voices to be respected.
The future of Botetourt County depends on a balance between maintaining our rural roots and embracing smart, sustainable growth that enhances the lives of our residents. I’m dedicated to ensuring that we move forward in a way that strengthens our community, respects the concerns of residents, and builds a thriving future for all.
As our county grows, responsible planning is essential. My experience on the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Botetourt County Planning Commission has taught me the value of thoughtful development – growth that aligns with our community’s character, supports local businesses, and preserves the quality of life we value.
Serving on the Planning Commission has given me firsthand insight into how crucial smart, balanced growth is to the future of Botetourt County. Growth must not come at the expense of our rural character or quality of life. I have consistently supported development that is well-planned, infrastructure-ready, and respectful of the concerns of nearby residents. Growth should serve our community – not overwhelm it. That includes protecting open spaces, supporting local businesses, and ensuring our roads, schools, and services can keep pace.
I have supported decisions that reflect the values of our residents and am prepared to cite specific examples – such as backing a local family’s request to place their land in a conservation easement to protect its natural beauty and rural character, as well as supporting another family’s rezoning request from R1 to A1 to prevent overdevelopment. I believe decisions like these help preserve the identity of Botetourt County for future generations, and my voting record demonstrates a consistent commitment to carefully evaluating the merits and unique circumstances of each application.
Fiscal responsibility must remain at the heart of every decision we make. I am committed to keeping taxes low while ensuring county services are efficient and well-managed.
Public safety is a top priority. I fully support our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel – many of whom serve as volunteers – who put their lives on the line every day. Their dedication, whether as professionals or volunteers, is the backbone of our community’s safety. They deserve the resources, support, and respect necessary to continue serving and protecting our neighborhoods effectively.
Education is the backbone of any strong community. My own children are a testament to the quality education students in Botetourt County receive from our committed teachers, aides, administrators, and staff. A well-educated population benefits everyone – from attracting businesses and jobs to reducing crime and increasing quality of life. I am committed to ensuring our schools are equipped to provide a safe, modern, and high-quality education for every child in Botetourt County – whether they are pursuing college, technical training, or entering the workforce.
I have a long record of volunteerism and public service to Botetourt County. In addition to raising my family here, I’ve been an advocate for youth and families as a coach and past president of the Greenfield Booster Club. These roles have strengthened my belief in community involvement and the importance of supporting the next generation.
I believe my record of service and deep roots in this community make me well-prepared to represent the Amsterdam District. I sincerely thank the voters I have had the privilege to meet, for the meaningful conversations we have shared, and for your openness in expressing the issues that are most important to our community. I ask for your support as we work together to build a strong future for Botetourt County.
Vote early through June 14, or on Election Day – Tuesday, June 17.
Tim Snyder
Republican Candidate for Botetourt County Board of Supervisors – Amsterdam District
Rottman Responds to Critics
Last week’s letters to the editors criticizing my candidacy have something in common.
For one thing, each of the authors fully supports wholly accepting the vision and agenda the administration has laid out for Botetourt County (and to which a majority of the Board of Supervisors has acquiesced). None of my critics wants to change a thing. They want the voters to unquestioningly rely on the choices the people running the county make for us. But that’s not what the voters I talk to as I go door to door in the Buchanan District want.
The voters say the direction the county is going in is wrong. They say they want change. They say they want responsible budgeting that doesn’t include multi-million-dollar deficits. They say they want a supervisor who will stand up for them and dig into whether they’re actually getting a benefit for their tax dollars. (And they know the Buchanan District incumbent is not that person.) They say they want someone who will dig into whether the administration’s proposed spending is for a need or a pet project. They say they want to curtail the kind of poorly planned development that’s raising their taxes and destroying the county’s character. And above all, they say they want a supervisor who will actually listen to what they want and vote accordingly.
The people, it turns out, want something very different from what my critics want.
Another thing the letters that criticize me have in common is their collective refusal to consider a responsible form of budgeting to eliminate wasteful spending. They don’t like zero-based budgeting, but they don’t offer an alternative. So long as taxes can be raised, their unspoken position is why bother?
Of course there are other possible legitimate methods besides zero-based budgeting. No doubt my detractors wouldn’t like those methods either because they’re not actually interested in reining in irresponsible spending.
But one alternative is line item cost/benefit analysis to ensure that every expenditure produces a measurable benefit that exceeds the cost. Another possibility is simply balancing the budget so spending is limited by revenues to force the county government to make the same kinds of hard choices we all have to make because we only have so many dollars to spend in our own households.
Another possibility is changing incentives to incentivize reducing spending, e.g., supporting volunteer Fire & EMS rather than pushing out our volunteers. (Bedford, a much more populated county, is entirely volunteer. Let’s figure out how they do that.) Another possibility is for the Board of Supervisors to provide the administration with clear budget priorities rather than letting the administration set them. And last but not least, how about giving the taxpayers a real voice in how their tax dollars are spent?
Bottom line: where there’s a will there’s a way. My critics, the administration, and a majority of the Board of Supervisors utterly lack the will to tax and spend responsibly. But knives out because I have the will to stand up for the residents.
There’s a clear choice in this election. If you want more of what we’re currently getting, vote for the incumbent or sit this one out. But if you want to try to change the direction in which the county is going, then please vote yourself and help get out the vote for Dirk Padgett in Amsterdam and me in Buchanan. If Dirk and I both win, fiscal conservatives will have a majority on the Board of Supervisors and change is possible. We have the will and will find the way!
Linda Rottman
Buchanan
White says balance is the answer on taxes
After much campaigning, handshaking and sign-raising, the Republican Primary is finally upon us. I encourage everyone to vote Tuesday, June 17 at your normal polling location. The freedom to vote is a fundamental right and should be exercised fully.
The Buchanan supervisor race has become focused on taxes. In my opinion, this race is not just about the tax rate, but rather how to balance the tax burden on our citizens with the increasing costs of services and investments necessary for our community. My answer is in the problem – and that answer is balance. We must approach governance with a balanced view that considers the many needs of the community while also carefully considering individual expenditures and investments holistically. Our community is blessed to have services and resources that support our citizens; these include excellent public safety, high performing schools and many community engagement opportunities. Each of these services and resources come with an expense and an investment which our local government must carefully plan for to ensure that citizens are safe, well-educated and have opportunities to thrive. It is all about balance.
Like you, I take seriously every vote I have cast. Like you, I pay taxes at the rate approved by the board. And like you, I seek to face every challenge that a changing world brings us. I pledge to always act in the best interest of the community and to be forward thinking in my approach, while always seeking balance. We must also position ourselves to address future needs and future challenges. I hear from opponents that they want to “take our county back.” My question is just how far back, and back to what?
In closing, I would like to leave you with some final thoughts on why I believe that a balanced approach is fundamental to the ongoing quality of life in our county.
By investing in infrastructure, Botetourt has been able to attract thousands of high-paying jobs so our children and grandchildren do not have to go elsewhere to work. That takes forward thinking and public investments.
By approving logical and vibrant development, Botetourt is able to provide young and retired folks the opportunity to live here, and not in another jurisdiction.
Public investments in our schools have made Botetourt an attractive place for families, thanks to the quality of education at all levels of our schools, including partnerships with the two regional community colleges.
If you consider the days before publicly funded emergency services – fire and rescue – you have to acknowledge that Botetourt has an exemplary combination career/volunteer force that is second to none. Today, the cost of continuing that quality and level of service is more expensive. When you call 911, your call is answered. That hasn’t always been the case. In addition, we have an outstanding Sheriff’s Department that keeps our county safe. These services take continued investment.
I humbly ask for your vote, and I thank those that have supported me thus far. It is an honor to work for and to serve this community.
Amy Stinnett White
Republican Candidate, Buchanan District, Botetourt County Board of Supervisors
Austin asks for your vote on June 1
Dear constituents of the 37th House District, it has been an honor to represent you as a Republican in the House of Delegates. I began my service as your delegate 12 years ago in the 19th District and am now privileged to represent the 37th House District, which includes the counties of Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, the majority of Rockbridge County, and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington.
I serve on Appropriations (as Ranking Republican), Transportation, Rules and General Laws. In addition to my House Committee appointments, I serve as chairman of the VA250 Commission, vice chair of the I-81 Advisory Committee, and am a member of the Major Economic Incentives Commission (MEI), the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates (GACRE), the Joint Subcommittee on Tax Policy, the Joint Subcommittee on Establishing the Virginia Gaming Commission, and the Joint Subcommittee to Study Elementary & Secondary Education Funding.
Forty-eight years ago, I had a dream of owning my own business. That dream became reality when I launched Austin Electrical Construction with little more than an idea and $125 in my pocket. I believed in the promise of our great country and commonwealth: that hard work and perseverance can lead to success. It wasn’t always easy – there were lean years – but I’m proud that our family business is thriving today.
As a small business owner, I learned that standing up for what matters requires commitment and resolve. That lesson has guided my public service. In the House of Delegates, I’ve focused on practical, commonsense solutions to grow our economy, improve infrastructure, and protect our conservative values. I’m proud of my pro-life voting record and A rating and endorsement from the National Rifle Association.
I often hear folks say that Richmond thinks Virginia ends at Charlottesville. During my time in the legislature, I’ve worked hard to correct that perception. Here in rural Virginia, we face unique challenges that require strong, experienced voices to ensure we are not overlooked. With Fairfax County represented by 15 delegates, seniority is our most effective counterweight to amplify the concerns and priorities of rural communities. As a budget conferee and Ranking Republican on Appropriations, I have fought to ensure the tax dollars we send to Richmond come back home.
We’ve made meaningful progress. Regarding infrastructure and economic development, we secured permanent funding to improve Interstate 81, a vital economic corridor, and invested $80 million to enhance safety on Route 220 in Botetourt County, once the most-dangerous section of primary road in Virginia. In Alleghany County, we secured $3.3 million to prepare a pad-ready site for job creation, while in Rockbridge County, we established a revenue stream to enhance the Virginia Horse Center, improving its ability to attract major equestrian events and boosting the local economy.
Public safety remains a top priority. I believe in the rule of law and deeply respect our law enforcement officers and first responders for their willingness to protect and serve our communities. That’s why I’ve worked to increase funding for public safety, including securing $20 million for a new Virginia State Police Division 6 headquarters and $1.95 million for Craig County’s much-needed emergency radio system.
In education, I fully support our efforts to increase investments in early childhood programs, expand capacity, and reduce waiting lists for those in need of Developmental Disability waivers. I was happy to support the merger of Alleghany County and Covington school systems at the request of both localities to create efficiencies and lower tax burdens.
As a graduate of Botetourt Technical Education Center, I know the value of skilled trades and have championed programs preparing students for the workforce. Recently, I was able to attend a career signing ceremony where 41 students committed to local jobs – proof that investing in career readiness is worthwhile.
Affordability is another pressing issue. Rising costs are straining families across Virginia. One way to provide relief is by reducing taxes. I was happy to support tax rebates and cutting the state grocery tax, returning your money back to you.
My wife, Kathy, and I owe a great deal to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is where we built our life together, and I want every Virginian to have the same opportunities to thrive. I remain committed to making that vision a reality during our two-month-long sessions in Richmond, and when we are back home in the district.
It has been a privilege to serve as your delegate. While we’ve achieved a lot, there is still much work to do. I humbly ask for your vote in the Republican Primary on June 17 and would be honored to continue representing you in the House of Delegates.
Delegate Terry Austin
37th House District
