Supports Austin for delegate nomination
I am writing to express my support for Delegate Terry Austin in the upcoming Republican primary on June 17. His dedication to our community and commitment to preserving our local history make him an exceptional representative for Botetourt County and our region.
Delegate Austin’s efforts to secure funding for the Botetourt County Museum underscore his commitment to safeguarding our region’s heritage. The museum will serve as a vital resource, preserving the stories and artifacts that define our identity. Thanks to his leadership, our future generations will continue to learn from and appreciate our shared past.
Furthermore, Delegate Austin has championed initiatives to shine a spotlight on the Lewis & Clark Legacy Trail. By promoting this historical treasure, he has elevated Botetourt County’s role in one of America’s most significant expeditions. His vision connects our community to the broader narrative of the nation’s history, encouraging both education and tourism.
Additionally, Delegate Austin’s efforts to honor Norvel Lafayette Ray Lee, an African American gold medalist and trailblazer from Eagle Rock, demonstrate his deep respect for local heroes whose achievements have shaped our community and our country. By bringing overdue recognition to Lee’s inspiring story, Delegate Austin highlights the values of perseverance and excellence that unite us all.
As a resident of Botetourt County with three grandchildren growing up here, I’m grateful to have a representative who values our heritage and works tirelessly to preserve it for our future generations. Delegate Terry Austin’s leadership, vision, and dedication are assets we cannot afford to lose. I urge my fellow citizens to support his re-election in the Republican primary on June 17 so he can continue making a meaningful difference for our community.
Ann Layman
Daleville
Thanks White for her service to Botetourt
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Amy White for her service to Botetourt County in her role as supervisor over the last four years. Amy embodies the character traits that make her a great leader. She is thoughtful in her approach to decision making by engaging directly with her constituents to gain a better understanding of all viewpoints to further inform her decisions.
She has been a member of this community her entire life, and I have known her for almost all of those years. In that time, I have come to know her as a woman of strong character who truly cares about the community she calls home. She brings a diverse knowledge base and a strong work ethic to her position that is an asset to the county and the board. With Amy’s guidance, Botetourt County is well positioned for change while preserving its charm for both longtime residents and newcomers.
Tammy M. Ewen
Daleville
Endorses Snyder for Amsterdam District supervisor
Tim Snyder is the right choice to represent the Amsterdam District on the Botetourt Board of Supervisors. He is a Botetourt native and graduate of Lord Botetourt High School. He learned the value of hard work growing up on his father’s Botetourt farm.
Tim is an entrepreneur, a business owner, and a community leader. He is a citizen volunteer in local government organizations such as booster clubs, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Planning Commission. He understands local government.
Critically, Tim knows the Amsterdam District. He knows that Amsterdam is a highly desirable place to live. He is determined to keep it that way. He will do this through a balanced, sensitive, and well-informed approach to community planning.
Tim Snyder is a resolute, high-energy person. He will bring to the Board of Supervisors a readiness to listen, a talent for consensus building, and a bias for action. He is the right choice for the Amsterdam District.
Steve Clinton, Supervisor
Amsterdam District
Supports Padgett for Amsterdam District
As a longtime resident of the Amsterdam District, I’ve seen out community change in many ways – some good, and others deeply concerning. Among the most frustrating developments are the worsening traffic congestion in Daleville and the steady increase in our local taxes, with little transparency or apparent benefit to everyday residents.
The traffic situation in Daleville has become nothing short of outrageous. What was once a quiet, easy-to-navigate area has turned into a daily headache, with backups that strain our roads and our patience. It’s clear that growth has outpaced planning. We need a leader who will demand smarter development, better infrastructure, and genuine accountability.
At the same time, Botetourt County taxpayers are being asked to shoulder more and more. Rising property taxes, increased fees and an overall lack of fiscal restraint raise serious questions about priorities in county government. Working families deserve better stewardship of their hard-earned money.
That’s why I’m supporting Dirk Padgett for Board of Supervisors in the Amsterdam District. Dirk is a proven leader who understands the importance of managing growth and protecting taxpayers. He’s not afraid to ask tough questions or push for practical solutions. With a strong background in public service and a clear-eyed vision for Botetourt County’s future, Dirk is exactly the kind of advocate we need at the table.
Let’s bring common sense back to county leadership. Let’s elect Dirk Padgett.
Sarah Couch
Troutville
Questions Rottman’s assertions in last week’s letter
I read the letter to the editor from Linda Rottman, the self-proclaimed “disgruntled Californian” who found her “perfect retirement place” in Botetourt County in 2013. She left California and has brought her disgruntlement here. Now she wants to change the way we live. I’m as happy living in Botetourt County now as I was in 2013 all the way back to the late 1940s and don’t welcome or comprehend her disappointment. She should have left that in California and, if she doesn’t like it here ….
This disgruntled California lawyer is one of the chronic complainers. Her letter contains many complaints yet few, if any, workable solutions to problems which don’t exist. For instance, she says the number one concern of the “literally hundreds” of Buchanan District residents is “skyrocketing taxes.” I attended the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 22, 2025, at which the FY26 budget was approved with no increase in tax rates!
Number two, she says, is not being listened to, either by their own supervisor or the board. What she obviously does not comprehend is that the board listens to everyone and more people favor the actions taken by the board, because they understand what it takes for the county to provide all the services it provides to its residents, rather than complain about almost everything.
According to her, number three is the “reckless development that has added to their tax burden and is destroying the beauty and character of the county.” Again, she does not grasp that many tax dollars flow into the county from the excellent economic development we have had and, were it not for that, our taxes would be much higher because we would still have to pay for the schools, public safety and Fire and EMS services, which constitute the vast majority of the annual budget.
She apparently does not recognize or understand that the Board of Supervisors has no control over rampant inflation or the desire of many people to live in Botetourt County because it is such a great place in which to live. The vast majority of the annual budget goes for schools and personnel and equipment for the Sheriff’s Department, Fire and EMS. The county must compete with private industry to get its great employees and inflation continues to make equipment very expensive for those necessary services. We can sleep at night because we have these great services and know they are only a phone call away.
It is interesting to note from the GIS that, when she and her husband bought their property, they paid $376,000 for it which was $104,700 more than the-then-current assessment (2010) which was $271,300. The 2016 reassessment valued their property at $277,900, $98,100 less than they paid for it in 2013. The 2020 reassessment was $294,600, $81,400 less than they paid in 2013. This is one of the few things about which I expect she did not complain! I have yet to hear anyone complain when they sell their property for more than the 2024 assessed value, which happens more than you think. They just smile all the way to the bank!
Then came the low interest rates, the high demand for housing in Botetourt County which exceeded the inventory and the big increase in property values reflected in the 2024 reassessment and her assessment went to $436,000 which. on its face, appears to be an increase of $141,400 (48%) over the 2020 assessment, but wait, part of that ($67,500) was the value of the new 11,250-square-foot (75×150) covered riding rink built thereon in 2023, so her increase was $73,900 (25%) which was far, far less than the average increase in real estate values in the 2024 reassessment. And, if you add the value of the new covered riding rink to what she paid for the property in 2013, it totals $443,500, and her current assessment is $436,000 – $7,500 less than what she paid for it in 2013 and paid for the new covered riding rink. I guess this is an example of the “skyrocketing taxes” about which she complains?
She proposes zero-based budgeting. If it were to work as well as she would have you believe, ask her to name any locality in Virginia who uses it. If it were so great, don’t you think all governments would do it that way?
I would much rather have a “local” (especially one with the roots Amy White has in my county) managing the affairs of my lifelong county than a disgruntled outsider who appears to care only for what she perceives to be in her best interests. My way of life is not under attack, but I fear it would be if we elect this self-proclaimed disgruntled Californian.
Bob Patterson
Buchanan District
Fincastle
