Each year during the January Board of Supervisors meeting, board members discuss leadership reorganization. On January 28, board members voted unanimously to elect Amy White as the new chair of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors. White assumes the position from Steve Clinton who served as board chair in 2024.
White, who represents the Buchanan District, has been a supervisor since 2021 and recently served as vice chair. She is currently the Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and Workforce Solutions at Virginia Western Community College, where she has been teaching for over 17 years. In addition, she was recently appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Manufacturing Development Commission and the STEM Education Advisory Board.
White’s extensive academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University (JMU), a Master of Science in Microbiology & Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and a certificate in Field Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Hollins University and as a Biology lecturer at JMU. She is a strong advocate for agriculture and an avid supporter of the Botetourt Farmer’s Market.
“I am deeply honored to step into the role of chair of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors,” said White, a generational farmer with deep roots in the county. “As someone who has lived and worked here my whole life, I’m committed to making the best decisions possible for the betterment of everyone in our community and future generations. All of us on the board take our responsibilities very seriously, and we will continue to work diligently together to serve our citizens. It’s a privilege to work alongside my fellow board members to help shape the bright future of Botetourt County.”
Dr. Mac Scothorn was unanimously voted to assume the vice chair role. Scothorn was elected to serve the Valley District and has been on the board since 2013. Growing up in Montana, he planned to become a petroleum engineer, but instead he set his sights on biology, becoming a well-known optometrist for Vistar Eye Center. He attended the Illinois College of Optometry and received clinical training at the Illinois Eye Institute and Great Lakes Naval Base. He completed his residency at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va.
Photos courtesy of Botetourt Co.
Scothorn has worked tirelessly as the chair of the county’s Broadband Commission and has been a driving force in helping make universal broadband coverage a reality in the county.
“I’m truly excited to take on the role of vice chair for the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors,” Scothorn said. “As someone who’s had the privilege of working in this community and raising my family here, I care deeply about seeing Botetourt County flourish. I’m looking forward to working alongside my fellow supervisors to keep moving our county forward, and I’m committed to listening to our citizens every step of the way. This is such a special place, and it’s an honor to play a part in shaping its future.”
Steve Clinton, Brandon Nicely, and Walter Michael will continue to serve on the Board of Supervisors in 2025.
Additional county appointments from Tuesday’s meeting include:
- David Dearing is the county’s newest part-time Code Enforcement Officer.
- Jaime Thrasher is the new Parks and Recreation Community Recreation Coordinator, focusing on activities for all ages. She’s also a certified yoga instructor and holds many other certifications, bringing a wealth of knowledge to community programming.
- Brandon Bryner is the new Maintenance Technician. He and his wife recently relocated from Oregon to join the Botetourt County team.
- Jeff Lambert is the custodian for the Greenfield Administration building. Lambert is a local, living right here in Botetourt County.
To find out more about the supervisors, visit www.botetourtva.gov/bos. The public is also welcome to attend the supervisors’ meetings. Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at the Botetourt Administration Center at Greenfield, 57 S. Center Drive in Daleville.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
