GOP candidates take Mathews board seats
BY SHERRY HAMILTON
Candidates for the Mathews County Board of Supervisors who were the nominees of the Mathews Republican Committee as well as the most vocal and persistent critics of the actions taken by the current board over the last four years were the undisputed winners in Tuesday’s election.
Mark and Brenda Lewis of Mathews voted together at the Westville Precinct polls at Thomas Hunter Middle School on Tuesday.
Mike Walls, who ran for the board in 2017 and came in third, then expressed anger when he was subsequently denied the seat left vacant by former supervisor Pepper Love’s resignation, was the decided winner, garnering 2,330 votes, or 28.02 percent of the total. Walls first came to the public’s attention as a strong proponent of taking action to have local waterways dredged.
Coming in second, with 1,721 votes, or 20.7 percent, was Dave Jones, who has regularly attended board meetings over the past four years and consistently criticized the board for not providing the Islander Motel with a flood ordinance exemption so it could re-open, and for its decisions regarding the Hole in the Wall restaurant.
Candidate Billy Cook, a planning commission member who launched an aggressive campaign as an independent who wanted to bring civility and respect to the board, garnered 19.1 percent of the vote, with 1,588 ballots cast in his favor.
Incumbent supervisor Mike Rowe, who was appointed to fill the seat left when Pepper Love resigned from the board in 2019, came in fourth, with 1,506 votes, or 18.11 percent of the total. Rowe said on Wednesday morning that he felt excessive press coverage of the issues raised by Walls and Jones during board meetings, along with inadequate press coverage of Jones’s lawsuits against the county, were the reasons for his loss.
Dee Russell, who ran as an independent with a Republican background who also wanted to bring civility to the board, came in last, with 1,142 votes, or 13.73 percent of the total.
School board
Bobby Dobson was the top vote-getter in the Mathews County School Board election, bringing in 2,059 votes, or 27.18 percent of the total. Dobson ran on the premise that he was the candidate who wanted to represent the children, and who wanted to make sure that critical race theory wasn’t taught in the schools.
Incumbent school board chair Linda Hodges, whose 2,041 votes represented 26.94 percent of the total, came in second in the race. Hodges ran on the current success of the schools, on her determination to provide academic support for elementary-age children, and on making sure all children read at grade level by third grade.
Lorraine Forrest, who wanted the school board to look more closely at preparing students for the workplace, as well as bringing an ROTC program to Mathews High School, came in third, with 23.89 percent of the total, or 1,810 votes.
Samantha Morgan, who ran on a campaign critical of the current school board’s approach to standards, financial practices in contracting, inclusivity, and long-range planning, came in last, with 1,625 votes, or 21.45 percent of the total.
Confederate monument
In a ballot referendum, Mathews residents voted overwhelmingly to keep the Confederate monument in its current place on the Mathews Court Green. Just 939 voters, or 19.91 percent, responded yes to the question of whether the monument should be moved, with 3,778 voters, or 80.09 percent, voting no to the question.
Smith, Gibson, Bazzani win in Gloucester
BY TYLER BASS
Current Gloucester supervisors Kevin Smith and Phillip Bazzani retained their seats on the county board, while Michael Winebarger lost his following Tuesday’s election.
Gloucester School Board candidate Carlton Drew speaks with a voter outside of Abingdon Ruritan Club.
As of Wednesday morning, Kevin Smith defeated Teresa Altemus for the at-large seat on the board by claiming 57 percent of the vote.
In a Facebook post Smith said, “I am humbled by the response from the great citizens of Gloucester County who have voted for me.”
“There are a great many continued concerns that we must work on now and in the coming years,” said Smith, “We must keep Gloucester’s charm, while also focusing on attracting businesses to secure local jobs.”
Petsworth District candidate Ken Gibson defeated current supervisor Mike Winebarger, winning 63 percent of the vote. In a statement released Wednesday morning, Gibson said, “I am immensely grateful to the family, friends, and loyal supporters who so generously contributed their time and effort to our campaign during this election season.
“I look forward to working with you as your supervisor as we bring more jobs and prosperity to the county,” said Gibson.
Winebarger thanked his supporters for the last eight years of his time of the board as their representative.
Bazzani ran unopposed in the election for the board’s York District seat.
Newcomers win Gloucester school seats
BY KIM ROBINS
For the Gloucester School Board, newcomers Carlton Drew and Karen Espinoza ousted incumbents Elisa Nelson and Anita Parker, respectively.
In the York district, Drew received 1,835 votes, or 52.38 percent, over Nelson, who received 1,664 or 47.50 percent. Nelson has served only one term.
In the Petsworth district, Espinoza received 1,544 votes, or 52.39 percent, over Parker, who received 1,401 votes or 47.54 percent. Parker has represented Petsworth on the board for four terms.
Also on the ballot was an at-large seat on the board, which was successfully pursued by unopposed newcomer Kellie Lockerby. She received 13,978 votes, or 99.42 percent, and there were 81 write-in votes for the seat. She will replace Brenda Mack, who did not seek a second term.
