Editor, Gazette Journal:

Having spent a career in and around the court and criminal justice system, I am very aware that experience in various court positions matter. That is why I am endorsing Elizabeth (Beth) Brown for Circuit Court Clerk, Marie Walls for Commonwealth Attorney and April Edwards for Mathews County Sheriff.

Beth Brown has over four years’ experience in the Mathews Clerk of Court office, has been endorsed by our retired COC Angie Ingram and has served as the acting Clerk of Court for the past several months.

Marie Walls has had over 20 years’ experience as a prosecutor as well as having served in the Commonwealth’s Attorneys offices in other jurisdictions such as Suffolk County and currently Gloucester County, and has been recommended and endorsed by many of her former and current coworkers as well as our own retiring Sheriff Mark Barrick.

Though I am not as familiar with Major April Edwards, she has been highly praised and endorsed by our retiring sheriff for whom she has worked under as his right hand.

With these three women I am confident our county court and criminal justice system will be in highly capable hands.

Patricia B. Dickey
Port Haywood. Va.