The Mathews County Republican Committee held a firehouse primary last Thursday to select the party’s candidates for the Mathews County Board of Supervisors election in November.

There are two seats up for election this year on the board and, according to Republican Committee Chair Byron Rauch, the committee had three contenders for the nominations—Mike Walls of Hudgins, David Jones of Mathews, and Tim Doss of Port Haywood.

With 230 voters, Rauch said the results were 202 votes for Walls, 127 votes for Jones, and 95 votes for Doss, making Mike Walls and Dave Jones the Republican candidates for the November election.

Incumbent supervisor Mike Rowe sought the nomination, as well, said Rauch, but he did not submit a written statement swearing that he would support all Republican nominees in the future. Rauch said Rowe was required to do so because he has voted in Democratic primary elections in the past three years.

In a telephone interview, Rowe said he did not know he had to submit a statement of fealty to the party in order to declare as a candidate. He said he has voted in every election for the past 50 years, including Democratic primaries.

“In a primary, you can vote for somebody—or against somebody,” he said.

If there was a dual primary, said Rowe, he voted in the Republican one.