Mike Walls, 65, of Hudgins, has announced his candidacy for a second term on the Mathews County Board of Supervisors.
Walls said in a press release that over the past four years he has worked side by side with county residents, local businesses, and state leaders to make Mathews stronger, safer and more prosperous. He said that, as a man of faith, family and principle, his record reflects, not politics, but “plain hard work and commitment to the people of Mathews.”
Looking back at his first term, Walls said his accomplishments include helping to hire a county administrator, a planner, and a zoning coordinator to ensure that “county government works efficiently for the people,” said the release. He also said he had taken a firm stand on constitutional rights by supporting Mathews becoming a First and Second Amendment sanctuary county.
In the area of bringing new business to Mathews, Walls pointed to his work helping to establish Mathews Materials and welcoming a Dollar General Market, both at Cobbs Creek. He said in the release that he had prioritized infrastructure and public safety by supporting the dredging of the Hole in the Wall channel and restoration of channel markers, backing broadband expansion, and helping to ensure that first responders were fully funded. Finally, he said he supported the purchase of the former Boys and Girls Club and its transformation into a fire station, helping to save the county an estimated $6 million to $8 million.
Looking ahead, Walls said his priorities are to continue scrutinizing “every aspect of the county budget to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.” He said in the release that he is committed to finishing the dredge products at Davis Creek and Winter Harbor, bringing municipal water to the court house business district, and supporting the addition of a second school resource officer to keep children safe. He said he will also stand firm on his pledge to never vote in favor of large, commercial, ground-based solar arrays that threaten Mathews County’s rural character.
As a small business owner, Walls said his experience in running a business and budgeting has shaped his approach to serving the county by making him careful with money, focused on results and accountable to the taxpayers.
Walls prides himself on being a steady, conservative leader who puts Mathews County first. He said his commitment to learning, collaboration, and strong local governance are demonstrated by his service as a board representative to the Community Policy Management Team, the Virginia Peninsulas Public Service Authority, and the Middle Peninsula Criminal Justice Services Board, and his regular attendance at Virginia Association of Counties seminars.
Walls’s roots are in Virginia. He said in the release that he learned the value of hard work while growing up in Chesterfield County and graduating first from Thomas Dale High School, then Richmond Technical Center. He said that, after running a successful trucking business for three decades, he and his wife of 44 years, Tammy, “fell in love with Mathews” in the 1980s and made it their permanent home in 2001. The Wallses have two children and eight grandchildren.