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Sterling
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BY KAFIA HOSH
Three new faces will join the Stafford County Board of Supervisors next year, shaking up the GOP majority on the board.
Democrat Bob Woodson unseated Independent incumbent Jack Cavalier in the Griffis-Widewater District race. Democrat Harry Crisp won against Republican Tom Coen in the George Washington District race. The new supervisors will join fellow Democratic Supervisor George Schwartz and Hartwood Supervisor Joe Brito, an Independent, who usually votes with the Democrats.
Cord Sterling was the only Republican elected to the board, in the Rock Hill District race.
GOP supervisors held the majority on the board with the help of Cavalier, who typically voted with Republican board members.
Now, the remaining GOP supervisors are bracing for the looming shift in power, which they say could result in new policies and practices.
"I think there is a dynamic difference," said Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer, a Republican who represents the Garrisonville District. "There will be some major changes."
Those changes include the possible implementation of the Business, Professional, and Occupational License Tax.
Schwartz is an ardent supporter of BPOL, a tax on a business's gross receipts.
Susan Stimpson, chairwoman of the Stafford Republican Committee, predicts the new Democratic majority will help Schwartz get the BPOL tax passed.
"Now the control of the Board of Supervisors is in their hands, and I wish them well," she said. "I'm just extremely concerned about the impact of this tax on businesses."
Schwartz said the board plans to bring up BPOL, but that it will be fairly discussed.
"I think we will take a good, hard look at the issue, look at both sides, have a public hearing and make up our minds," he said.
Democratic supervisors also tend to favor less density in development. As a result, they could increase the minimum acreage requirements per house, said Supervisor Paul Milde, a Republican who represents the Aquia District.
But a Democratic majority also "means we'll have a chance to see if some of their ideas work," Milde added.
If re-elected, Cavalier would have had the most experience on the board, with eight years of service.
The combined experience of the new board will be eight years.
The turnover of supervisors "represents the new Stafford and the changing demographics," Schwartz said. "I think the voters have indicated, once again, they're looking for positive change."
Cavalier lost his seat by only 28 votes.
According to unofficial election results, he is not eligible to request a recount because the margin of victory was 1.3 percent. A recount can be requested only if the margin of victory is 1 percent or less of the total votes cast for the two candidates.
Cavalier's only other option would be to file a lawsuit alleging some kind of impropriety. He would have to allege that the winner of the election was ineligible to run, or that there was specific misconduct or incorrectly tallied votes, such as missing absentee ballots or voting machines.
"It would have to be a concrete act, something that could be proven," said Barbara Cockrell, director of operations for the State Board of Elections.
Repeated attempts to contact Cavalier over several days were unsuccessful.
But Dudenhefer said Cavalier's leadership will be missed.
"He has a lot of experience and knowledge, and I'm going to miss working with him," Dudenhefer said.
Kafia Hosh: 540/735-1977
