The six candidates for the Orange Town Council apparently aren't doing an effective job of getting their message out.
An informal survey involving a dozen phone calls to people around town found little interest in the May 6 election for two seats on the five-member Town Council, even though two incumbents are seeking re-election and four others have said they'd like their seats.
The people surveyed admitted they weren't familiar with all of the candidates--or, in some cases, any of them--and had no idea what the issues might be.
"It's apathy," said former Mayor Ray Lonick, who served on the Town Council for 16 years. Lonick praised the incumbents for "very respectable" service to the town, but said he hadn't heard anything from the other candidates.
Stacey Timmons, vice principal of Emerald Hill Elementary School in Culpeper County, is seeking his second term on the council. He says he'd like to attract more business to the town.
Rick Sherman, an Orange businessman, has served for 16 years. He'd like to see downtown revitalization continue.
Jimmy Darnell and Kent Higginbotham, both Orange businessmen, have served on the council in years past. Darnell would like to control growth. Higginbotham would like to broaden the tax base.
Ryan Gibson, also an Orange businessman, is seeking his first elected office. He'd like to address the increasing water and sewer rates.
Robert Lovett, a businessman with an office in Orange, has filed papers to be a candidate, but did not respond to requests for information.
Lovett's business address is in the town of Orange but his home address is listed in Orange County, according to WhitePages.com.
Commonwealth's Attorney Diana Wheeler said she received a complaint that Lovett is not a town resident and has asked the state police to investigate.
JIMMY DARNELL
AGE: 53
FAMILY: Wife, Delores, children Jasmine, Will and Zach
OCCUPATION: Vegetable farmer, plant grower; garden center owner/operator
BACKGROUND: Graduate, Orange County High School, 1973, and Virginia Tech, 1978; served on Town Council 1992- 2006; supports Love Outreach Food Bank; member, Trinity United Methodist Church
KEY ISSUES: Keeping services in the town high and costs low; hiring specialists to find outside sources of money in order to keep taxpayers' cost for a new sewage-treatment plant as low as possible; maintaining the Southern charm of community with controlled growth
RYAN GIBSON
AGE: 29
FAMILY: Wife, Rachel, sons Taylor and Matthew
OCCUPATION: Owner-operator of Gibson Rentals
BACKGROUND: 1997 graduate, Orange County High School, 2001 graduate, Hampden-Sydney College
KEY ISSUES: Address rising water and sewer rates; accountability for public funds through a zero-based budget; additional revitalization downtown to create economic core
KENT HIGGINBOTHAM
AGE: 48
FAMILY: Wife, Kathryn, two children
BACKGROUND: Graduate, University of Virginia; 12 years on Town Council; member, Technical Advisory Committee for more than 10 years; entrepreneur in town for 25 years; past president, Orange Lions Club
KEY ISSUES: Creating a government where residents are its customers and that spends taxpayer money like it was its own; restraining excessive spending and cutting waste; broadening tax base with businesses and industry
F. W. 'RICK' SHERMAN JR.
AGE: 51
FAMILY: Wife, Sherry, son Taylor, daughter Amy
OCCUPATION: Engineer and rental property enterprise
BACKGROUND: Orange school system graduate; degree in engineering from Virginia Military Institute; three years in U.S. Army; licensed professional engineer; town Board of Zoning Appeals; town Planning Commission; Town Council for 16 years; mayor for three years; Orange County Economic Development Authority; James Madison Museum Board
KEY ISSUES: Support town manager and staff; continue downtown revitalization; keep Orange a safe, active and progressive small town
STACEY TIMMONS
AGE: 39
FAMILY: Wife, Cathy, daughters Sarah and Mary
OCCUPATION: Assistant principal, Culpeper County schools; past assistant principal, Orange County schools
BACKGROUND: Graduate, Orange High School, 1986; bachelor's degree, Mary Washington College; master's degree, George Mason University; doctoral student, Virginia Tech; elected to Orange Town Council, 2004; past Orange Volunteer Rescue Squad and Orange Volunteer Fire Department member; Sheriff's Office auxiliary deputy
KEY ISSUES: Attract more businesses by encouraging economic growth; maintain family-friendly community while managing growth; explore possibility of senior citizen and youth center
ROBERT LOVETT
Did not respond to requests for information.
Read more stories about Orange Date published: 5/1/2008
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