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INCUMBENTS OUSTED
Incumbent supervisors lose in Orange CountyDate published: 11/4/2009 BY ROBIN KNEPPER Orange County voters booted the two incumbents seeking re-election yesterday after a hotly fought campaign that saw six candidates vying for two seats on the Board of Supervisors. In District 4, former Supervisor Grover Wilson regained his seat by capturing more than 59 percent of the vote over incumbent Teri Pace. Ron Matalavage finished third with 14 percent. In District 1, political newcomer Shannon Abbs bested incumbent Mark Johnson by a mere five votes, 651-646--a margin that allows Johnson to seek a recount. Andy McWilliams received 294 votes. "I haven't made the decision yet about asking for a recount," Johnson said last night. In her first term, Pace had fought hard for limited growth in the county. She sided with historic preservationists who fought unsuccessfully against a special-use permit to allow Walmart to build a Supercenter near Wilderness Battlefield in her district. She also opposed building the new Locust Grove Middle School, which the School Board and other supervisors have said is needed to ease overcrowding in the two existing District 4 schools. Wilson said he supports economic development. He called Pace's positions detrimental to county residents, who he said need businesses and jobs in the county. The two also disagreed on the need to expand State Route 20 into a four-lane road. Wilson said he thought a negative mailer and radio ad by Pace in the closing days of the campaign backfired against her. "The letter she sent out yesterday saying 'Grover Wilson lies' really helped me," he said. Growth was not as big an issue in District 1, although Johnson had supported Walmart and was a critic of an ordinance passed last year that limited the property-division rights of county landowners. He vowed to revisit the ordinance, as did Wilson. Johnson had also supported Annadale, an over-55 subdivision near Gordonsville that had been opposed by growth opponents. Abbs has fought charges that she was supported by "special-interest groups" and has said that she turned downed the services of a political consultant. In a recent newspaper ad, she said that she wasn't the Piedmont Environmental Council's "girl," managed by professionals. She also had said that she supports economic growth for employment opportunities. In the lone contested School Board race, Chairman Jerry Bledsoe garnered 67 percent of the vote to handily defeat Todd Hensley and win a third term in District 4. Lou Thompson was unopposed in District 1 and will fill the School Board seat being vacated by Chris Haney. Acting Clerk of the Circuit Court Teresa Carroll was unopposed in her special election to fill out the term of retired Clerk Linda Timmons, who left office at the end of June. Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Read more stories about Orange Date published: 11/4/2009
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