By Karli Ratliff
Denise Litten Stirewalt has replaced Eric O’Connell as the GOP nominee in the Peters Creek District for the Patrick County Board of Supervisors.
Both O’Connell and his wife, Bethnney O’Connell — who sought the district’s seat on the Patrick County School Board — announced their withdrawal from the contests, citing personal reasons.
The Patrick County Republican Committee held a special meeting on June 11 to consider nominees. Stirewalt was the single nomination. With only members of the Peters Creek District participating, Stirewalt was unanimously confirmed as the party’s new nominee. She now will face Keith Puckett in the November election.
Because she is a party nominee, Stirewalt will not need to collect signatures or meet other filing requirements, according to Wren Williams, chairman of the local GOP committee.
If successful in November, “I will be a voice for positive change,” Stirewalt said at the meeting. “I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m willing to put the time in. I’m very passionate about our county,”
Her family moved to Patrick County when she was 4 years old, Stirewalt said, adding she grew up in the county.
“I started working when I was 15-years-old,” she said at the meeting, and credited her parents, Jim and Ann Litten, with instilling her strong work ethic.
Stirewalt said she spent about eight years working in tourism in Asheville, North Carolina. She also worked in real estate for 12 years and helped with the deal that brought Walmart to Stuart. She also worked in Patrick County Administration for almost five years.
She credits that position with inspiring her to run for the Board of Supervisors. While working for the county, Stirewalt said she raised some concerns to the supervisors, but her concerns were not addressed.
“Our county has a great staff. The majority really put their hearts into making the county better,” she said.
The board, however, can be improved, according to Stirewalt, who includes creating a cooperative and responsive board among her goals. Others include getting a handle on the budget and working with the school board.
Stirewalt said she would like to see more business retention and tourism growth to aid with job creation, as well as a 24-hour healthcare facility that would add to the quality of life and help to bring in businesses. She is a supporter of the broadband initiative.
Stirewalt said she would love to make Patrick County somewhere that kids will want to move back to or stay in as adults. She wants to work for her district to better the whole county.
“I would listen to anybody, any views,” Stirewalt said. She wants to be someone that anyone can come to with issues, regardless of political party.
She said she will strive to be a “positive voice for the people of the county” if elected, and plans to make her campaign slogan in the upcoming election “your voice for positive change.”
Stirewalt and her husband Gene Stirewalt – who served many years as the coordinator of local blood drives – have three children, two grandchildren and a third on the way.
Stirewalt currently works three days a week at New York Life Insurance, two days a week for Helms Briscoe, and a couple days a week at Concord Corner Store. She is an active member of the Stuart Baptist Church.
