Three candidates – Rebecca Adcock, Terry Dalton and James Houchins – are vying to be the next Stuart Town Mayor in the November election, and while each have differing ideas on some aspects, they all cited transparency as a top priority.
Adcock
Former Vice-Mayor Rebecca Adcock, currently in her third term on the Stuart Town Council, announced her bid for mayor following Mayor Ray Weiland’s decision to step down at the end of the year. Adcock, 44, believes her experience and past work make this the right time to pursue the role.
Adcock said one of Stuart’s biggest challenges, like many rural towns, is a lack of staff and resources to handle current operations while still working on future projects. She emphasized the need to complete the town’s four active projects, totaling nearly $5 million, before taking on new initiatives.
“We receive community input regularly, but having a more structured approach to understanding how residents want the town to evolve would be beneficial,” Adcock said. She supports increased public involvement in local government, noting the unique nature of serving at the local level. “We’re making decisions for our own community, not at the state or federal level. Town council is almost like a community organization rather than a political role,” she said.
Adcock often engages with residents during her daily errands but also advocates for scheduled public input sessions to gather feedback on town projects. She also stressed the importance of transparency, saying, “We live here, work here, and make decisions that affect our community. The information we have should be shared, especially since we’re using taxpayer money.”
While acknowledging that some aspects of town management, like contracts, must remain confidential, Adcock believes that general operations should be open to the public. She noted that one of Stuart’s challenges is its limited resources to manage operations. “It would be great if we had more staff and could provide them with adequate training,” she said, adding that municipalities need to evolve to keep up with modern demands.
Despite those challenges, Adcock praised Stuart’s financial situation, highlighting the town’s active projects and substantial external funding. “The mayor always brings positive comments to our council meetings,” she said.
Adcock believes her decade of experience on the council makes her well-suited for the mayor’s role. As the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director since 2017, she’s built strong relationships with county, regional, and state officials, which she says is crucial for fostering collaboration.
In addition to her council duties, Adcock has supported community initiatives such as promoting the Stuart Farmers’ Market and beautification projects, including the pocket park and town flower beds. She also attended the Small Towns Conference this past spring to learn from other municipalities.
“I’ve served on several boards aimed at improving life for Patrick County and Stuart residents,” Adcock said, citing her involvement with Caring Hearts Free Clinic, Park Workshop, and the Workforce Investment Board, among others. “Every day, I wake up thinking about how I can make Stuart and Patrick County better.”
Adcock holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s in animal science. She has served as an adjunct instructor at Patrick & Henry Community College and worked for the Martinsville YMCA. She has been married for nearly 21 years to her husband Jonathan, a veterinarian, and they share a home with several pets. In her free time, Adcock enjoys writing, reading, running, and creating art.
Dalton
Terry Dalton, 56, has been a member of the Stuart Town Council since 2009, making him the longest-serving current member with 15 years of experience. While Dalton expressed that he wishes Mayor Ray Weiland would continue serving, he feels that his lengthy tenure makes him a strong candidate to succeed Weiland.
“I enjoy being on the council. It’s been a vital part of my life, seeing the town grow, businesses develop, and managing the town’s budget and staff. It’s a good organization to be part of,” Dalton said, adding that serving the community for over a decade has been a rewarding experience.
One of Stuart’s biggest challenges, Dalton said, is maintaining the town’s momentum. “The town is financially strong, with almost $5 million in active projects, mostly funded through grants and outside sources. The biggest challenge is to keep things going the way they have been because I feel like things have been going well,” he said.
Dalton emphasized that Stuart has managed to balance its budget without raising taxes or increasing utility costs. “We live within our budget,” he said, noting that Stuart’s growth has been funded primarily through grants, such as $1.7 million for the water treatment plant, $1.4 million for downtown revitalization, and $1.1 million for water resilience and reliability upgrades.
He credited Town Manager Bryce Simmons and town staff for their work in securing the necessary funds. “Everything we’re doing with water and sewer projects is either funded or covered through grants,” Dalton said.
Dalton encourages public involvement in town affairs and noted that the council holds monthly meetings on the third Wednesday. “Anyone from the town or county is welcome to attend and share their views. Community input is critical because, without the residents, we don’t have a town,” he said.
Transparency is another key issue for Dalton, who said he’s pleased that Simmons provides detailed reports at every meeting, outlining how each dollar is spent. “Nothing is hidden. Anyone at a public meeting is welcome to look at where their tax dollars are going,” Dalton said.
Dalton believes Stuart excels at living within its means, securing necessary funding without raising taxes. “Even when the county raises taxes, the town adjusts its rates to ensure customers aren’t paying extra. We aim to balance things out and avoid increasing costs for residents,” he said.
A strong supporter of local businesses, particularly family-owned ventures, Dalton said he welcomes more business development in Stuart. “Even though I’m in the restaurant business, I welcome all new restaurants. There’s enough for everyone,” he said.
Dalton believes voters should consider his extensive experience. In addition to his 15 years on the town council, he served on the Patrick County Economic Development Authority (EDA) for six years. As a local business owner and volunteer firefighter for the past 21 years, Dalton said he understands the needs of both businesses and the community.
“My kids grew up here, I live here, and this is home. I invest in our community, even through volunteering,” he said.
Dalton graduated from North Stokes High School and attended Surry Community College for business administration. He also studied youth ministry in Oklahoma for two years. He owned a fire security business for 29 years, managed a Wendy’s restaurant for two years, and currently owns Stuart Family Restaurant, which he’s operated for a year.
Dalton is married to his wife, Robin. Together, they have six children and five grandchildren, with a sixth on the way. In his spare time, Dalton enjoys volunteering with the fire department and riding motorcycles.
Houchins
Jeff Houchins, 55, is vying for the role of mayor in Stuart’s upcoming November election. Currently serving his first term as a Stuart Town Council member, Houchins previously worked for the town for four years. He said his decision to run for mayor stems from his dedication to the community.
“I just feel like it’s my opportunity to become mayor and see what I can do for the town,” Houchins said. “Everything I’m doing is for Stuart.”
Houchins views the town’s continued growth as its most significant challenge, particularly in attracting more businesses and increasing activity, especially on weekends.
“I want to see the town busier, like what Franklin County and small towns like Mount Airy are doing,” he said. “More activities, more businesses, and more growth for Stuart.”
Houchins supports continuing popular local events, such as First Fridays, and aims to work more closely with the Patrick County Economic Development Authority (EDA) to foster collaboration on town initiatives. He also encourages greater public participation in town meetings to enhance transparency and involve residents in decision-making.
“A little more advertisement in the newspapers when we’re having our meetings and encourage them to come out and let them have a voice on what they would like to see happen in the town. Because without the residents, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” he said.
Getting residents to attend council meetings also improves its transparency, Houchins said.
“The town council was always open for advice we could (get) to take in. Just getting the residents more involved, that’s what we need to do to become more transparent,” he said.
Houchins believes Stuart is on the right track with its current events and is optimistic about the downtown revitalization project. He hopes to see more housing opportunities developed in the town and plans to work toward that goal.
“We’re already working on getting businesses involved in housing projects, and that’s something I want to continue,” he said. Houchins added that he would like to see both local businesses and residents more engaged in these efforts.
As a military veteran, Houchins pointed to his leadership experience as an asset. He also highlighted his deep roots in the community, emphasizing that he has lived in Stuart his entire life.
“I’m truly a Stuart town person,” Houchins said. “I was born and raised here, and I don’t know if any of the other candidates can say that.”
A graduate of Patrick County High School, Houchins has some college education but does not hold a degree. He has been married to his wife, Tracey, for 27 years, and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Paige.
Houchins served in the U.S. National Guard for six years and has worked in various roles, including at Hall’s Propane, Hutchens Petroleum, and as a Certified Nursing Assistant at RJR Hospital and Blue Ridge Nursing Home. He has owned George’s Boys Car Wash, a car detailing business, for the past 15 to 20 years.
Houchins also has a long history of community involvement, coaching Stuart Elementary School’s football team for 28 years and serving as a Patrick County Parks and Recreation board member for 15 years. He was also a member of the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department and the Jeb Stuart Volunteer Rescue Squad for over a decade.
In his free time, Houchins enjoys fishing, watching football, being outdoors, and working on cars.
