For the sixth time, the majority of Patrick County voters shot down a meals-tax referendum that would have allowed a 4-percent tax on meals purchased outside the Town of Stuart. Stuart already has a 5-percent meals tax.
Of the 8,100 county voters weighing in on the meals tax, 61 percent voted no.
In overall Election Day turnout, 65 percent of Patrick County’s registered voters came out to the polls. Russell Creek had the highest precinct participation rate at nearly 70 percent, and Peters Creek had the highest district rate at 67 percent.
In the U.S. Presidential race, the Va. Dept. of Elections’ unofficial results showed that, county-wide, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton received nearly 21 percent of the vote while Republican candidate Donald Trump had nearly 76 percent.
In the 9th District House race, incumbent Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, carried the county with 75.5 percent. Democratic candidate Derek Kitts came in second with nearly 20 percent. The remainder went to independent and write-in candidates.
County voters were split 752 no to 640 yes on a Virginia constitutional amendment that would prevent employers from using union membership to deny employment.
The second amendment, which would allow localities to waive real-estate taxes for surviving spouses of law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel or EMS personnel, was supported county-wide with 1,048 in favor and 380 opposed.
Stuart Mayor Ray Weiland, and council members “Mac” Deekens and Leon Puckett ran unopposed and were elected.
– Angela H. Hill
