So far, no one has officially entered the race for the Peters Creek District on the Patrick County School Board in the Nov. 7 election.
The seat is currently held by incumbent Ryan Lawson.
He has not submitted the necessary paperwork for reelection, according to Patrick County Registrar Susan Taylor.
Lawson’s district was among those to change in the 2022 redistricting.
If he does file for a seat on the Patrick County School Board, Lawson would face incumbent Shannon Harrell for the Blue Ridge District seat. Harrell has already filed the necessary paperwork, Taylor said.
Those who may be interested in seeking the post must complete a certificate of candidate qualification form, campaign finance documents, the appropriate statement of economic interest form, a declaration of candidacy form, and a petition of qualified voters, Taylor said.
“There are five things that they have to fill out,” she said.
If a candidate does not make it onto the ballot, Taylor said a resident of the Peters Creek District could run a write-in campaign.
“They are held to a different standard. They don’t have to do the petitions, but they would have to do a statement of organization if they declared candidacy as a write-in,” she said.
If that does not happen, Taylor said the school board would follow Virginia Code 24.2-228, which states the remaining members of the board may appoint a qualified voter of the election district in which the vacancy occurred to fill the vacancy within 45 days of the office becoming vacant if a vacancy occurs.
“If a majority of the remaining members of the body or board cannot agree, or do not act, the judges of the circuit court of the county or city may make the appointment. Notwithstanding any charter provisions to the contrary, the person so appointed shall hold office only until the qualified voters fill the vacancy by special election” and “the person so elected has qualified,” she said.
Lawson could not be reached for comment.
The deadline to file is June 20 at 7 p.m.
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