The Dan River seat on the Patrick County Board of Supervisors and two positions on the Stuart Town Council, including the mayor post, are all up for grabs during November’s election.
The Dan River seat became vacant after Brandon Simmons resigned from the board earlier this year. Jane Fulk, who formerly represented the district, was appointed in June to serve as the interim until the November election. Whoever wins the election will serve out the remaining term of one year.
“No one has filed at this time,” for the Dan River post, Registrar Susan Taylor said.
The deadline for application packets for the Dan River special election is Friday, August 16 at 5 p.m.
The two town council seats up for grabs belong to incumbent members Dave Hoback and Erica Wade, Taylor said.
Both current council members have submitted their applications for reelection. No one else filed to be on the ballot, Taylor said, adding that because the deadline to file has passed, anyone interested can still run as a write-in candidate.
Taylor said three people filed to run for Stuart’s mayor – council members Terry Dalton, Jeffrey Houchins, and Rebecca Adcock.
Town Manager Bryce Simmons said the mayor position is its own separate position that is independent from the general council members.
“The only time that the mayor votes is when there is a tie between the five councilors, if there is a tie,” he said.
Regardless of which candidate wins the mayoral election, Simmons said the town will have a vacant seat after this election as the winning candidate will vacate their current seat to take the mayor’s seat.
“I assume that we will appoint someone in the interim to fill the vacancy seat, but that would be up to council whether they want to just appoint or have a special election,” he said.
Simmons said the vice-mayor is the candidate who gets the most council members votes within that election year. The position is not determined by the November election.
“At least that’s what the policy has been,” he said.
