Early Look at Washington Co. Va. Candidates
ABINGDON, Va. – Seven months remain before the general election, but candidates hoping to win the favor of Washington County voters are already announcing election bids.
Three seats are up for election this year on the seven-member Washington County Board of Supervisors. Also on the ballot Nov. 3 will be three seats on the seven-member board for the Washington County Public Schools. The school board election is nonpartisan.
School board
The first to file paperwork to run this year was J. Sanders Henderson, who is hoping to fill the school board seat now held by Curtis Burkett, who is not seeking re-election.
“If I’m going to do something, I’m going to go all at it and roll up my sleeves and try to get the job done,” Henderson said. “I was born and raised on a farm, and that’s how we did it.”
Henderson, 47, lives in Poor Valley and describes himself as “a blue-collar type guy that’s got a master’s degree” and served as a teacher and coach before becoming an assistant principal. He is the assistant principal at Chilhowie Elementary School.
Burkett, 59, of Abingdon, who was a teacher, coach and principal before serving on the school board, said he won’t seek re-election because of health reasons.
“If I physically felt like I was up to it, I would definitely be running,” Burkett said. “It’s a hard thing to come to grips with, that you’re not physically able to do the job like you would want to do it, and I just felt like it was time for me to step aside.”
The other two board members facing re-election in November are Tom Musick of Damascus and Herschel Stevens, who represents an area near Bristol.
“We are in a building program of $7 million, and I want to see it through,” Stevens said.
Musick, the school board chairman, said he is circulating petitions to get on this year’s ballot.
County board
On the board of supervisors, Vice-Chairman Jack McCrady, D-Damascus, was the first to announce his re-election bid.
“A lot of people in our area [have] lost their jobs, and we have to work with them and live within the present tax structure,” said McCrady, 60, a builder and retired coal miner. He said that means focusing on core services and living within the county’s means.
“It’s vitally important to keep as many people working, and you need to send as many good signals about the economy, as you can,” McCrady said.
He also said he’d like to see more pavement and high-speed Internet infrastructure in rural Washington County.
Supervisor Dulcie Mumpower, R-Wyndale, who represents the area between Bristol and Abingdon, said the county’s current financial situation will be the most pressing issue in the next few years.
“I’m seeking re-election because I’m interested in progress for the county and there’s projects that I want to see fulfilled, and to serve the people and try to keep the tax rate low and make Washington County a better place for the citizens that live here,” said Mumpower, 62, a lab technician who has served on the board since 1993.
Supervisor Paul Price, a political independent from Shortsville who represents the northeast section of the county and makes a point of not seeking handouts for his district, said he is so far undecided about another term.
Price, 59, said health concerns are at the core of his dilemma. But, he said, “I’ll decide something real shortly.”
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Reader Reactions
That is 1 success for every 200 Business startups !
SBA !!!!!
1 OF 200 is the average business failure rate. No matter how much support they got from the local government business fail.
Radio—Look at the Businesses run away by the ones that are already here.
The estiblished businesses in Bristol fight any Business that would raise the wages because they do not want to lose their best employees or pay more.
There are several examples where business came here planning to pay $10.00+ an hour plus until the Local Power Brokers stepped in and told them no they could not pay that much and if they did they would get not support from the local government.
RadioB
To answer your question.
No, dadw5boys does not read the comments. He seems to prefer to post random thoughts, most of which are not his own, loves to state fiction as fact, and treats viral emails as a research source.
Not to change your subject here, but I and others have been trying to promote the benefits of the IB program in BVPS for the past few weeks. (Search IB program on this site) Which btw, he has been cynical of and in staunch oppposition to…yet this morning he proposes “Spend the money on schools and building a good community then if business want to move here fine.“ (I wonder where you got that Dad?) yet on today’s Opinion page, in the same paper, on the same day, he proposes “This IB Program is not a drawning card for anyone. If the people your meeting with about bringing jobs and businesses here are impressed with the IB Program then your talking to the worng people.“
How does one reconcile both of those positions in their mind? Dad, do you spend the money on schools to strengthen a community or not?
There is a defintent problem in our are of upper east Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. There is a “real reason” industry with average national pay is either shunned or deliberatly forced to locate elsewhere. Business with minimun pay scales offering service jobs such as restaurant,hotel,call centers are catered to by our elected officials. These jobs holders in many cases still need public assistance when employed by one of these business.
Could the “real reason” be individuals who are local business owners/managers who control those we elect, who in turn use utilities such as water, electric cost, ect.to deter prime industry away from our area.
Watch closely, Any worth while business that compensates its employees adequately will be located in or west of Knoxville or east of Roanoake. WHY???
Dolsie Mumpower is a Washington county, Va. supervisor and also serves on the board of directors of BVU supposingly to represent BVU customers served in the county. About the only time you ever hear her name mentioned is during election time. She is one of the current supervisors who voted to keep the current tax levy the same stating that “during these current economic times, we all need to practice belt tightning”. The hypocrisy is just this,our property assement went up. So our tax ticket will have a hefty increase.
When I employ anyone, it is for a reason. If that employee fulfills that reason, then I award that person with continued employment with perks. Should that person not fulfill or meet my expectations, then I terminate that person. I use the same philosophy when I vote. How has any Washington County, Va. supervisor improved our standard of living, ect.? Other than Mr. Paul Price which I can’t vote for, I see no supervisor standing out above the other. So, as a business minded person, I would terminate these other supervisors and elect new faces & minds who will hopefully think outside the box.
Dad, do you ever really read comments or just open your mouth with nonsense. I didn’t say anything about business that demand tax incenitives or they will move. If we do not give some tax breaks other communities will. And then we lose twice!.
And you are naive the taxpayer has already spent the money on road, sewer and electric to no avail. Look at the the Industrial Park on Lee Hwy between exit 26 and 29 with only two tenants. Why is it empty? Could it be prospective tenants are chased away? It is time to get a return on the taxpayer’s money. And where do you come up with the nonsense 1 out of 200 payoff? The only con game is people like you that are afraid of change because some one might get ahead of you and that would make you more bitter than you already are. Your constant negative comments prove it!
Hey ldr,
Do you think that “Henderson blood” will allow Sanders to stand up to unreasonable parents? Will he back teachers and coaches? Will he go against the other cowards on the board?
Some fear Sanders will be like all the rest. Rumor has it that Sanders is related to one of the top Washington County cowards of all time, Lee Brannon. Is that true? If it is, it proves there’s at least a little coward blood in him.
Ask the Citizens if they want you to go after businesses that need Incentives to move here !!!!!!
Chances are the Taxpayer will tell you NO !!!
This game of paying business to bring jobs here is a con game. Spend the money on schools and building a good community then if business want to move here fine. If not fine. Spending Millions of Taxpayers Dollar to provide them with buildings, roads, sewer and electric seldom has paid off right ??????
What 1 out of 200 effort like this pay off ?
When a Business threatens to TAKE THEIR TOYS AND GO HOME tell them to hit the road. What are these businesses that only pay minium wage ?
Being a Supervisor is akin to a full time job with minimum pay. Yet it still is an important one as it has the power to lay the landscape for economic growth today and the future. Currently we are experiencing the down turn in the economy and it’s effects with job loss. This county needs to focus on bringing industry to Washington County when it becomes available and/or chase after it. If it means give them tax breaks so be it.We will need jobs to keep our young people here, if not they will leave and so will our future tax base. Services do not stop and it will mean older citizens paying higher taxes to maintain those services.
Paul Price is not sure if he will run again, Yes health is an issue, but so is frustration. Paul votes in favor of business, other vote against it!. The solution to help retain him is for a resident in those districts to run and win. It requires a civic minded person that has run a business before and knows what is like to have to make a payroll and pay taxes that would then appreciate business coming here and would vote in favor. The money will not be great, people will not be happy with you. But you will be doing something for your county and yourself. Or you can put the money away for your retirement which your going to need in the future!
Good luck to you Sanders - I have faith in you, as I have Henderson blood in me too!
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