Frye takes convincing victory to remain Commissioner of Revenue in Bristol, Va.

BRISTOL. Va. – Incumbent Terry Frye scored a convincing victory Tuesday to remain the city Commissioner of Revenue for a third consecutive term.

Frye, a Democrat, received 2,330 unofficial votes or 67 percent, compared to 1,133 for independent challenger Rodger Williams.

In a city treasurer’s race that featured two first-time candidates, Angelia “Angel” Harris narrowly defeated Catherine Brillhart, 1,809 votes to 1,693. Harris finished with 51.5 percent of the votes cast, compared to 48.2 percent for Brillhart.

Current Treasurer Wilma Gill didn’t seek re-election.

All totals are unofficial until the city’s Electoral Board completes its canvass today at 9 a.m.

“I am gratified and honored beyond words and thank the people of Bristol, Va., for electing me,” Frye said Tuesday night. 

Experience proved a key to the win, Frye said.

“In these difficult economic times, people wanted experienced leadership,” Frye said. “It’s the kind of experience you can only get by doing this job.”

Frye, 51, is an attorney who is an officer in the state commissioner’s association and numerous local nonprofit organizations. He captured solid wins in all four of the city’s voting precincts.

In the treasurer’s contest, the independent Harris defeated the chairwoman of the city’s Democratic committee.

“It’s a pleasant surprise,” Harris said. “I wouldn’t have gotten where I am without the support I’ve had from people who’ve given money and given their time to go door to door. I really want to thank all of them for assisting me.”

The office is responsible for collecting city tax revenues and accounting for spending those millions of dollars.

Harris, 46, said voters likely responded to her efforts to meet with them and her extensive work experience in banking, pharmaceutical and real estate sales.

“I’ve had an overwhelming response from people where I went door to door. Today at the polls, people would say ‘I remember you.’ I think it was that human touch and I think my experience did play into it,” Harris said.

She captured three of the city’s four precincts, while Brillhart won at Virginia High School.

About 33 percent of the city’s registered voters went to the polls Tuesday, a 5 percent decline compared to the same races in 2005.

The day’s lone hiccup occurred at Virginia High School when wet spots on a voter’s ballot caused the optical scanner to jam, General Registrar Penny Limburg said.

“They had used hand sanitizer on their hands,” she said. “We’ve never had that before, but the machine did work once the custodians got the jam out. It just took a little longer.”

City Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerry Wolfe and Sheriff Jack Weisenburger retained their positions in uncontested races, while state Delegate Joe Johnson, D-Abingdon, was also unchallenged in his bid for another term in the General Assembly.

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