Tubbs will run for Matoaca supervisor
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Tubbs

With the encouragement of established members of the Chesterfield Republican Committee, Mark Tubbs has agreed to run for Matoaca supervisor. But first, he'll have to win the nomination. Previously, Kevin Salminen had been the only announced Republican candidate in the district, but the controller of Virginia United Methodist Homes is relatively unknown within the party.

A seven-member Republican Party committee is recommending that Tubbs and Salminen square off in a canvass tentatively scheduled for June 5. All voting would take place from 5-8 p.m. at Winfree Store and Spring Run Elementary School.

Republicans are expected to approve the committee's recommendation on Apr. 23.

Tubbs was defeated as an Independent candidate in the Clover Hill District during his 2003 race against i n c u m b e n t Republican Art Warren. In 2005, he joined the Chesterfield Republican Committee and almost a year ago, moved to what he thought was the Midlothian District, intending a possible run against Supervisor Ed Barber, a Democrat. Barber has since resigned.

But it turned out Tubbs' new home was in the Matoaca District, strangely configured to accommodate Lloyd Lenhart who lives nearby and used to represent the district on the Chesterfield School Board.

"A few party officials made overtures to him to get him to run," confirmed Sherman Litton, committee chairman.

Before agreeing to be a candidate, Tubbs secured approval from both his family and his employer. His wife is a preschool teacher, and they have three daughters - one each at University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, and the youngest is a sophomore at Midlothian High School. Tubbs has been director of government and regulatory policy for Columbia Gas of Virginia since 2001.

Last fall, some party members believed Tubbs had "too much baggage" to be a viable candidate. But, with former Fire Chief Steve Elswick and Edgar Wallin, former director of human resources for Chesterfield schools, dropping out as potential candidates, several party leaders turned to Tubbs.

According to Tubbs, Elswick and Wallin support his candidacy as do interim Sheriff Dennis Proffitt, former planning commissioners Ron Stack and Harry Marsh, and Wayne Ozmore, chairman of the 4th Congressional District Republican Committee.

Democrats will choose between Bill Hastings and Don Wilms later this spring. Eli Jones is a candidate from the Constitution Party, and Independent Marleen Durfee is also a declared candidate(see story above).

Current Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey ran against a Democrat and two Independents when she first won her seat in 1995. With the urging of some party members, she announced last December that she would not seek a fourth four-year term.

Matoaca District sweeps from eastern to western Chesterfield and represents slightly more than half of the county and is the size of Henrico County. But most of the acreage is undeveloped, and controversy has swirled around many of the rezoning cases there since many residents believe the district's roads and schools can't presently handle further development.

Tubbs proposes to use his mediation background to bring diverse groups together to resolve growth issues. "Finger-pointing and shrill voices won't get us to a solution," said Tubbs, a possible reference to Durfee who has been known to lecture the county board and planning commission at their meetings.

Tubbs points to 30 years of experience working with the state legislature as proof he can forge compromise. His resume includes management positions with electric cooperatives, the state agriculture department, road and home builders associations and being coordinator of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Tubbs has a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA from Averett College.

Historically, Chesterfield and the Matoaca District produce more Republican votes percentage-wise than throughout Virginia. Though all members of the current board are Republicans, many county leaders acknowledge that voters want growth to be more limited.