18-year-old runs for Matoaca supervisor
Durfee also runs as an Independent
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Jones

Eli Jones may be young but that's not deterring him from getting an early start on his political career. The 18-year-old home-schooled student has announced his intention to run for Matoaca supervisor.

With the backing of his father as his campaign treasurer, Jones will run as an Independent although officially he's a member of the Constitution Party. His campaign Web site is www.constitutionalcourage.com.

"I'm running to restore the rightful place of God and constitutional documents to their proper place in county government," he said. "There's a choice for voters other than the two-party system.

If you want someone to stand on principles rather than politics, then I'm your man."

Jones has been going door-to-door, talking to residents and handing out his campaign literature.

"I'll be visiting every home in the district by November," he said proudly. Told that would be about 20,000 households, he replied, "I've got the time."

Jones is currently taking online courses to become a "certified paralegal with Oak Brook College of Law."

Asked if he wanted to debate his opponents, Jones was eager. "I will most certainly be there," he said.

Durfee

Like some other Matoaca candidates, he wants "the county to take action on growth until the infrastructure catches up. Growth has jeopardized our road safety and put children in [classroom] trailers," Jones added.

Durfee enters the race

Marleen Durfee, the executive director of the Alliance for Responsible Growth, has also filed her intentions to run for Matoaca supervisor. Durfee said she was considering a run earlier this year and filed with the county Registrar's Office on Mar. 26.

Durfee did not return telephone calls to her home and cell phone before press deadline to comment on this story.

The filing lists Bob Herndon as her campaign treasurer. Herndon said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on her candidacy until she has officially announced it. Earlier this year, Herndon announced his own intentions to seek the Matoaca seat, but later dropped out of the race. He said he has not renewed his membership in the Chesterfield Republican Committee.

Herndon is also a member of the alliance. With only five members showing up for the alliance's January meeting and just three for the February meeting, interest in the group appears to be waning. Mike Harton, alliance president, did not return calls for comment on this story.

According to the filing, Durfee, 47, and a resident of the Foxcroft community, will be using www.votemarleen2007.com as her campaign Web site. Peter Martin, of Binary-1 Consulting, said the Web site will be activated later this month.