Could Republicans lose their board majority?
Residential growth is the driving issue
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

There's speculation and concern among members of the Chesterfield Republican Committee (CRC) that Republicans could become a minority on the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors after this November's election. Though all five members of the board are Republicans today, two board members - Matoaca District's Renny Humphrey and Bermuda District's Dickie King - decided earlier this year not to run, in part because of their chances for reelection.

"This should be about who can best run the county," said one longtime CRC member who asked not to be identified. "The major [campaign] issue will be managing growth but with anti-Republican overtones including President Bush and the Iraq war. We could win all five seats, but we could take just two. Democrats and their allied Independents want control of the board and are targeting races in Matoaca, Bermuda and Midlothian [districts]."

"People are concerned about residential growth and the stress it creates on roads and schools," said Clover Hill Planning Commissioner Russ Gulley, a CRC member, who has successfully helped Art Warren be elected to four terms as Clover Hill supervisor. "The board hasn't addressed infrastructure issues so the people will ask for change at the ballot box - change in leadership at the Board of Supervisors' level. Locally, I think people are more interested in issues than party affiliation."

"I expect Republicans to be elected and will be supporting them," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Kelly Miller. "[Population] growth is only slightly more than 2 percent [annually] so we shouldn't stop growing. Besides, that is impossible and illegal. Citizens should be able to develop their land if it meets the comprehensive plan and they pay their proffers. The Republican Party has always stood for private property rights, but I do think we can do better at managing growth."

"I think elections usually turn on issues, and the Republicans have the best issues," said Chesterfield Republican Committee Chairman Sherman Litton.

Bermuda District

The defeat of Jack Wilson in the June 12 Republican primary has some CRC members wondering if that is a predictor of what might happen in the November election. Wilson, a land use attorney, a member of the Planning Commission and the Republican establishment candidate in Bermuda, lost in the Republican primary to Dorothy Jaeckle. She joined the CRC less than two years ago and has acknowledged that she usually votes Republican, but supported Independent Jack McHale's candidacy for supervisor "during the 90s."

"[Today,] I sense that members of the party - not the actual operatives of the CRC - want change," said Jaeckle. "Republicans were not against Jack Wilson, but they didn't like the party deciding who they should vote for."

"Dorothy is more in tune with what the citizens want," said Larry Miller, who spent two years as CRC chairman. He has expressed differences with the current CRC leadership.

Jaeckle will face Democrat Ree Hart and Jack McHale and Roy Wallace - both Independents - in the November election. McHale, who served previously on the board before placing third of three candidates in 2003, may drop out of the race next month, saying he doesn't want to run unless he has a realistic chance of wining. Wallace is also running but took his name off the ballot in 2003.

"I'm a Republican at heart," said Chesterfield businessman Bob Shrum, "but I want the right person for the right job. Ree is more a Republican in Democrat clothing. I'll be supporting her because I'm concerned about the business climate and want to elect those who support Chesterfield businesses."

Matoaca District

Like Bermuda, Matoaca District could be a bellwether vote. Democrat Bill Hastings is trying again, after losing a close race to Humphrey in 2003. Marleen Durfee resigned as the executive director of the Alliance for Responsible Growth of Chesterfield to run as an Independent. This week, Planning Commissioner Wayne Bass will endorse Durfee at a fundraiser with the promise of him remaining as a commissioner if she is elected.

Eli Jones, now 19 and another Independent, and Republican Mark Tubbs round out the field of candidates.

New to Matoaca District, Tubbs is the establishment candidate, but the party only turned to him after two other party members bowed out for family and health reasons. With four candidates, some CRC members think Tubbs' opponents could split the "no growth vote," allowing him to win with 35-40 percent of the vote.

Midlothian District

Elected last year in a close special election, Republican Don Sowder faces Democratturned Independent Dan Gecker again "without the benefit of having Senator George Allen and the marriage amendment on the ballot," said the unnamed Republican who supports Sowder. "Gecker is intelligent, has plenty of money, is a shrewd politician, and willing to do what needs to be done. Don is a good supervisor but not a skilled politician. This vote could go either way."

Dale District

In Dale District, Miller faces Democrat Jim Holland whom he defeated easily in 1999. Holland also tried unsuccessfully in the special election last November to be elected to the School Board. He is a certified public accountant and adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College.

The demographics are changing in the district, and Democrats have garnered more votes than Republicans in two recent statewide elections.

Some CRC members think Miller has an easier road to reelection than the Republican candidates in Bermuda, Matoaca and Midlothian districts, but not as easy as Warren in Clover Hill.

Clover Hill District

Commissioner Gulley thinks Warren's "managed growth philosophy" keeps him in the mainstream of his constituents. He is opposed by Independent Floyd Bane, a resident of Brandermill.

Next year's leadership

Shortly after the November election, supervisors will talk informally with each other to determine who will be chairman and vice chairman for 2008. Both Warren and Miller have shown a willingness to forge alliances across party lines. After the 1999 election, Warren teamed with Humphrey and McHale (an Independent) to become the board majority for four years, leaving out fellow Republican Miller.

But when King was elected in 2003, the board majority became Miller, King and former Midlothian Supervisor Ed Barber, a Democrat, leaving out two Republicans. Later, Humphrey joined the board majority, and after his election last year, so did Sowder.

Last year, members of the board majority fumed, and some CRC members complained when Warren publicly criticized the Republican majority on growth issues and whether the county board was open to criticism.