SMITHFIELD—Four candidates are vying for the three seats up for election on the Smithfield Town Council.

David Hare, whose term is up this year, is running for another term to retain his seat, while newcomers John Graham, Lois Haynes and Denise Tynes will compete for, in addition to Hare’s,

the seats vacated by James Chapman and Florine Moore, who are not running for re-election.

“When I realized that Mr. Chapman and Ms. Moore were not going to stay, all I could think of was that we were losing years and years of experience,” said Hare.

“I decided to run again because I have been here for ten years and felt that my knowledge of the town’s government probably would help in future decisions.

Hare, 49, says there are several projects ongoing that he hopes to see to fruition—like the Church Street repairs and the Pinewood Heights relocation.

Hare and his wife, Mary, who have lived in Smithfield for 21 years, have two daughters.

Graham , 66, a real estate agent, says he has been interested in the town government since he moved to Smithfield from Norfolk in 2000.

He would like to see affordable housing and more businesses on Main Street.

“There are a number of business locations on Main Street,” he said, “that are empty. If elected, I’d work with these businesses to see these are all filled and in operation.”

Graham and his wife, Frances, have two sons.

Haynes, a widow, was born and raised in Carrollton, so the town of Smithfield is “dear to her heart.”

“I remember the “Good Ole Days” and have watched all the changes through the years.”

She says there are some more changes she would like to see, affordable housing for one.

Although she lived in Washington, D.C. for years, she returned to the area after her husband’s death 12 years ago, “to heal and find some peace closer to her family,” she says.

“I became interested in the town government and have attended all of the town meetings for a number of years. I have learned quite a bit about the government and what makes it work, so I will be well informed.”

A retired photographer, Haynes, 72, now works for a long-term care insurance company.

She has one son and two grandchildren.

Tynes, 50, is a retired educator.

She and her husband, Adrian, have one daughter.

A life-long resident of Isle of Wight County, she has lived in Smithfield for 14 years.

Active in several civic organizations, including the IOW Pilot Club, the Western Tidewater CSB, where she was chairperson and the Western Tidewater Free Medical Clinic Steering Committee, she says she would strive to preserve Smithfield’s unique quality of life.

As for changes, for one thing, she feels it would be good if all Pinewood Heights citizens could move into better housing, but also feels they should have a choice as to whether or not they wanted to move.

“Some of these people have lived there all their lives and are now in their 90s.

They’ll find it hard to leave.”