CARRSVILLE—A farmer and author will be the third candidate to run for Isle of Wight County Supervisor in the Carrsville District for the Nov. 8 election.

Rex Alphin began Monday collecting the 125 signatures needed to run as an Independent against Independents Joe Joyner and Tom Gaskell. The deadline to file is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23. Supervisor Kenneth Bunch of Carrsville chose not to run for election.

This is Alphin’s first bid for public office, despite stints with the Virginia Pork Industry Board and Isle of Wight County Planning Commission.

“The reason I’m running is I love this place called Isle of Wight County,” he said. “I’ve been here all of my life. It’s a wonderful community and a great group of people.”

The 55-year-old believes in a tight fiscal policy and would like to give a good strong voice to the county. He said he plans to bring a conservative approach to fiscal policy.

“I would like to limit any tax increases as much as possible while still providing services the county should provide,” Alphin said. “These are tough times for a lot of people in the county.”

Alphin supports the board’s decision to build a new Windsor Middle School, which did result in a real estate tax hike.

“(The school) was very much needed and has been needed for years,” he said. “Education is a real asset and not something we should cut back on. That’s our future. These are our children and it was a project that was long overdue.”

Alphin is the author of the book “The Nature of Things: Stories From the Land” and writes a weekly column for The Tidewater News. He has also owned Alphin’s Hardware in Windsor.

Alphin has been married to his wife, Debra, for 31 years. They have three children and one grandchild.