Four races for supervisor contested

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, August 10, 2011

COURTLAND—With the deadline less than two weeks away for independent candidates to file for the Nov. 8 election, four out of seven members on the Southampton County Board of Supervisors can expect opponents.

Incumbent Democrat Moses Wyche will be challenged by independent Bruce Phillips for the Capron District seat, while Republican incumbent Walter Young faces independent Barry Porter in the Franklin District. Republican incumbents Anita Felts from the Jerusalem District and Walter “Walt” Brown III from the Newsoms District are challenged by independents Dr. Alan Edwards and Glenn Updike, respectively.

Unopposed are Democrat Carl Faison in the Boykins District, independent Ron West for the Berlin-Ivor District and Democrat Dallas Jones for Drewryville.

The four-year terms pay $5,500 annually.

The race for sheriff, a job that pays $85,000 a year, includes Jack Stutts, the current chief deputy for the sheriff’s office, and Independents Brian Marvel, a Franklin police officer, and David Holland, a former assistant Fairfax County police commander. Sheriff Vernie Francis chose not to seek an eighth term.

Unopposed as of Tuesday were Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Cooke, Commissioner of the Revenue Amy Carr and Treasurer David Britt. The annual salaries for those jobs are $115,660, $65,730, and $71,759, respectively.

Leona Davis, county registrar of voters, said Monday everyone but Phillips has filed petitions for the supervisors’ races.

“A lot of names have been floating around and people have been asking me questions, but until they file their papers, they’re not a candidate,” Davis said.

Phillips confirmed Monday he has 150 signatures on his petition; the minimum needed is 125.

“Once we get them all notarized, (I will file),” he said.

A board member for Southampton County Farm Bureau, the 62-year-old will be making his first bid for public office.

“I am concerned about the financial situation in Southampton County, and I feel like there needs to be more questions as to where the money goes,” Phillips said. “We are a farm and forestry economy at this point.”

The deadline to file is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23.