Editor,

I am writing this letter to announce my support for Mr. Vanless D. Worrell as the next mayor of the town of Newsoms.

A native of Newsoms, Mr. Worrell graduated from Southampton County Training School in Courtland in 1957. He joined the United States Army in 1959 and won several medals and awards, including the Distinguished Instructor Award and an Occupational Medal, before his retirement in 1981. Next, he graduated from Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin in 1984 with an associate degree in business, specializing in accounting. Then he was employed by the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth as an insulator after completing their apprenticeship program. He also was a member of their fire department as a dispatcher. Now, he is the owner of Father Time Antiques in Petersburg (a clock and watch repair shop). He is also a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.

Mr. Worrell served as the at-large School Board member from 1980-1984 and as a Newsoms Town Council member from 1993-2008. During the past 15 years, he has missed less than five town council meetings. By accomplishing this great feat, he has acquired a healthy knowledge of the town’s needs.

As the current treasurer of the Coffer Coasters Civic Organization, which he helped organize in 1995, Mr. Worrell has worked with the town of Newsoms and Southampton County citizens on several projects, including: worked with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development in Richmond, Va.; amended an ordinance to allow modular homes in the town of Newsoms; worked with the Southeast Rural Assistance Project in Roanoke (SERAP) to extend water and sewer lines to 27 houses in the town of Newsoms and surrounding areas and requested and received a grant to have a storm water/drainage study done by SERAP to help eliminate flooding in the town of Newsoms and surrounding areas.

If elected mayor, Mr. Worrell will continue trying to eliminate flooding in the town of Newsoms, and he will continue to resolve other projects he has started by using his contacts to acquire the funds the town needs to complete these projects, without using the town to reserve CDs or raising taxes.

He will be a mayor for all citizens and will respond to requests in a timely manner.

In order to continue the progress in the town of Newsoms, I hope the citizens of Newsoms will join me on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, and vote for Mr. Vanless D. Worrell as the next mayor of the town of Newsoms.

Gilda Freeman
Secretary, Coffer Coasters Civic Organization
Newsoms