Incumbent supervisors to run again

As Virginia and Culpeper County march toward another election season, the three members of the Board of Supervisors up for election this year say they plan to run for another term.

Stevensburg District Supervisor Bill Chase, Jefferson District Supervisor Brad Rosenberger and Cedar Mountain District Supervisor Larry Aylor, all say they plan to campaign for another four year term on the seven member board that oversees the county.

Brad Rosenberger
“I’ve talked to some of my constituents. I’ve called around. I’d like to offer my help and be of all the help I can,” Rosenberger said on choosing to run again.

Rosenberger was elected in 1985. He has previously served as board chairman and runs a 1,500-acre farming, cattle and seed business.

“I think we’ve got to get through this economic downturn without taxing people out of their property,” Rosenberger continued. “We’re just going to have to start looking at non-essential things,” to balance the budget.

A lifelong area resident, Rosenberger also said he will continue to stand against initiatives that could turn Culpeper County’s mostly rural landscape into an urban area.

“I’m not anti-growth,” he said. “My focus has always been trying to manage growth,” Rosenberger said, adding that he most people probably don’t want to see the undesirable elements of urban living — like heavier traffic and tightly packed development — appear in Culpeper.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve on the board,” he continued. You’ve got to always remember that that seat doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to the people.”

Larry Aylor
Despite filing deadlines and November being several months away, Aylor said he plans to seek reelection.

“I really feel like I’ve been caught up into the work and what’s going on, I really feel a strong need to stay and see some of the things we’re working on come to fruition,” Aylor said.

Aylor, who owns and runs a custom home design and construction business, moved to Culpeper in 1989 from Texas. He’s stayed in the business for nearly 40 years. Aylor also served on the county’s planning commission for four years before being elected supervisor.

In his first term, Aylor acknowledged that the previous four years were a valuable learning experience.

“It’s kind of like going from college sports to the pros and it takes you a while to rise to that level of skill and gather all the information and process it,” he said.

At the top of his list, Aylor said he’s like to see the town and county make tangible progress in forming a water and sewer authority.

“If that’s not going to happen, I feel very strongly that the county needs to move forward on its own. That way, we can keep our personal taxes in line.”

“I’ve enjoyed being part of the community. This community has been really good to me,” Aylor continued. “I don’t know if anybody else is going to run against me at this time. Right now, I’ve told everybody that I’m going to run again. I haven’t heard anybody say ‘I hope you don’t run again.’ It’s just a lot of things happening right now I’m right in the middle of. I’m not one to walk away until a job’s finished.”

Bill Chase
With nearly 30 years on the board, Chase is the county’s longest serving supervisor.

A Culpeper resident for 34 years, Chase, a Vietnam veteran, said he, too, plans to run again.

“I still feel there’s a lot of work to be done, and you have to do it with the right attitude,” said Chase. “I’ve always felt I’ve tried to protect the taxpayer.”

“It’s gotten a whole lot tougher than it was, but the rewards are good because sometimes you can help people.”

Challengers
So far, no challengers to the incumbents have formally announced a campaign for the seats held by the incumbents.

Candidates may have to file up to a half-dozen documents to run for local office, including petitions and financial disclosures.

Some filing deadlines begin in mid-March, according to the State Board of Elections Web site, and they continue through mid-June, according to the local registrar’s office.

The other four supervisors — Catalpa District Supervisor Sue Hansohn, East Fairfax District Supervisor Steve Walker, West Fairfax Supervisor Steve Nixon and Salem District Supervisor Tom Underwood — are not up for reelection until 2011.