GOP backs Rosenberger

Incumbent Supervisor Brad Rosenberger is the local Republican party’s choice to represent the county’s Jefferson District in the November election.

The decision came Wednesday night at the Culpeper County Republican Party’s mass meeting. Nearly 400 gathered at Germanna Community College’s Daniel Technology Center.

A lifelong area resident and 24-year member of the board, Rosenberger defeated Rixeyville-area resident Donald Rakes, who also sought the party’s nomination for the Jefferson District seat. Overall, 229 votes were cast and Rosenberger received 198 of them.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Rosenberger said immediately after the meeting. “I’m thankful for the support of people in my district — it’s incredible.” Rosenberger also expressed appreciation for everyone who attended.

Rakes seemed to take the outcome in stride, expressed his support and respect for Rosenberger, and said he hopes everyone continues to take an active role in the political process.

“We’ve got a great ticket going into November,” he said. “This was a very good day to be a Republican — look at all the people we turned out.”

Wednesday’s event was the local GOP’s formal nomination process for candidates seeking seats in November’s general election. In other states, the somewhat informal mass meeting format is not employed. Instead, multiple candidates who seek a party’s nomination must go to a regular primary election.

The Stevensburg and Cedar Mountain seats are also up for election this year on the seven-member board that oversees the county.

As of Wednesday afternoon, incumbent Cedar Mountain Supervisor Larry Aylor was unopposed. Newcomer Dewayne Payne received the committee’s support for the Stevensburg District. Payne faces challenges from Board Chairman Bill Chase, the longest serving supervisor and Stevensburg-area businessman Gardiner Mulford. Chase has filed to run as an independent, while Mulford, who filed as a Republican, has indicated his intent to continue campaigning regardless of Wednesday’s outcome. Payne too expressed hope about the possibility of victory come November.

“I’ve had overwhelming response from the people of the Stevensburg District,” Payne said. “I’m very confident at this point.” Payne and Aylor were chosen by acclimation — a spoken yes or no vote put before the entire assembled group.

After brief speeches from each candidate and while the results were being tallied, the crowd also heard from state Del. Ed Scott and Louisa County Republican chairman Pat Mullins, who was elected to lead Virginia’s GOP Central Committee following the ouster last month of former head Jeff Frederick.

“Everywhere I go, there’s record crowds,” Mullins said. “I’m glad I’m a Republican this year.”

Wednesday’s meeting was open to all registered voters, but attendees could only vote for candidate within their own magisterial district, which is based on where they reside in the county.