Rixeyville man seeks supervisor seat

Rixeyville resident Donald W. Rakes officially stepped onto the campaign trail Friday.

Rakes is the first person to announce for this November’s election. He’s seeking the area’s Republican nomination for the Jefferson District seat on the Board of Supervisors.

“The lack of a clear vision for our county, the fact that the people’s business is done behind closed doors, and the consistent record of tax increases including the failed campaign for the meals tax, which voters of the Jefferson District have consistently rejected, have led me to make this decision,” Rakes said in a written statement.

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A lifelong resident of the Culpeper area, Rakes, 39, graduated from Madison County High School in 1988. He is a Marine Corps veteran who served for eight years as a combat engineer.

“I’ve been around, seen a lot of the world in the Marines and I was glad to come back here and settle down,” Rakes said.

This is Rakes’ first bid for public office. He’s seeking the seat currently held by longtime incumbent and fellow Republican Bradley C. Rosenberger.

“I feel and what I’ve been hearing from several people in the community is they really don’t know that there’s anything better,” Rakes said. “There’s not another choice, so they feel content with what they have because they’ve had it for so long and they’ve forgotten that there might be another option.”

A Rixeyville-area resident for nearly 20 years, Rakes is a survey manager in Arlington County, and has been in that field for nearly two decades as well. He resides with his wife, Michelle, and two children, Dylan, 16 and Kaitlyn, 10.

Rakes said he enjoys fishing with his family and golfing for fun when he gets the chance.

The incumbent
Also a lifelong area resident, Rosenberger was elected in 1985 by a nearly two-to-one margin over an incumbent. In several elections since, Rosenberger was unopposed. He recently confirmed his intent to run for another term.

Most recently, Rosenberger defeated area resident Annemarie Steimel in 2005. He has previously served as board chairman and runs a 1,500-acre farming, cattle and seed business.

“It’s certainly his prerogative,” Rosenberger said of Rakes’ announcement. He declined to speculate on who might receive the party’s nomination this summer.

“Anything can happen,” he continued. “It would be the will of the people and that’s the way it is. I’m sitting in that seat and that seat belongs to the people of the Jefferson District.”

Rakes spoke highly of Rosenberger and acknowledged that they agree on many issues.

“Brad and I agree on pretty much the same issues,” said Rakes. “I like Brad, I have nothing against Brad, and we had a very good conversation when I told him what my intentions were last week. We wished each other well, we both agreed whatever the outcome is that the people would be well represented.”

Rakes said they also agreed that they would seek the party’s nomination and not run as independent candidates.

Key issue
For Rakes, the key campaign issue will be making sure that the voice of the constituent is heard and considered.

“It’s being more apparent that we’re going from a government of the people to a people of the government. I think it’s time that people have a more active role in what determinations are made that directly affect their quality of life.”

“We never lose when the people get involved in the issues,” Rakes said. “But I think some of the officials we have realize that they lose when the people get involved on the issues and that’s got to change.”

As an example, of what the supervisors could do differently, Rakes cited the county’s and the town’s ongoing efforts to create a long-term, permanent plan for water and sewer infrastructure.

“What they ought to be doing is what they should have done years ago,” Rakes said. “Lay everything out in front of the people. None of the board members have all the answers.”

“There is a good discussion between the members of the issues,” he continued. “My problem is there’s not a good discussion between the members and their constituents. They can discuss and make decisions amongst themselves, but the people need to be informed and actually have a better voice than they have.”

Rakes also said he is prepared for the scrutiny that running for public office will bring, adding that he has been “in much worse situations” and that his family and friends are supporting him.

“I feel that the people need to know that if they demand a better quality of leadership, they’ll gain a better quality of life,” Rakes said.