OUR VIEW: Give Chase a final term as county supervisor

» In the Stevensburg District, seven-term incumbent Bill Chase gets the nod over two challengers.

Bill Chase said in a public forum last year that he didn’t want the Star-Exponent’s endorsement for supervisor.

Well, he got it anyway.

It wasn’t an easy decision for us to endorse the current chairman of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, as he faces a worthy opponent in 28-year-old, up-and-coming Republican Dewayne Payne Jr.

Rounding out the race is independent Gardiner Mulford, who brings good ideas in regard to preservation of open spaces, heritage-based tourism and promoting the county’s equine industry.

But Mulford’s combative style and questionable judgment make him the wrong choice for public office. 

Payne, a lifelong resident of Culpeper, is a farmer and five-year member of the county’s Planning Commission. And while he aspires to be the voice of the Stevensburg District, he’s not quite there yet — although he no doubt could be in the years to come, as he is an upbeat, friendly gentleman with a bright political future.

For the past 28 years, the voice of the Stevensburg District, and a strong voice at that, has been Chase, who is running as an independent. He’s a straight shooter who knows his constituents and is able to get things accomplished.

And even though in years past he’s admitted a desire to relinquish his public duties, the 72-year-old Chase seems as energetic and determined as ever. The man certainly has earned the right to one more term — which would make him the longest-serving supervisor since Reconstruction, by the way.

We haven’t agreed with Chase on every issue over the past four years — most notably his joint effort with County Administrator Frank Bossio to construct an unnecessary, multimillion-dollar water and sewer plant in Stevensburg — but we think Chase has the experience and general knowhow to guide the county down the right path during these difficult times.