With two members of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors opting not to seek re-election, the dynamics already faced a change. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the voters decided to make some changes of their own by replacing two incumbents.

W. Canova Peterson IV will be replacing Deborah B. “Debbie” Winans, the current chairman of the board, in representing the Mechanicsville District. He took in 1,339 votes, 51.18 percent, to her 1,264, 48.31 percent, in the five precincts. There were 13, 0.49 percent, write-in votes.

In the South Anna District, Wayne T. Hazzard, 2,522, 63.55 percent, defeated longtime supervisor John E. Gordon Jr. 1,435, 36.16 percent, in six precincts. There were 11, 0.27 percent, write-in votes.
Angela C. Kelly-Wiecek and Sean M. Davis will be moving into the seats vacated by Robert R. Setliff, Chickahominy District, and Charles D. McGhee, Henry District, respectively.

Kelly-Wiecek bested James M. Ellis Jr. 1,945, 62.90 percent, to 1,132, 36.61 percent, in five precincts. There were 15, 0.48 percent, write-in votes.

Davis defeated Patti A. Jackson 2,028, 57.81 percent, to 1,465, 41.76 percent, in seven precincts. There were 15, 0.42 percent, write-in votes.

Longtime Cold Harbor supervisor Elton J. Wade Sr. retained his seat by capturing 2,207, 63.84 percent, votes to Carol S. Cash’s 1,036, 29.96 percent, and Jeffrey E. “Jeff” Kyte’s 201, 5.81 percent. There were 13, 0.37 percent, write-in votes. Six precincts make up the district.

In the six-precinct Ashland District, G. Ed Via III keeps his seat by defeating Kevin R. Damian 1,516, 58.08 percent, to 1,085, 41.57 percent. There were 9, 0.34 percent, write-in votes.

Incumbent Aubrey M. “Bucky” Stanley, who ran unopposed for the Beaverdam District seat, got 2,089, 94.48 percent, votes. There were 122, 5.51 percent, write-in votes.

Hanover County’s constitutional officers and delegation to the Virginia General Assembly swept their races without opposition. The unofficial figures from the Virginia State Board of Elections for the 37 precincts reporting were as follows:

County officers are: R.E. “Trip” Chalkley III commonwealth’s attorney, 18,511, 98.23 percent, with 333, 1.76 percent, write-in votes; David R. Hines, sheriff, 18,751, 98.50 percent, with 285, 1.49 percent, write-in votes; T. Scott Harris, commissioner of the revenue, 18,704, 98.85 percent, with 217, 1.14 percent, write-in votes; and M. Scott Miller, 18,805, 98.90 percent, with 209, 1.09 percent, write-in votes.

Returning to the General Assembly are senators Ryan T. McDougle, 4th District, 13,629, 96.86 percent, with 441, 3.13 percent, write-in votes; A. Donald McEachin, 9th, 1,178, 74.65 percent, with 400, 25.34 percent, write-in votes; and Walter A. Stosch, 12th, 2,901, 96.76 percent, with 97, 3.23 percent, write-in votes; and delegates John A. Cox, 55th, 8,587, 96.12 percent, with 346, 3.87 percent, write-in votes; and Christopher K. Peace, 97th, 9,637, 97.54 percent, with 243, 2.45 percent, write-in votes.

W. Bruce Cauthorn and Donald L. Wells were elected to the Soil and Water Conservation representing Hanover County in the Hanover-Caroline District. Cauthorn got 12,702, 52.08 percent, votes and Wells brought in 11,056, 46.12 percent. There were 214, 0.84 percent, write-in votes.

General Registrar Teresa Smithson said election day “went pretty smooth. We tried to anticipate problems and had a car filled with spare parts and equipment and a technician ready to go. The few problems we had were very minor.”
Out of 68,922 registered voters, Smithson said 21, 949 cast their ballots last week. “We had about a 32 percent turnout and that was about the norm across the state,” she added.

With 2,938 write-in votes being cast, she said counting and verifying them would be the biggest issue for her office. “It takes a while to verify each one and decide whether or not it will be counted,” Smithson said. “Some of them take some work to track down the person written in, and then again, there are a few throwaways. I don’t think Mickey Mouse or Superman really live in Hanover County.”

“I think the next four years are going to be very exciting,” Peterson said, “and I’m pleased to be a member of the Board of Supervisors that will lead Hanover County. One issue I’m concerned with is creating jobs for our young people. We have 2,000 to 3,000 who graduate from high school and college each year and are looking for jobs. We need to find ways to create jobs for them so they can live and work in Hanover. I want the people in the Mechanicsville District, and the whole county, to know that I will always be available for them. On Tuesday, Nov. 29, I am having a community forum at the Mechanicsville Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. I want people to come out and talk with me about what they want and need and what the board can do to make Hanover County better.”

On his victory, Davis said, “I am proud and honored and humbled to serve the people of Hanover County. I thank them every much for their vote of confidence. I look forward to the leadership opportunities as Hanover moves into the future. I am a strong supporter of everything Hanover County has to offer. I want the people of Hanover to know that I am a voice for them. I am excited for speak for everyone. I’m open and accessible to everyone. I’m very grateful for the people for their vote of confidence and I look forward to all that we have here in Hanover, the best county in the nation.”

Kelly-Wiecek said, “I am very grateful to the citizens of Chickahominy, not only for their confidence in me but for their energy and encouragement throughout this process. I’m very much looking forward to serving them and meeting their needs as citizens as well as our broader needs as one of Virginia’s premiere counties. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard these last nine months. And, of course, I want thank my husband and son for their unwavering support.”

In returning to his seat, Wade said, “I’m honored to have been re-elected. I’ve been on the Board for 20 years and I received 200 more votes this time than I did in the previous election. I guess the people still like me and wanted me back. You have to work as a team if you want to get anything accomplished, and I believe this new board will come together and do just that.”

As he prepares for his second term, Via said, he would “continue to work hard for the citizens of Hanover County and the Ashland District.” He said he will focus on: growth and economic development, “We will continue to attract green economic development,” public safety, noting the recent success of the Sheriff’s Office in locating Robert Wood Jr.; schools, “In the past the board has fully funded the School Board and superintendent’s requested annual budgets to maintain our excellent, award-winning schools;” and town-county relations, “I have worked on close collaboration and cooperation between the town [Ashland] and the county.” He added, “Our citizens can be assured we will continue to work in these tough economic times to maintain sound financial practices, keeping our tax rate unchanged, and finding ways to make county government more efficient.”

Stanley is gearing up for his 28th year on the board. “I remember when I started, I was going to change the world the first few months I was in office. We’ve got four new board members and I think this board might be a little more conservative than recent ones. I believe all the members of the board are good people and we need to keep looking forward so we can do good things for the people of Hanover County.”

Attempts were made to contact Hazzard.

Senior staff writer Jim Fields contributed to this report.