Major shift in store for Supervisors
▶ Whitson and Donehey waiting in wings ▶ Voters send Frazier back to Courthouse Row
When the dust settled on Election Night, Harris Hollow resident Keir Whitson had finally secured a seat on the Rappahannock County Board of
Supervisors, defeating an otherwise strong challenge by Washington innkeeper Audrey Regnery.
It was the second attempt by a determined Whitson, a senior trade advisor for a Washington, D.C. law firm, to win the Hampton district seat surrounding and including the county seat of Washington. This time instead of falling short he captured an impressive 58 percent of the district’s support compared to Regnery’s 41 percent.
While the ballot count is unofficial, Whitson garnered 431 votes to Regn
ery’s 307.
Reached Wednesday morning, the supervisor-elect told the Rappahannock News that he had telephoned Regnery just moments before and “I told her I appreciated how much work she had put into the campaign. I ran once before so I understand how disappointed she might feel. She was extremely gracious.”
“I wish Keir Whitson well,” Regnery told us later. “He ran a good race, fought hard and frankly I am glad it is over. I hope that the citizens who voted for me will continue to fight for the betterment of Rappahannock and will hold our supervisors accountable for their actions, and show them that they are there to serve the great citizens of Rappahannock, rather than themselves or special interests.
“Let us keep their feet to the fire and speak up for the things that are important to us. Your voice can only be heard if you take a stand for what you believe in.”
Whitson said Regnery had run “a strong campaign,” and he now looks forward “to getting to work.”
The two candidates were vying for the Hampton seat being vacated by U.S. congressional candidate John Lesinski.
Meanwhile, incumbent Jackson district Supervisor Ron Frazier easily held off a last-minute write-in challenge from Ron Makela, capturing 371 votes (67 percent) to Makela’s 179 (33 percent).
While the short-lived contest between the two Amissville residents wasn’t nearly as lengthy or hard-fought as the Whitson and Regnery battle, it had its moments of mudslinging.
Still, as intended with all political races, Makela’s entry provided an opportunity to air some important issues facing Rappahannock, from the much-needed updating of the comprehensive plan to providing school funding as enrollments drop to more civil dialogue in county government proceedings.
“I would like to thank all the voters that turned out and expressed confidence in me to continue to represent them,” Frazier told the Rappahannock News on Wednesday morning. “I also would like to thank Mr. Makela for giving the voters a choice.
“Now, I hope above all other things the animosity stops and the board can get our jobs done.”
Said Makela Wednesday morning: “I would like to graciously thank the residents throughout the county that offered their encouragement and support towards my election effort. It meant a lot to me. I congratulate all those who were elected or reelected to the office they were seeking.
“The voters of the county have made their choices and now it is time to come together and take actions to deal with the many important challenges our county is facing. I will continue my service to the county as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals and in any other way that I can be helpful.”
It was much smoother sailing for BOS candidate Debbie Donehey, who ran unopposed for the Wakefield seat of retiring Chair Roger Welch. She picked up 520 votes, or 99 percent of those cast.
“I am very excited so many people came out to vote,” Donehey told the News on Wednesday morning. “It was a surreal experience to have so many people shake my hand and say they voted for me. I would also like to send a very big thank you to Roger Welch for the many things he has done for both the county and the Wakefield district, and I want to see to it that he gets the recognition that he deserves.
“Now the work begins, that’s the big thing,” Donehey concluded.