Spots open in Madison races

Now’s the time to put your money where your mouth is.

Half a dozen spots on Madison County’s two most influential public bodies are up for grabs this fall.

Those interested in running for the three slots on the county’s school board and the same number of openings on the board of supervisors have about six weeks to file the necessary forms to be included on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Although no candidates had filed the official forms by The Eagle’s press time this week, some incumbents and newcomers have already shared plans to enter the race.

Despite reports by a Charlottesville television news station, at least one current supervisor is planning to run for re-election. Supervisor Clark Powers told The Eagle last week that he plans to file the forms to qualify for the November race.

Local residents Frank Stidman and Jerry Butler have also said they will join Powers in the race for the supervisors’ seats, according to a news release sent to The Eagle.

Supervisor Bill Crigler does not plan to run again, and Supervisor Bob Miller did not return a call regarding his re-election plans by press time.

Madison County School Board Chairman Jeff Early and members Doreen Jenkins and Doug Farmer are all also up for re-election in the fall. Jenkins told The Eagle that she plans to file the forms to run – Early and Farmer did not return calls regarding their plans by press time.

These offices are open to all Madison County residents who have lived in Virginia for one year prior to running and are currently living and qualified to vote in the county, according to the Virginia State Board of Elections Web site.

A person is qualified to vote if he or she is registered to vote and has not had those privileges revoked due to being convicted of a felony or having been found by a court to be mentally incompetent.

Potential candidates – including incumbents – must submit forms that include financial information about their campaigns and, if filing as an Independent (non-party) candidate, a petition that contains at least 125 signatures of people qualified to vote within the county.

The person circulating the petition, which can be the candidate or another person who is qualified to vote for the office, must personally witness each signature, which means petitions cannot be left unattended at a store, restaurant or other place in the community, according to the board of elections Web site.

All forms can be accessed on-line at www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Cidate_Information/Index.html. Forms may be sent through the mail for a fee of $10, the Web site states.

As an accommodation for candidates, Registrar Diana Eanes has made some copies of information about the requirements to run available at her office.
“I have given out quite a few of those,” Eanes said last week.

To be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot, candidates must file necessary forms in person before 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 at the county registrar’s office at 302 Thrift Road (the old school board headquarters) in downtown Madison. Normal business hours for the registrar’s office – which will be open special hours June 9 – are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

For information, call Madison County Registrar Diana Eanes at (540) 948-6533 or visit the Virginia State Board of Elections Web site at www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms.