Saturday at the Vinton War Memorial Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Altizer announced he would not seek another term representing the Vinton Magisterial District. He thanked those who supported him for the last 12 years and introduced and endorsed Jason Peters for his seat.
Board members Richard Flora and Charlotte Moore, Vinton Mayor Bradley Gross and Councilman Matt Hare and Wes Nance were there for support for Altizer and Peters.
Peters who is running as a Republican listed his 20 years of involvement in various organizations in the Vinton Magisterial District. He has served one year on the Roanoke County Capital Improvement Program Board and three years on the Roanoke County Planning Commission and is currently serving as Chairman.
The focus of his campaign will be on conservative leadership with investment in the county’s future through education and infrastructure improvements. That vision will bring better jobs to the Roanoke area he said.
Altizer facilitated the Regional Economic Summit on Thursday that brought local officials together to work in partnership for mutual economic benefit. Peters said partnerships are an important part of Roanoke County’s future and that he would build on that vision.
Peters said he would also work to improve the overall quality of life in the county and the district he hopes to represent.
Peters is a graduate of William Byrd High School and is employed by First Citizens Bank as a Senior Financial Services Representative. He has been a member of the Vinton First Aid Crew since 1992 and was Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee for the Vinton/Roanoke County Veterans Monument.
Jason is married to Candye who is employed by Olde Colony Realty. They have eight children and are active members of the Bonsack Baptist Church where they serve on multiple committees.
Peters is the only candidate so far to have announced for the Vinton district on November 5.
In other district races Al Bedrosian and Mike Bailey are seeking the Republican nomination for the Hollins district where Gary Jarrell is running as an independent endorsed by current Board of Supervisors member Richard Flora who is not seeking reelection.
Bedrosian and Bailey have faced each other before as the battled for Chair of the Roanoke County Republican Committee. Encouraged by the Tea Party, Bedrosian launched a last minute challenge to Bailey’s expected clear path to the chairmanship on April 15, 2010 as captured via twitter by Delegate Greg Habeeb. An ensuing kerfuffle over a disheveled Board of Supervisors meeting room made for even more drama.
Bedrosian lost and on Thursday Bailey said, “by [Bedrosian’s] own admission Al looks at things from the inside and is in competition with himself. On the other hand I am a consensus and coalition builder and listen to all sides of an argument before making a decision.”
In the Windsor district a two-way race for the Republican nomination is setting up. Joe McNamara and RoxAnne Christley are seeking the Republican nomination. The incumbent Ed Elswick dropped the Republican Party label as did Charlotte Moore who ran and won as a Democrat in the Cave Spring district. Joe McNamara lost to Elswick in a 2009 primary and will get another go at Elswick this year.
Elswick will announce for reelection on March 14. On May 11 there will be a Republican firehouse primary in the challenged districts. No Democrat has been rumored to run in the three conservative districts.
– Valerie Garner
