2019 Henrico voters' guide

HENRICO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
What is it? The five-member Henrico Board of Supervisors is the county's highest governing body. It makes decisions about budgetary and land-use issues and provides funding for all county agencies, among other responsibilities. Members represent each of the county's five magisterial districts and serve four-year terms.

Who's running? All five seats are up for election, and all five incumbents are seeking re-election. For two – Fairfield's Frank Thornton and Tuckahoe's Pat O'Bannon – it would be their seventh terms in office. Varina's Tyrone Nelson is seeking his third term, Three Chopt's Tommy Branin his second and Brookland's Dan Schmitt his first full term (he won a special election last year to serve the final year of a term originally held by Dick Glover and later by Courtney Lynch).

The candidates are:
• Brookland District – Dan Schmitt (Republican, incumbent); Steven Burkarth (Democrat, challenger)
• Fairfield District – Frank Thornton (Democrat, incumbent); Delta Bowers (independent, challenger)
• Three Chopt District – Tommy Branin (Republican, incumbent)
• Tuckahoe District – Pat O'Bannon (Republican, incumbent); Marques Jones (Democrat, challenger)
• Varina District – Tyrone Nelson (Democrat, incumbent); Angela Rowe (independent, challenger)

HENRICO SCHOOL BOARD
What is it? The five-member School Board governs Henrico's public school system, using funds allocated to it by the Board of Supervisors. Members represent each of the county's five magisterial districts and serve four-year terms.

Who's running? All five seats are up for election, and the board is guaranteed to have a majority of new members, since only two incumbents – Fairfield's Roscoe Cooper and Three Chopt's Micky Ogburn – are seeking re-election. Three-term member John Montgomery (Varina), two-term member Bev Cocke (Brookland) and one-year interim member Bill Pike (Tuckahoe) are giving up their seats.

The candidates are:
• Brookland District – Kristi Kinsella and Jackson Knox (both challengers)
• Fairfield District – Roscoe Cooper (incumbent) and Keith Hicks
• Three Chopt District – Micky Ogburn (incumbent)
• Tuckahoe District – Melissa Dart and Marcie Shea (both challengers)
• Varina District – Alicia Atkins, Joyce Davis, Michelle Henderson and Kandise Lucas (all challengers)

HENRICO SHERIFF
What is it? The Henrico sheriff is responsible for overseeing the Sheriff's Office, which maintains the county's two jails, transports prisoners and provides courtroom security, among other duties.

Who's running? Five-term Republican Sheriff Mike Wade is resigning his seat, and three candidates – a Democrat, a Republican and an independent – are seeking to replace him.

The candidates are:
• Alisa Gregory (Democrat)
• Bob Matson (Republican)
• Tom Wadkins (independent)

HENRICO COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY
What is it? The Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney leads an office of 29 prosecutors who represent the county and state in legal cases against people accused of crimes. The office also coordinates the extradition of criminals who have fled the state; prosecutes asset forfeitures; tries citizens accused of failure to obey court orders; oversees the Victim/Witness Unit; advises law enforcement agencies; and provides assistance to local and state police in ongoing criminal investigations, among other duties.

Who's running? Two-term incumbent Democrat Shannon Taylor is seeking a third term and is being challenged by Republican Owen Conway, a former prosecutor in the office who was among a number of attorneys fired by Taylor when she won the seat eight years ago.

The candidates are:
• Owen Conway (Republican, challenger)
• Shannon Taylor (Democrat, incumbent)

HENRICOPOLIS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD
What is it? The Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District Board works to help conserve natural resources in the county. It provides educational training to students and teachers countywide; assists with creation of conservation easements on land in the county; conducts annual Envirothon and poster contest events for students; helps to maintain the Cornerstone Farm at Fairfield Middle School (a working farm operated by students); and conducts tree seedling giveaways and provides rain barrels to residents, among many other efforts. Board members receive no pay.

Who's running? Five candidates – including two incumbents – are vying for the three elected spots on the five-member board. Voters may select as many as three candidates. The other two spots are appointed positions.

The candidates are:
• Nicole Anderson Ellis (incumbent)
• James Beckley (incumbent)
• Anne-Marie Leake (challenger)
• Michael Phillips (challenger)
• Claiborne Yarbrough (incumbent)

VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
What is it? The House of Delegates is one half of the Virginia legislature. It consists of 100 elected members – one from each of the House districts in Virginia – who are elected to serve two-year terms. The entire body is elected every two years. It meets in January and February each year – for 60 days in even-numbered years and 30 days in odd-numbered years, unless a two-thirds vote of both the House and Virginia Senate vote to change the schedule. Delegates earn $17,640 annually. Six districts involve Henrico County – the 56th, 68th, 70th, 72nd, 73rd and 74th.

Who's running? Incumbents are seeking re-election in five of the six districts; two incumbents are running unopposed, but there is competition for the other four seats.

The candidates are:
• 56th District – Juanita Jo Matkins (Democrat, challenger) and John McGuire (Republican, incumbent)
• 68th District – Dawn Adams (Democrat, incumbent) and Garrison Coward (Republican, challenger)
• 70th District – Delores McQuinn (Democrat, incumbent)
• 72nd District – GayDonna Vandergriff (Republican, challenger) and Schuyler VanValkenburg (Democrat, incumbent)
• 73rd District – Mary Margaret Kastelberg (Republican, challenger) and Rodney Willett (Democrat, challenger)
• 74th District – Lamont Bagby (Democrat, incumbent)

VIRGINIA SENATE
What is it? The Senate is the second half of the Virginia legislature. It consists of 40 elected members – one from each of the Senate districts in Virginia – who are elected to serve four-year terms. The entire body is elected every four years. It meets in January and February each year – for 60 days in even-numbered years and 30 days in odd-numbered years, unless a two-thirds vote of both the House and Virginia Senate vote to change the schedule. Senators earn $18,000 annually. Two districts involve Henrico County – the 9th and 12th.

Who's running? Incumbents are seeking re-election in both districts.

The candidates are:
• 9th District – Mark Lewis (Libertarian, challenger) and Jennifer McClellan (Democrat, incumbent)
• 12th District – Siobhan Dunnavant (Republican, incumbent) and Debra Rodman (Democrat, challenger)