Schmitt claims Brookland seat, regains board majority for Republicans

Henrico Republicans are celebrating tonight after Dan Schmitt won a special election in the Brookland District to give the party a majority on the Board of Supervisors.

Schmitt, the president of RMC Events, won with nearly 54 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Danny Plaugher with 14 out of 15 precincts reporting in. Democrats had hoped that high turnout for races in the Seventh Congressional district and Senate would have straight-ticket voters push Plaugher to victory so they could regain the majority they held briefly following last November's special election victory by Courtney Lynch.

"After tonight there are no more ‘R’s and ‘D’s," Schmitt said in a speech at the Virginia Cliffe Inn. "Please celebrate our successes tonight, please celebrate our work. But tomorrow, we are the party of ‘H,’ the party of Henrico County, and tomorrow the Rs and the Ds go away and we govern for all people in this county."

The election follows a tumultuous back and forth over the Brookland seat, as Lynch resigned after only months on the job after repeatedly clashing with fellow board members, County Manager John Vithoulkas and members of the School Board. She replaced Republican supervisor Dick Glover after his death in February 2017, giving Democrats a majority on the board for the first time in decades.

"Part of that tumultuous nature is why we're sitting here today," Schmitt said. "I didn't like it, and it irked me because I believe in the Henrico way."

Many in attendance at his campaign event cited connections to Schmitt's family and Glover, whose wife Joan Sadler Glover and son Jerry Glover were in attendance.

"He called me and asked for my support and I was happy to give it," Philip Strother, a family friend of Schmitt's, said about Schmitt's decision to campaign.

Herbert Dunford Jr., an appointee of Glover’s, said: “People were willing to split the ticket for this guy … It’s a new generation with Dan.”

Chris Foster, a supporter of Schmitt, had known the Glover family before Glover's position as supervisor.

"We are pretty excited," he said, noting Schmitt made an effort to meet those in the community. Foster said he knew little about Plaugher.

Schmitt told the Citizen his priorities as an elected official would include focusing on equal amenities, especially in the Lakeside and Bethlehem areas; education; and a fiscally prudent approach to governing.

Some voters at the Hermitage High School polling place did not like Schmitt’s decision to not display his party on his campaign materials.

"They should be required to put their party," said Jeanne Robinson, a retired social worker who only found out about the rule because a woman she knew who worked in the Board of Elections pointed it out to her. Farruqh Khan had similar complaints, saying he wanted to know what the candidate was aligning with.

“Partisan politics, to me, has no place in local government services,” he said.

Both Khan and another voter, Mitchell Teixeira, who voted at Glen Allen High School, said both candidates were capable.

“Dick Glover had a good tradition,” Teixeira said, adding that he hoped whichever candidate won would follow Glover's legacy.

Schmitt graduated from the University of Richmond in 1999. His RMC Events company employees 2,000 part-time workers statewide. He also is the president of Glen Allen Youth Athletic Association.

Schmitt outraised Plaugher by $66,318 in the election, with support from real estate professionals.

“The day may have started at 5:10 this morning, but this process started earlier, way before today,” Schmitt said. “The knocking on doors, the meet and greets, the being in the community. It started way before 5:10 this morning.”