Thornton, Nelson to lead Henrico Board of Supervisors
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Fairfield District Supervisor Frank Thornton will chair the Henrico Board of Supervisors for the sixth time in his 28th year on the board, after being selected unanimously by fellow members Jan. 10. Thornton will succeed Tuckahoe District Supervisor Pat O’Bannon, who just concluded her sixth term as chair and with whom Thornton joined the board in 1996. The two are the board’s longest-tenured members.
Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson was elected to serve as vice chair of the board this year, his 12th on the board.
In remarks following his election, Thornton invited his wife, Bettye, to stand alongside him, as she had done when he accepted the chairmanship in 2000. He also noted he was sporting the same gold necktie with maroon squares that he had worn on that night 23 years ago.
“One of the pillars of our democratic system is local government,” Thornton said after thanking his colleagues for their trust in him and for working together with respect and collegiality. “During this age of technology as well as information, disinformation and misinformation, we must work even more diligently in serving our citizens. We must continue to use technology but use it wisely and to use more data-driven modalities in our governance. We are under mandate to govern at a 21st century modality, so I challenge my colleagues and myself to roll up our sleeves, and let’s continue to listen to and serve the citizens that we represent. Let us continue to be a county with a heart and to truly exemplify and honor our slogan The Henrico Way.”
Thornton holds appointed positions with various national, state and local governmental organizations, including the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Capital Region Collaborative Organizing Council and Maymont Foundation Board of Directors.
A Richmond native, he is a co-founder and past president of the Henrico County Civic League. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University and a master’s degree from American University. He retired in 2014 after working more than 40 years at VUU, where he was a professor of French and a recipient of the university’s Teacher of the Year award. He also received the John Jasper Trailblazer Award from Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Richmond.
Nelson, first elected Varina District supervisor in 2011, is in his third term on Henrico’s board. He previously served as chairman in 2016 and 2019.
He serves various national, state and local governmental and community organizations, including as chairman of the Greater Richmond Transit Company Board of Directors, treasurer of the Capital Region Airport Commission and as a member of the Richmond Region Planning District Commission, Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Board of Visitors.
A native of Varina, Nelson earned a master’s degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at VUU, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from VCU and an associate degree in business from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. He is the pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church.
