Voters to select Democratic nominee in Brookland supervisor race

Less than a year after they thought they’d found a new rising star, Henrico Democrats are headed back to the drawing board next week to select a nominee for the Brookland District seat on the Henrico Board of Supervisors.

Political newcomer Justin House, a pastor, will compete in an Aug. 11 assembled caucus against Danny Plaugher, the executive director of a nonprofit who is seeking the seat for the third time in three years. The winner will face the Republican nominee in a Nov. 6 special election for the right to serve the final 13 months of the term vacated June 30 by Democrat Courtney Lynch June 30, who had won a special election just last November to claim the seat.

House, the senior pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and chief operating officer  of Trinity Baptist Church in Richmond, and Plaugher, the executive director of Virginians for High Speed Rail, will address Brookland Democrats at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen Aug. 11 at about 11 a.m. Then, all voters will cast their ballots at once to select the nominee. (Doors open at 10; eligible voters in line by 11 will be permitted to participate.)

House, a lifelong citizen of the district who grew up in Lakeside and graduated from Hermitage High School, is running to enhance educational opportunities and achievement, foster job creation, ensure safety and enhance recreational opportunities within the district, he told the Citizen.

He had considered seeking public office at some point and said the timing of the seat opening this year convinced him to make a run.

“I’m here to stay,” he said, citing his ties to the district. “I’m excited about the opportunity to encourage those who have grown in the community to stay and also those who have moved into the community to stay.”

Plaugher, who earned the party’s nomination in 2015 and won about 40 percent of the vote against longtime Republican Supervisor Dick Glover, again sought the nomination last year following Glover’s death, but Lynch defeated him in a caucus. He’s back for a third try championing the same core issues he has each of the first two times.

“As a resident, homeowner, husband and soon-to-be father, I want to do everything in my power to ensure that Brookland remains a safe, vibrant and forward-looking community,” Plaugher told the Citizen. “Quality of life, education and customer service are the issues I hear the most about when out talking with voters.”

Toward those goals, he has vowed to invest in education and prioritize safe neighborhoods. The former is particularly personal for Plaugher, who said he was homeless for a time in middle school and quickly realized that education was his path to a better life.

In the past, he has championed the continued redevelopment of the West Broad Street and Staples Mill Road corridors within the district and the construction of more sidewalks and streetlights, which he believes would make the district more friendly for walkers, runners and cyclists.

Plaugher expressed optimism about the county’s recent expansion of GRTC bus service within Henrico – one of the issues Lynch championed during her campaign and brief time in office and something he has supported consistently.

House vowed to engage citizens and serve as an advocate and liaison between the community and government. Working to improve property values in the district is also near the top of his to-do list, he said.

“I’m committed to helping my community, I’ve done nonprofit work in community, I’m a faith-based leader,” House said. “I’ve seen and enjoyed the rich history of our growth but I’m also looking forward to helping our community continue to grow.”

Plaugher has vowed to attend every neighborhood watch and civic association in the district if elected and pledged to host frequent town meetings. He also has pledged to help foster high quality job opportunities in the district, keep taxes low and ensure that the district can offer desirable housing and recreational amenities for citizens.

House, who has been heavily involved with the Henrico County Public Schools’ fatherhood initiative ManUp, believes his experience working with all sectors of the community – from government and faith-based leaders to community volunteers, parents, children, agencies and professionals – will help him serve the district well.

“The Brookland District is truly the bridge,” he said. “It is the bridge between the entire county. I want to be a bridge-builder to connect the past and provide hope.”