Published: November 03, 2009 10:39 pm      

Republicans take majority on Tazewell Supervisors Board

TAZEWELL, Va. — Two Republicans, and one Democrat, were elected Tuesday to the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.

Republicans James T. “Jim” Campbell Jr. and John Absher were the apparent winners in the Northern and Western districts, and incumbent Democrat Mike Hymes was the winner in the Southern District, according to unofficial returns.

With the apparent victories Tuesday by Absher and Campbell, the Republican Party will now have a 4-1 majority on the Tazewell board. Absher and Campbell will be joined by incumbent Republicans Seth White and David Anderson on the board. Hymes will be the lone Democrat.

The newly elected board will be charged with determining the proposed mountain ridge protection ordinance, and the fate of a large-scale wind turbine farm proposed for East River Mountain near Bluefield, Va. by Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America.

With 11 of 11 precincts reporting in the Northern District, Campbell, led with 892 votes followed by 831 for David Woodard, a current school board member.

“The race was a close and tight fought battle, but what we need to focus on right now is working for the citizens of the Northern District of Tazewell County, and moving the county in the right direction,” Campbell, a former Virginia State Trooper, said. “I look forward to being a fair and equal voice for the citizens. I would just like to thank the folks in the Northern District who supported and voted for me, and now it’s time for me to work for them.”

In the county’s Western District, three candidates were vying Tuesday for a single seat on the board.

With all five precincts reporting, Absher was the apparent winner with 1,017 votes followed by 744 for incumbent Democrat Bill Wimmer and 469 for independent Bob Wade.

With six of six precincts reporting in the Southern District, incumbent Hymes turned back the challenge of Republican Dallas Sparks. Hymes led with 1,581 votes followed by 975 for Sparks.

Voters also decided two school board races Tuesday in Tazewell County.

In the Western District, incumbent Steve Davis was the winner with 1,342 votes followed by 832 for Penny Nimmo.

In the Southern District, incumbent Randy Conn led with 1,391 votes followed by 1,191 for challenger Charles A. “Buddy” Young.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com