Democrat Fleming, Republican Newberry promise no political interference

As challengers turn winners for two of the top constitutional offices in Dickenson County, both men — one a Republican, one a Democrat — express appreciation for voter support and promise to not let politics interfere with their jobs when they take office in the new year.

Sheriff-elect Jeremy Fleming and Commonwealth Attorney-elect Joshua Newberry also both said citizens can expect no house-cleaning when they take charge.

“I have no intention of replacing any current staff,” Fleming said by email Monday.

Newberry concurred.

Asked how they would navigate any political differences that may arise, Newberry said he believed he and Fleming “share the notion that politics shouldn’t have a role in investigation and prosecution of crime and that the best way to serve the people of the county is to work as a team for just, fair outcomes.”

Fleming was equally emphatic. “There will be no political differences between myself and the commonwealth attorney.”

Asked what they will be doing to prepare themselves leading up to taking office, Newberry said he would be reaching out to law enforcement and familiarizing himself with pending cases in Dickenson County courts “so that we can hit the ground running on Jan. 1.”

The first steps he plans to take when he assume office, Newberry said, is “reviewing the current operations of the office and determining the most effective way to implement my prosecutorial approach on every level.”

Fleming said his first steps will be to review policy and procedures and “meet with all staff to address any issues at hand.” In the lead-up to taking office, he said he would be spending time with my family and friends “and mentally preparing myself for the next four years.”

Fleming unseated incumbent Sheriff Scott Stanley, who took office in September 2018 after former sheriff Bobby Hammons retired before his term ended.

“I feel like the amount of doors we knocked on was the big difference,” Fleming said.
He thanked Dickenson County voters for believing in and electing him. “I am committed to serving the citizens of the county and look forward to serving each of you,” Fleming also said.

Newberry, when asked what pushed his campaign over the top against an incumbent, said the question was best directed to the voters. “I tried to speak to as many folks as possible and discuss with them my approach to the office,” he said, adding he was humbled and appreciative of the voters trust in returning him to the prosecutor’s post.

“I am ready to work hard and serve the people,” Newberry said.

Newberry unseated current Commonwealth Attorney Seth Baker, a Democrat, with almost 55 percent of the vote, 3,076 to 2,553.

Fleming garnered just more than 60 percent of the vote, prevailing in his challenge against Stanley, 3,481 to 2,291.

Incumbent Treasurer Angela Rakes, an Independent, and Commissioner of Revenue Mike Yates, a Republican, ran unopposed and were re-elected.

While ousting two constitutional office incumbents, Dickenson County voters returned incumbents to the school board and delivered mixed results in county board of supervisors races.

In the race for school board, where three incumbents bowed out of another term, incumbents Lurton Lyle in the Clintwood District and Rick Mullins in the Willis District fought off challenges to prevail in their races. Lyle handily defeated challenger Greer Mullins, 829 to 481, and Mullins bested Glenda O’Quinn, 697 to 539.

In a three-way race in the Sandlick District, Jamie Hackney took a little more than 50 percent of the vote (529) over opponents Hayes O’Quin (407) and David Owens (94).

In another three-way campaign, in the Ervinton District, former schools superintendent Damon Rasnick edged out Kathy Harrison, 487 to 458, with David Ratliff trailing with 51 votes.
Jason Hicks ran unopposed in the Kenady District, garnering 781 with 18 write-ins.

In the county supervisors races, two districts returned incumbents and two ousted them, leaving an all-Republican board with new faces in the majority.

Republican Josh Evans took the Willis District seat from incumbent Democrat Jason Compton, 736 to 543, while Republican Peggy Kiser claimed the Ervinton District over Democrat David Yates, 642 to 360.

Newcomer Rhonda Sluss, a Republican, will represent the Clintwood District on the board, taking that race over Democrat Donnie Rife, 721 to 622.

Republican incumbent Ron Peters trounced Democrat Charles Hay in the Sandlick District, taking more than 68 percent of the vote (690 to 302).
In a closer race, Republican incumbent Shelbie Willis in the Kenady District bested challenger Selena Culbertson, a Democrat, 553 to 437.

In the town of Clinchco special election to fill a council seat, Ruby F. Coleman was unopposed. Coleman got 40 votes and there were 18 write-ins.

Independent incumbent Treasurer Angela Rakes ran unopposed and secured 4,728 votes. Mike Yates, the Republican Commissioner of Revenue, also faced no challenge. Yates garnered 4,580 votes.

Dickenson County voters favored hometown girl Starla Kiser in the District 4 House of Delegates race but those 2,961 votes would not be enough to carry the Democrat past Republican William Wampler III of Abingdon district-wide. Wampler took almost 63 percent of the vote, 14,382 to Kiser’s 8,458.

Meantime, Republican incumbent Sen. Ben Chafin took more than 63 percent of the vote in the Senate District 38 race against independent challenger George McCall III, 30,198 to 16,815.

Two ran for two seats on the Soil and Water Conservation board. Travis C. Mullins of Long Ridge secured 3,231 votes and Johnnie C. Stanley of Clintwood took 2,577.

The Dickenson County Registrar’s Office faced challenges all night, as the state Department of Elections website went down right as the local office was loading its first set of returns, Deputy Registrar Kayla Deel. “It went down hill from there,” Deel said, noting that what the state’s website was showing as final returns with all precincts reporting actually was not the case.

Dickenson County was setting voting records even before Election Day.

Out of the county’s 10,111 registered voters across five districts, a record total of 1,017 absentee ballots, roughly 10 percent, already had been cast by Monday, Deel said.

The last day to vote by absentee ballot passed the Saturday before Election Day and the Dickenson County Registrar’s Office witnessed a record 70 people arriving in person to vote. Fifty was the most the registrar could ever recall voting on that last day, Deel said.

Deel said 613 voters had come into their office to vote in person with 404 having sent their ballots in by mail.

Election results can be found at the Virginia Department of Elections website, www.elections.virginia.gov.