Parrish seeking fifth term as Amherst supervisor

Leon Parrish is running for his fifth term on the Amherst County Board of Supervisors, while three other residents are also running in two upcoming races.

Parrish, a Democrat, is the board chairman and represents District 5, which includes Old Town Madison Heights. He was first elected in 1993 after several years of serving on the Amherst County School Board, and has the longest tenure among current supervisors.

Frank Campbell, a county native who has lived all his life in Madison Heights, is challenging Parrish for the seat. Campbell, a neighbor of Parrish, was the only resident to ever oppose the supervisor in his previous four terms and came up short in 2005 when Parrish garnered nearly 57 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Claudia Tucker and Bonnie Limbrick are running for the District 2 seat on the board that will be vacated at the end of this year by Vernon Wood. Each has served on the county planning commission and Tucker is currently a member.

The winner would be the county’s second female supervisor — Judith Elkins, a Sweet Briar professor, was the first when she was elected in 1993. She died of cancer during her first term.

When asked in separate phone interviews about the distinction, Tucker and Limbrick each said the county needs quality leadership regardless of gender or race.

The candidates are running at a time when the board is dealing with controversy that ensued after the recent resignation of Rodney Taylor as county administrator.

Taylor quit after conflicts with several supervisors, which unfolded in closed meetings and were recently made public. Residents angry over perceived secrecy of the matters have voiced concerns to the board in recent meetings as it searches for a new county administrator.

Taylor, supervisors and residents have stated the county needs to move forward.

The candidates agree.

“We have to get the trust of the constituency back to where it should be with open government,” Parrish said. “I feel like this situation has divided the board (of supervisors). It gives people opportunity to really question the board.”

Parrish said he favors hiring a “seasoned” administrator to lead the county in a new direction. “When you see something going wrong, you nip it in the bud. It’s going to have to be a strong administrator.”

Parrish also said he favors the board holding fewer closed meetings and not becoming “sucked in on personal agendas.”

Tucker, who moved to the county 13 years ago, said lessons should be learned before the county moves on. The public sent a message “loud and clear” to supervisors, she said.

“They want transparency and they want openness,” said Tucker, adding she is campaigning on those elements and fiscal conservatism. “I could not agree more.”

Tucker said her district needs someone with experience in budget processes and bringing groups of people together for a common cause. “I am accustomed to working with people who are on opposite sides of an issue,” she said. Tucker also suggested that supervisors be available one day a week at the county administration building to meet with constituents.

Campbell, who described himself as “a conservative open to change,” said the Taylor situation probably wouldn’t have gone as far as it did if handled in regular meetings.

“I feel the government should be more open,” he said.

Campbell said he would strive to keep businesses in Amherst and the county has potential to “flourish and be a model county.”

Limbrick, a native of the town of Amherst, said she has strong goals that she would like to see the county attain. She would be “honest and forthcoming” as a supervisor, she said.

“I want someone who is a fiscal conservative and runs a tight ship,” Limbrick said, referring to the county’s next administrator. “As a businesswoman, I have to run my business with fiscal constraint and use my time wisely. As a taxpayer, I want the county government to do the same.”

Leon Parrish

(District 5)Parrish seeking fifth term

- Age: 68

Experience: Four terms as a county supervisor and the current Board of Supervisors chairman, serves as the liaison to the planning commission and has served on the school board, attends Old Town Community Action Group meetings.

- Profession: Retired

- Thoughts on District 5: Projects and issues such as revitalization of Old Town Madison Heights, the Amherst Adult Detention Center and a park along the James River need to come to fruition.

- Quotable: “I believe in honesty and integrity.”

Frank Campbell (District 5)

- Age: 39

- Experience: Served on a board of assessors that dealt with public concerns during the last county reassessment, is involved in Old Town Community Action Group.

- Profession: Sole proprietor of American Customized Exteriors in Madison Heights.

- Thoughts on District 5: Would like to see a new high school and new hospital rather than a new jail, favors more economic development opportunities and the revitalization of Old Town Madison Heights.

- Quotable: “I represent the average hardworking taxpayer and I feel I bring a lot of common sense.”

Bonnie Limbrick (District 2)

- Age: 57

- Experience: Has served on the planning commission and held the chairperson seat, currently serves on the board of zoning appeals.

- Profession: Co-owner of Amcar Rental in Madison Heights, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Forehand & Company in Lynchburg.

- Thoughts on District 2: As with the rest of the county, it needs more business expansion, lower taxes, environmental stewardship and “smart growth.”

- Quotable: “My mother, a former Cub Scout den mother, always said ‘be prepared.’ If elected, I plan on being prepared.”

Claudia Tucker (District 2)

- Age: 52

- Experience: Currently serving on the planning commission.

- Profession: Senior director of government affairs for Medco Health Solutions.

- Thoughts on District 2: Multiple constituencies like the town of Amherst and Sweet Briar need to be balanced and its agricultural nature requires a supervisor “very in tune” with issues affecting farmers.

- Quotable: “I really think we need to bring an era of professionalism to the county.”