BUCKINGHAM – RoShelle “Rocky” Harris wants to be the county's next commissioner of the revenue. Running as an independent candidate, she is challenging incumbent Stephanie Midkiff, a Democrat, in the November 8 election.

Harris is a native of Buckingham County. After graduating from Buckingham County High School in 1993, she attended the University of Virginia. However, she completed her education through Strayer University while working full-time.

Not only did she earn an associate's degree in business administration but also went on to acquire a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in human resource management, and, more recently completed her master's degree in health system administration.

Prior to taking on her current position as director of social services and admissions at Heritage Hall Nursing Facility, Harris served for approximately four years as a deputy commissioner of revenue for Buckingham County.

“I have experience in personal property taxation, real estate taxation, income taxation, and business taxation principles,” shared Harris. She enrolled in training with the Weldon Cooper Center of the University of Virginia in the Commissioner of Revenue Certification Program; and participated and received training with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Additionally, while employed as a deputy commissioner of revenue, Harris participated in career development by attending the annual convention of commissioners, local government officials' conferences, commissioners central district meetings, and income tax workshops with the Department of Taxation.

Harris added that she also completed courses in Roles and Responsibilities of the Commissioner of the Revenue, Tax Exemptions in Virginia, Personal Property, Advanced Taxation of Personal Property, and General Technology.

“I am here to serve the citizens of Buckingham County,” stated Harris. “My vision is to have a customer friendly and professional office by providing staff with training and skills to enhance services to the taxpayers of the county.”

When former Commissioner of Revenue Linda Baird retired, Harris was one of three candidates who sought that office in a special election held in 2009.

Reminding that she lost that three-way race by 128 votes, Harris offered, “I am running again because I care about the citizens and the county. I feel that I could do a great job as commissioner, by working with the staff and providing a service for the citizens.”

Harris has one son, Jai Jamerson, a junior at Fuqua School.