Voters Choose Reed For Sheriff
Published 5:10 pm Thursday, November 10, 2011
PRINCE EDWARD-The County will have a new sheriff, but one with a familiar face.
Wesley W. Reed, the current Captain with the department, defeated G. L. “Juice” Giuriceo Jr. and will succeed retiring Sheriff Travis Harris.
“I'm truly pleased at the outcome of my first run for sheriff,” Reed said Thursday. “I'm grateful for the supporters that I had supporting me and I promise to do the very best job that I can as the sheriff of Prince Edward and be there for the citizens.”
Reed received 2,952 (56.19 percent) to 2,294 (43.67 percent) for Giuriceo, according to figures posted on the state board of elections website. There were seven write-in votes.
Capt. Reed, a native of Prince Edward County, has worked in the Sheriff's Office full-time since 1985 and was appointed chief deputy in 2000.
“And For the ones that I didn't pick up the last go-around, I'm trusting that within the next four years that I will…get confidence and maybe they'll support me next go-around,” Reed said.
Giuriceo, who lost by a similar percentage in the election for sheriff in 2007, thanked those who supported him through the past five years and the last two elections.
“I need to say congratulations to Mr. Reed on his win,” Giuriceo said. “And he had the support, the help and the monetary support, also, and I didn't have enough of any of them…But the majority of the voters spoke loud and clear, I think…on who they wanted to lead the sheriff's office and…I respect that.”
He offered that he believes Prince Edward has “a hard road ahead and I hope that the sheriff's office will keep the citizens in mind…as we progress.”
Giuriceo said he believes he did his best and it wasn't quite good enough “but I guess…good luck to everyone and…I know some people have asked whether I'm gonna run again, but my intention was only for two elections, but I think probably I'll leave you with the thought that wherever God leads me, I'll go.”
Other constitutional races were not as close as the sheriff's race.
Democrat incumbent James R. “Jim” Ennis had 3,160 (64.84 percent) votes for Commonwealth's Attorney to John C. Marsden's 1,706 (35 percent). Seven write-in votes were also cast.
In the contest for County Treasurer, Democrat Mable H. Shanaberger won re-election with 3,309 votes (65.17 percent) to independent Benjamin R. Murdock's 1,759 (34.64 percent). There were nine write-in votes cast.
Incumbent Democrat Beverly M. Booth, unopposed for Commissioner of Revenue, garnered 4,033 votes. There were 20 write-in votes cast.
Four of Prince Edward County's eight board of supervisors seats were up Tuesday with three of the incumbents holding onto their seats.
Democrat Howard F. Simpson received 478 votes (12 write-in votes were cast) in Farmville District 101; Robert M. “Bobby” Jones received 635 votes (with ten write-ins) in the Lockett District, and Charles W. McKay 471 votes (with three write-ins) in the Hampden District.
The remaining race for Farmville District 801 featured incumbent Mattie Wiley in a write-in campaign against former supervisor and Democratic Party candidate Pattie Cooper-Jones. Ms. Cooper Jones, who served four years prior to Ms. Wiley's term, prevailed with 168 votes (57.14 percent) to 124 write-in votes for Ms. Wiley.
Democratic candidate Bert F. Dodson Jr. lost his bid for State Senator from the newly created 22nd District, but Prince Edward was one of the few bright spots. Dodson, in addition to prevailing in the City of Lynchburg, also had more votes than Republican Tom A. Garrett Jr. in Prince Edward.
Dodson received 2,560 votes (51.11 percent) to Garrett's 2,435 with four write-in votes cast.
The race for the 60th House of Delegates seat was a non-starter. Republican James E. Edmunds II was unopposed and received 3,042 votes with 53 write-in votes cast.
Voters had two votes and two candidates for the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation Director. Wilkie W. Chaffin received 1,562 votes and William B. “Bill” Powers received 3,064. Twelve write-in votes were also cast.
Overall, 39.26 percent of registered voters participated in Tuesday's election.
