BUCKINGHAM — Voters in Buckingham elected two new school board members and a new mayor and two new council members in the Town of Dillwyn on Tuesday.

School Board

Russell P. “Pete” Gowin garnered 306 votes, or 43.28 percent of the vote, for the District Four school board seat, defeating Walter E. “Wes” Saxon Jr. and David Kent Whorley. Saxon received 258 votes, or 36.49 percent of the vote, while Whorley received 143 votes, or 20.23 percent of the vote.

“I feel good that the people saw fit to put me back. I really look forward to being back on the board for the next couple years. I’m just real excited,” Gowin told The Herald Wednesday morning. Gowin resigned earlier this year when his daughter applied for a position with the school division, creating the vacancy that the three candidates vied for.

Theresa D. Bryant will represent District Seven on the school board only after defeating F. Acie Allen Jr. by five votes.

Bryant received 193 votes, or 50.66 percent of the vote, while Allen garnered 188 votes, or 49.34 percent of the vote.

“I’m thankful to, well, God, because through Him all things are possible, my parents who were out there all day yesterday with me…my friends who were there to encourage me the whole way and, of course, the voters, they are the ones who put me there and I’m just really honored to represent them on the school board,” Bryant told The Herald following the election.

“The only comment I’d have would be to congratulate her on winning and wish her the best in serving on the school board,” Allen told The Herald, when asked for comment regarding the race.

The vacancy for the seat was created when Allen resigned due to his son applying for a job with the division.

In Dillwyn

Voters in Dillwyn elected its first female African-American mayor. Linda Venable Paige had been serving as mayor since the passing of former mayor J. Ervin Toney. Paige received 94 votes.

“It’s a thrilling opportunity to serve the people of Dillwyn and I will do what I can best to continue the projects that the former mayors started…We want to continue to work on the downtown revitalization, hoping to attract businesses as a result of that,” she told The Herald during a telephone interview Wednesday morning.

Two new faces will appear on the Dillwyn Town Council in January. Carolyn Anderson Davis received 49 votes, or 11.84 percent of the vote, and Melissa A. Louis received 64 votes, or 15.46 percent of the vote.

Council members that were re-elected included Tora LaTonya Jones, Karen Sue Moss, Sandra F. Moss, and Bill Lewis Moss.

Voter Registrar Margaret Thomas told The Herald Tuesday night that 26 write-ins were counted in the town council race.

Ossie J. Harris III, an interim town council member, indicated that he was seeking a council seat through a write-in campaign.

“I’m very honored to have been elected. It’s coming from the people, and I’m very honored,” Davis, who is new to the council, commented. “I plan to do my very best as far as representing the people of the town. I’ve always felt like working towards the quality of life…that’s very important to me, how people live,” she added. “It’s about the people and I’m here to serve them to the best of my ability.”

Louis, a Dillwyn resident and business owner, commented that she wants to be a part of what goes on in town. “I’d like to be a part of it. I’d like to help. I’m just really excited to join the group and see what I can do,” she told The Herald, adding that the Town was moving in the right direction with its various projects.

Thomas indicated on Wednesday afternoon that voter turnout in Buckingham was 42 percent, which is “on par for a gubernatorial election.”