Robert K. Saunders, Jr. recently announced his candidacy for the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors, election District 5.

Saunders is a native of Farmville and grew up in Cumberland County. 

He graduated from Cumberland County High School in 1986. He has been a working man all of his life and looks forward to working with the citizens of Cumberland from his position on the board.

Saunders has never been afraid to make the hard decisions and is prepared to represent all of the residents of the county and District 5 in facing the obstacles looming in the near future. 

He hopes to increase transparency in the county’s actions and desires to bring economic growth and increased revenue to the county. First and foremost on his list of objectives is the safety and happiness of his constituents.

Saunders’ working career began in the summers of 1983 and ’84 when he went to work at the Bright Hope Center in their C-PAC Summer Head Start Program. He worked for the Town of Farmville in the summers of 1984 and ’85. In 1986 he launched his career with the Virginia Department of Corrections. 

He retired from the department in 2017. Saunders was a part time deputy for the Prince Edward’s Sheriff’s office from 1988 until 2013.

He currently works part time for the Virginia Department of Corrections through the Farmville Probation and Parole office. He is also currently an honorary deputy for the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Department.

From 1986 until 1998 Saunders volunteered with the Farmville Fire Department and served with his father the late Robert Saunders Sr. in both the fire department and in law enforcement.

He is an honorary member of the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad. Saunders is a valued volunteer with the Special Olympics of Virginia, participating in the Torch Run, Polar Plunge and Plane Pull. In 2012 Saunders was recognized by the Special Olympics with the Kenny Fields Memorial “unsung hero” award. He is a member of the Old Green Creek Baptist Church in Cumberland and Masonic Randolph Lodge #30.

“I am beholden to no one and will make my decisions on the Board based on facts and the wishes of the voters of the 5th District of Cumberland County,” Saunders said.