Pittsylvania County supervisors to reorganize

Pittsylvania County supervisors say they aren’t sure who they will pick as their chairman of the board for 2010. 

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors will pick who gets to chair the group during its upcoming reorganizational meeting Monday night. The board will also elect a vice chairman, while the chairman will appoint committee heads at the meeting.

Coy Harville, who has served as the board’s chairman for several years in a row, said county economic development and the upcoming budget, especially in light of state funding cuts, are the two biggest issues the board will face in 2010. He said he isn’t sure whether he would accept the chairmanship again if chosen.

“I don’t know,” he said, adding that he would consider it.

However, Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis has a clear idea of who he thinks should take the helm.

“I should be the chairman after serving on the board for 10 years,” said Davis, who’s headed several committee for the board, including the Finance and Legislative committees, but has never been chairman. Davis, a Chatham real estate attorney, cited his experience, education and location at the county seat as selling points for his selection.

The chairmanship should rotate a new supervisor every year, he said, “but politics is what wins” when it comes to choosing a new board leader. Davis said he believes the new chairman will be “someone new.” If Davis doesn’t get the position, he said he hopes Harville gets it.

Staunton River Supervisor Marshall Ecker agrees that every supervisor should have the opportunity to occupy the chairman’s spot so each district’s constituents can see its elected official in action as leader.

“I think it should be spread among all the supervisors, not just one,” Ecker said, adding he would like to a supervisor from the northern part of the county — from Chatham up — receive the chairmanship.

According to Callands-Gretna Supervisor Fred Ingram, Davis is the right person for the job as chairman. Ingram cited Davis’ chairmanship of the Finance Committee and easy access to county offices as reasons. 

“He always follows the money,” Ingram said. “He’s right there in Chatham.”

Harville has done a good job as chairman but the position needs to be filled by a different supervisor annually, Ingram said.

Ingram, who has served as chairman in the past, said he does not want the position.

Tunstall Supervisor Tim Barber, the board’s vice chairman, said he doesn’t know who he will nominate as chairman. “It’s going to be a challenging year for whoever gets it,” he said.

The board will need to stay focused on bringing jobs to the area in 2010 and keeping taxes low, Barber said.

Dan River Supervisor James Snead said he hopes Barber becomes chairman.

“He’s been vice chairman for so many years,” Snead said, adding that he believes the nomination will be a toss-up between Barber and Harville.

Whoever is picked, Snead said he would like to see board unanimity on the choice.

“As long as we’re unified on who we have, I have no problem with it,” Snead said.

Banister Supervisor William Pritchett said he hasn’t decided who he wants as chairman. Pritchett, who was chairman in 1996, said he is too old and no longer has the time to be chairman. Whoever is chosen needs to view the county as a whole and avoid getting mixed up a north-south dispute, he said.