In surprise move, Davis tapped to lead Pittsylvania County board

Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis

By John Crane
Published: January 05, 2010

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CHATHAM — It was an unexpected turn of events during the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ reorganization meeting Monday night. Underdog Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Hank Davis took the chairmanship in a narrow 4-3 vote.

Davis had lost contests for chairman in past years, but this time he emerged victorious when Banister Supervisor William Pritchett voted for Davis, tilting the margin in his favor. The vote ended Westover Supervisor Coy Harville’s run as chairman.

“This is as much news to me as it is to you,” a surprised Davis said as he took the chairman’s seat on the board. “I’m very appreciative that the board saw fit to elect me. I’ll do all I can to (take) this county forward.”

“I do plan to keep this board as unified as possible,” he added.

Pritchett said he voted for Davis because “I felt like he would make a good chairman. I want to bring unity to the board.”

The board’s vote once again highlighted the north-south split on the board, with Staunton River Supervisor Marshall Ecker, Callands-Gretna Supervisor Fred Ingram, Davis and Pritchett voting for Davis, with Dan River Supervisor James Snead, Tunstall Supervisor Tim Barber, and Harville voting against.