Stafford County, Va. –– For the first time in over a decade, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors will appoint a new member.
Board Chairman Mark Dudenhefer is leaving for his new job in Virginia’s House of Delegates, representing residents in Prince William and Stafford counties in Virginia’s 2nd House District. He’ll step down from the board Dec. 31 in time for the next session of the General Assembly in Richmond on Jan. 12.
Dudenhefer since 2005 has represented the Garrisonville District. Reelected to a second term in 2009, his current term was slated to end Dec. 31, 2013 but has been cut short after being elected to the House of Delegates last month.
In the coming weeks, Stafford officials will accept applicants interested in filling Dudenhefer’s seat, and it will be up to current Board members to appoint a new Garrisonville District representative. The appointment could happen by their second meeting in January, and the appointee would serve temporarily until a primary election could be held later in 2012, the winner of which would go on to serve out the remainder of Dudenhefer’s term until the end of 2013.
“We’re looking for someone who has had involvement with the community, someone who has shown they are responsible, and someone who has had either business or military experience or both. All of these are valuable characteristics,” said Stafford Rock Hill District Supervisor Cord Sterling.
Board members maintain the selection process will be an open and honest one, and that their choice will not be based on how well the candidate performs politically.
“Our goal is to have someone in place as soon as we can so the people of Garrisonville will have continuous representation on the Board,” said Stafford Falmouth District Supervisor Susan Stimpson.
The chairman title
Dudenhefer not only leaves behind an open seat on the Board, he also the title of Board Chairman. Unlike Prince William County where the chairman serves At large, Stafford’s chairman is charged with running each Board meeting, and with keeping in mind the interests of the entire county whole, said Board members.
The Board will also be responsible for naming a new chairman, and that could happen at their next meeting Dec. 15.
Who wants the role of Board Chairman? Nobody is saying just yet.
“Whoever replaces Mark, and it’s hard to say replace, will have to have a sense of leadership and will have to bring the ability to work together for the best interests of all the supervisors and the county,” said Stimpson, who is serving her first term on the Board.
Sterling, who works in the aerospace industry, serves on a state transportation committee, and heads Stafford’s Budget and Finance Committee, says he’s not interested in the title.
“Just look at what we’ve already accomplished the past few years as I’ve headed the Budget and Finance Committee.: the county’s credit rating has gone up, we’ve been steady in our budgeting procedures…I will need to continue my work there I and wouldn’t give it up for anything,” said Sterling.
