Less than a year after joining the James City County Planning Commission, Heath Richardson is looking to become a county supervisor.
Richardson announced in a news release he aims to fill the Stonehouse District seat, as Supervisor Jim Kennedy’s term expires at the end of the year.
Kennedy, who changed his party affiliation from Republican to Independent in the past year, has not yet announced whether he will run for a third consecutive term. He first served on the board from 2000 to 2003, and was elected again in 2008.
Election Day is Nov. 3, when constituents will vote to fill three of the five county supervisor seats. The terms of Supervisors Mary Jones (Berkeley) and John McGlennon (Roberts) also expire Dec. 31.
Kennedy nominated Richardson to the planning commission Feb. 26 to finish out the term of Richard Krapf, who was appointed to the Powhatan seat after redistricting drew him out of the Stonehouse District. His initial appointment was approved by the board with a 5-0 vote, and he was reappointed to a full four-year term after that term expired Jan. 31.
The U.S. Navy veteran — who served 13 years active duty and three years reserve — has lived in Wellington Estates in Upper James City County since 2005 with his wife and three sons. Richardson currently works as a “government civilian” in Norfolk, according to his news release.
Richardson identified the supervisors’ role in managing growth as a key concern for the county’s future.
“We want to maintain the beauty of what we have while maintaining the viability of what we can offer economically,” he wrote in the news release. “Our farmers, parents, developers, public servants, small business owners, and especially our poor and struggling: they all have skin in the game, and they deserve a responsive voice.”
Richardson is a self-described fiscal conservative who is running as a Republican in the primary June 9.
In his release, he said he believes political labels can be “counterproductive,” as he thinks “our local, elected officials need to maintain a healthy degree of independence in their thought process.”
He wrote the “county has had enough” of politicians following partisan agendas.
“We need individuals who can hold true to their convictions while selflessly vying for what’s best for our County; people who can engender our trust and make sound local decisions,” Richardson said.
The Stonehouse District encompasses much of the county north of the intersection of Centerville and Richmond roads into Toano. Click here to learn your district.
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