Town ballot set; seven to vie for six seats on council
by Tom Chillemi –
The ballot is set for the Nov. 8 Urbanna Town Council and mayoral election.
There’s a three-way race for Urbanna mayor. Current Mayor Barbara M. Hartley is being challenged by current council members William T. “Bill” Goldsmith and Steven S. Hollberg.
The mayor’s term will be for four years and begin Jan. 1, 2023.
The town council race has seven candidates vying for six seats on council.
Seeking reelection are incumbents Marjorie F. Austin, Larry S. Chowning and Merri Hanson.
Also on the ballot are Alana V. Courtney, P. Gari Lister, Beth Justice Stewart, and Sandra W. Sturgill.
The deadline to file as a candidate was Tuesday, June 21.
Four year terms
Urbanna was granted a charter change by the Virginia General Assembly this year which increased council terms from two to four years. The charter also approved staggered terms with three council members running every two years.
Staggered terms
To get the staggered terms launched a special process will be used only for the 2022 election. The three council candidates getting the most votes in the Nov. 8 election will have four-year terms.
The next three candidates who get enough votes to be elected will serve a two-year term.
Then in the 2024 election, three council seats will be on the ballot for four-year terms.
After that, all terms for council and mayor will be for four years, with three council seats contested in an election every two years.
All terms in the Nov. 8 races start Jan. 1, 2023.
