Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 18, 1995 TAG: 9506200015
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The county also has a three-way race for sheriff and will have three new members on its School Board in November.
Two supervisors who were previously Democrats are running under different affiliations because of their association with a proposed 1,500-bed medium-security private prison.
Speedwell District Supervisor James "Jack" Crosswell made the initial contact on behalf of the county with Corrections Corporation of America, the Nashville, Tenn.-based company that has an option on land near Wytheville for a prison site.
Fort Chiswell District Supervisor Olin Armentrout drew criticism from prison opponents after he and Supervisor Charles Dix recommended welcoming the prison to Wythe County following a fact-finding trip during which they visited a CCA prison locality in Texas.
The board subsequently voted 4-3 to welcome the prison.
Dix's term is not up this election, but Armentrout found himself challenged by others in his party for the candidacy.
Clay Lawrence got the Democratic nod for the Fort Chiswell seat. Armentrout is running for re-election as an independent. Other independents in that race are Johnny Huddle and Thomas Reed Montgomery, with Robert "Bob" Shook as the Republican candidate.
When Shook was chosen as the GOP candidate last week, he said he originally filed to run so voters would have a choice in the Fort Chiswell District and not face an unopposed incumbent. Now, he noted, the district has a field of five candidates.
In the Speedwell District, Crosswell won his board seat four years ago as a Democrat. A similar large group in that party sought to wrest the candidacy away from him this time, but Crosswell short-circuited the attempt by switching to the Republican Party where he said his conservative views made him feel more at home.
He won the GOP candidacy with no opposition. He will face Rural Retreat High School science teacher and retired Navy officer Harvey Atkinson, who emerged from a number of Democrat contenders to get the candidacy.
Atkinson has not said how he stands on the prison issue.
Democrat John Davis, who voted against welcoming the prison, is not seeking re-election for the at-large seat. Vying to succeed him are Republican L. Michael Fariss and Democrat Wythe "Bucky" Sharitz.
Board Chairman Mark Munsey, a Republican who also voted against the prison, is unopposed in the West Wytheville District.
Also unopposed for re-election are Democrat Thomas Baird for commonwealth's attorney, and Republicans Mary "Sis" Cassell for commissioner of revenue, and Walter "Sam" Crockett for treasurer.
Veteran Sheriff Wayne Pike is being challenged by Democrat Sam Burcham, a former deputy, and independent Nathan "Tuck" Lephew.
Only one School Board member, Fort Chiswell District member Walter White, is running for another term among the four whose terms expire this year. He is unopposed.
Also unopposed is Freddie Rosenbaum for the Speedwell District seat held by Lynthia Brewer.
Running for the at-large seat held by Cleta Roberts are Elizabeth "Betty" Irvin and Jane Bailey Musser.
Thomas Ely and Martha Umberger are seeking the West Wytheville seat being vacated by David Macpherson.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***