THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411010092
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Two local farmers are vying for a political office Tuesday that neither willhave any problem getting elected to.
They won't have a problem because there is no competition.
W.A. ``Billy'' Gwaltney Jr. and Cecil Byrum will have their names on the ballot to fill the two open seats representing the county on the Peanut Soil and Water Conservation District.
Gwaltney and Byrum said they are running with the idea of providing leadership in the conservation and wise utilization of natural resources through education and technical assistance. They will be serving various groups within the agricultural, urban and rural communities served by the local agricultural board.
The district serves the city of Suffolk and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, said Jim Wright, conservationist at the local office. There are two elected officials or directors from each county. Another is appointed by the governor to fill the slate.
``The officials are elected every two years,'' Wright said. ``We hold meetings every two months to discuss conservation issues.''
Gwaltney, 38, owns and operates, with his brother, Indika Farms at Five Forks intersection, near Windsor. The brothers inherited the farming operation from their father. They grow mainly peanuts and also have a cattle operation, Wright said.
In addition, the Gwaltneys own a large peanut buying station and sell seed peanuts back to area farmers.
Byrum, 36, also is involved in a family farm. While his father owns and farms about 626 acres, the younger Byrum keeps just over 700 acres of prime peanut, soybean and corn-producing acres under his care. The Byrum farm is also located in the southern end of the county, near Zuni.
IN OTHER ISSUES on local ballots Tuesday:
Lud Lorenzo ``Ren'' Spivey vs. J.R. ``Jim'' Hager for the Windsor District seat on the county Board of Supervisors being given up by Steve Edwards.
A referendum on a proposed meals tax of 2 cents on the dollar.
KEYWORDS: REFERENDUM ELECTION CANDIDATE
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
by CNB