THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701210447
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: 20 QUESTIONS
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: 69 lines
As a college student, Gerald Gwaltney's ambition was to work for the public at the Isle of Wight Courthouse.
Gwaltney realized his dream in record-time. In 1978, he received a bachelor's degree in political science from Randolph-Macon College. The following year, he ran for office and was elected commissioner of the revenue for Isle of Wight County.
At the age of 23, Gwaltney received 63 percent of the vote and took every precinct. He has been re-elected four times.
``I was in the right place at the right time,'' he said, modestly.
Recently, Gwaltney was elected president of the Virginia Association of Local Elected Constitutional Officers (VALECO).
The which has 510 members, is a professional organization of clerks of the circuit court, commonwealth's attorneys, commissioners of the revenue, sheriffs, and city and county treasurers in Virginia. All constitutional officers are directly elected and accountable to the voters.
The 20-year-old group assists its members on legislative issues and offers professional development seminars to help constitutional officers provide better services to the public.
``I'll be working with the General Assembly to promote and preserve our form of government,'' Gwaltney said.
The Gwaltney Family lives on two acres of land in the Moonfield section where the children are learning to ride their new pony.
What brought you here? I was born and raised in Isle of Wight County on the farm my great-grandfather bought in 1870.
Birth date: Feb. 17, 1956
Hometown: Moonlight, a suburb of Smithfield
Fondest childhood memory: Playing with the biddies in the chicken house on our farm.
Marital status: Married my high school sweetheart, Sheila Willis
Children: Jonathan, age 11, and twin daughters, Caroline and Ginny, ages 8
Pets: Seems like a local zoo: a dog named Penguin, a pony, three cats, a dwarf bunny, a dove and one fish
First job: Taking inventory of hams at Smithfield Packing
What's your favorite hangout? Grilling in my backyard with my homemade barrel cooker and hickory chips
Favorite Movies/TV show: ``The Blues Brothers'' and ``Married With Children''
Favorite night out on the town: Dinner and a funny movie
Favorite food: Carolina barbecue, coleslaw and cornbread
Book you wish everyone would read: ``Truman'' because he governed with common sense for the common man.
Ideal Vacation: Taking the family to Disney World
I can't resist: Peanuts
Few people know that I: Play the piano and organ at my church, the Bethany United Methodist Church near Moonlight.
If you won the lottery, what would you do? Pay a lot more taxes!
What is the best advice you've been given and by whom? William E. Laine Sr., former commissioner of the revenue of Isle of Wight, told me, ``Be kind to the taxpayers and they'll be kind to you.''
What's the best thing about yourself? I have a lot of patience.
What achievements are you most proud of? Being elected commissioner of the revenue at age 23.
Something you wish to say but haven't: There is nothing more important than the citizens' right to elect their leaders and the freedom to elect their representatives. ILLUSTRATION: JOHN H. SHEALLY II
The Virginian-Pilot