Scottsville will know their next mayor sometime next week

Scottsville residents will learn who will become their new mayor sometime next week, the candidates say.

The race right now is separated by just two votes, with incumbent Mayor Ron Smith leading over his challenger Town Councilor Eddie Payne.

We’ve tried several times to reach the registrars for Albemarle and Fluvanna counties (the Town of Scottsville is located in both) to find out how long it might take for them to verify the results. Neither have returned our calls. But, both candidates said they heard from the registrars’ offices that the results will be in sometime next week. At any rate, Friday, Nov. 15 is the deadline for local officials to certify the results to Virginia’s Department of Elections.

The main thing that could change the Scottsville count is if any city residents cast provisional ballots. Those are ballots used to vote on Election Day if a voter registered that day or had some other reason that their registration was in question. Registrars’ offices must then verify the voter’s eligibility and then count the vote. That can take up to 10 days after the election.

Were there provisional ballots cast in Scottsville? We have no idea. Like I said, we’ve been unable to reach the registrars.

The candidates don’t know either — though both find it unlikely. Scottsville has a population of around 500, and there isn’t a lot of movement in and out of the town, said Payne. That means the voting population is fairly stable.

Regardless of the outcome, both Payne and Smith told us they’re happy to see such a great voter turnout (more than 300 people cast ballots) and find being involved in such a close race exciting. Though their views on what’s best for the town are different, the candidates are friends and have served together in town leadership for years. Here’s more on that from Tuesday’s report.

Just 2 votes separate two mayoral candidates who have different views on the Town of Scottsville’s growth

Smith told reporter Erin O’Hare on Tuesday that he wants to see some growth in the town, and hopes that more people will bring some money into the community and allow them to offer better services. Payne told me yesterday that he’s not so convinced this will work. Unlike many cities and towns in Virginia, Scottsville does not levy a real estate tax. So a larger population does not immediately translate into more town funding the way it would in other localities.

Head to our 2024 Voter Guide for Central Virginia for updates of the (still unofficial) results from Scottsville and the other 22 local races we followed this year, along with information about the candidates.

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Jessie Higgins, Managing Editor