Three Democrats won the three races for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
In the Samuel Miller District, Democrat Incumbent Liz Palmer beat out Republican John Lowry, taking 68 percent of the vote while Lowry took 32 percent in the only contested race.
Palmer, a veterinarian and small-business owner, announced her run for a second term as the Samuel Miller District representative on March 29 of this year.
Palmer served as Chair of the Board of Supervisors in 2016. She declined to serve a second year as Chair due to family considerations.
In 2013, she ran as a Democrat, defeating Republican Incumbent Duane Snow for the Samuel Miller seat.
Lowry is a retired business man and initially ran for the Samuel Miller seat in 2009 as an independent. He was defeated by Republican Duane Snow.
Lowry announced his second run for the Samuel Miller seat on Feb. 23 of this year.
Looking forward to her second term on the Board, Palmer said she is eager to finish some of the work she has already started.
“I’d like to implement our solid waste management plan for the county and have more recycling drop offs,” said Palmer. “I’d like to get… broadband rural areas and I would like to complete the water supply plan.”
Palmer appreciated her experience from her last term when campaigning this year.
“Because I had done it once before… I knew a lot of people,” said Palmer.
Democrat Incumbent Diantha McKeel and Democrat Ned Gallaway were elected in uncontested races for the Jack Jouett and Rio district seats, respectively.
McKeel was elected as an independent in the Jack Jouett District in 2013 and announced on March 1 of this year that she would be running for re-election as a Democrat.
McKeel is a former member of the Albemarle County School Board and currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
Gallaway, also a former member of the Albemarle County School Board, launched his campaign for the Rio seat on March 8 of this year.
Gallaway is general sales manager at Mercedes-Benz of Charlottesville, with a bachelor’s of fine arts from Ohio University and a Ph.D. from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia.
Gallaway could not be reached for comment on election night. He previously said his top priority for his time on the Board is economic development.
We have a real opportunity to bring in new, fresh ideas and insight with a new county executive, hiring a good top notch economic director who I hope will have urban planning experience as well, and get down to growing in our development areas the local economy in a way that’s going to help us pay for the services that we like to provide in this county,” Gallaway said in an interview with Charlottesville Tomorrow Oct. 13.
Palmer, McKeel and Gallaway join fellow Democrats Ann Mallek, Rick Randolph and Norman Dill when their new terms begin Jan. 1.
