In Virginia, town councils are elected leaders charged with overseeing town government. They have the power to set tax rates, make zoning decisions that determine how land can be used, oversee local emergency services and much more.

The Town of Mineral has six council members and a mayor elected to four-year terms. This year, three candidates are running for mayor: Edward Kube, Jr., Pamela Harlowe and Ron Chapman, Jr. Chapman was appointed as mayor in February, after Edwin J. Jarvis stepped down.

Harlowe has served as mayor previously, first winning the seat against two opponents in 2010. She won the position unopposed in 2014 and 2018 before losing the seat to Jarvis in 2022. The Town Council had voted to censure Harlowe in 2022 for interfering with the duties with the interim town manager at the time, Reese Peck.

Kube is currently the chairman of the Mineral Planning Commission. The town had also discussed censuring Kube, according to reporting in The Central Virginian, in April of this year, but the motion was ultimately voted down in the May meeting. 

Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire for the candidates based on more than 160 responses we received to a voter survey. Only Harlowe responded.

You can use the contact information Kube and Chapman provided to the Virginia State Department of Elections, searchable by last name, if you would like to reach out to them yourself.

Several Mineral residents who responded to our voter survey expressed concerns that small businesses in Mineral are unable to stay open. Do you see this as a pressing issue in the community, and, if so, do you have ideas for ways to support these small businesses?

Pamela R. Harlowe: Most businesses that are not locally supported will struggle. Choose a business that offers something everyone needs or wants, such as food, clothing, gifts, repair service, or grooming services. Be active in your community. Show them what you have to offer.

Edward Kube, Jr.: Did not respond.

Ronald Chapman, Jr.: Did not respond.

Mineral has faced a string of water problems recently — boil water advisories after main breaks, taking a town well offline because of capacity issues, and now a state order that bars any new houses or businesses from hooking up to town water until more supply is secured. In short, residents are worried about both the reliability of the system and the town’s ability to grow. As mayor, what steps would you take to fix these water challenges in the short term and to secure Mineral’s water future?

Harlowe: Get the current well up and running – it never should have been completely turned off. Dig at least one more well. Get waterlines updated. The town cannot grow without an inhouse working water system. Apply for grants.

Kube: Did not respond.

Chapman.: Did not respond.

These water system challenges come just as Mineral is seeing dozens of new homes listed for sale and actively encouraging residential development through its planning process. As mayor, how would you balance growth with the need to upgrade the town’s aging infrastructure?

Harlowe: You cannot offer residential growth without having a sufficient water and sewage system. Money must be budgeted for infrastructure, before encouraging new development of any type. The Town may have to enforce additional fees to anxious developers to ensure enough infrastructure to accommodate their development.

Kube: Did not respond.

Chapman.: Did not respond.

Some Mineral residents told us homelessness is an ignored issue in town that needs more attention. Do you see homelessness as a concern in Mineral, and what role should the town play in addressing it?

Harlowe: I am not aware of any homeless people in town. We have four churches within the town limits. Certainly this is an issue they would help us address. We also have the Journey Home that is doing a wonderful job housing those that need help. There are generous people in our town, they just need to know what is needed.

Kube: Did not respond.

Chapman.: Did not respond.

Mineral has seen seven resignations from elected officials in just over a year. What steps would you support to strengthen civic participation and prevent burnout among local leaders?

Harlowe: Conduct your meetings as adults and let everyone state their own opinion. Agree that it’s O.K. to disagree but, at the same time, come to a decision that is in the TOWN’S best interest. Do not bring personal gain intentions to a town meeting. Stop all the closed door discussions and decisions and present all business in an open meeting.

Kube: Did not respond.

Chapman.: Did not respond.

Louisa County supervisors recently opened the door for more collaboration with Mineral on shared goals and services. How should the town approach partnership with the county?

Harlowe: The Town of Mineral is part of Louisa County and we should communicate our goals. Communication is the key asset to all involved. Ask for opinions on any concerns, this will make you feel a part of the progress.

Kube: Did not respond.

Chapman.: Did not respond.

Are there any other pressing issues facing the Town of Mineral that you would like voters to know about?

Harlowe: Yes, our water wells [or] lack thereof and the overspending on unnecessary items not included in the budget.

Kube: Did not respond.

Chapman.: Did not respond.

More about the candidate and issues

• Article on Mineral’s efforts to upgrade their wells and water line (Central Virginian, July 15, 2025, paywalled)
• Article covering Mineral Town Council’s move to censure Edward Kube, Jr. (Central Virginian, April 16, 2025, paywalled)
• In 2022, Mineral Town Council voted to censure Mayor Pamela Harlowe (Central Virginian, April 14, 2022, paywalled)
• Response from Harlowe regarding the censure, in a Letter to the Editor (Central Virginian, April 25, 2022, paywalled
• Ronald Chapman, Jr.’s election history, from the Virginia Department of Elections 
• Harlowe’s election history under the name Pamela R. Harlowe, from the Virginia Department of Elections 
• Harlowe’s election history under the name Pamela Rigsby Harlowe, from the Virginia Department of Elections 
• Edward Kube, Jr.’s election history, from the Virginia Department of Elections 

Here are key dates and deadlines in the 2025 elections

Friday, May 2, 2025	Early voting for primaries begins weekdays at local registrar’s offices.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025	Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration for the primary election. You can still vote in the primary if you miss this deadline by registering at the polling place and casting a provisional ballot. You do not have to be a member of a political party to vote in that party’s primary election. However, you can only vote in one party’s primary election each year.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Deadline to apply for your ballot to be mailed to you. Requests must be received by your local registrar’s offices by 5 p.m.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Deadline to apply online for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal.
Saturday, June 7, 2025	Local voter registration offices open on Saturdays for early voting for primaries.
Saturday, June 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Early voting for primaries ends at local registrar’s offices.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025	Primary Election Day!
Friday, Sept. 19 to Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 5:00 p.m.	Check with your local registrar’s office for early in-person voting.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m.	Deadline to apply with your local registrar’s office for a ballot to be mailed to you.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025	Election Day!

We will update this list periodically as deadlines approach or we receive new information.

Register to vote, check your registration, find your polling places and apply to vote absentee at the Virginia Department of Elections here. Remember, even if you miss registration deadlines, you can register through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot.

Need to know if you’re eligible to vote? Here are resources from the Virginia Department of Elections.