In Virginia, Commissioners of Revenue are elected for four-year terms and serve as chiefs of taxation. Stacey Coleman Fletcher is the incumbent currently serving, and is the only certified candidate for the office of Commissioner of Revenue for Louisa County.

Fletcher was appointed in 2019 and then won in that year’s election against two other candidates.

Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire based on more than 200 responses we received to a voter survey. Fletcher answered these questions by email.

Can you explain what the job of commissioner of revenue is and why you are running?

Stacey Coleman Fletcher: The Commissioner of the Revenue is a state constitutional officer as set forth in the Constitution of Virginia and is the chief assessing office of the local government. It is an elected position for a four-year term. The Commissioner is responsible for maintain real estate ownership records, administering the Land Use Program, Tax Relief Program, Disabled Veteran Program, assessing all personal property, business personal property, administering meals tax, transient occupancy tax, issuing contractors license, as well as overseeing the filing and processing of Virginia State income tax return for Louisa County residents.

I am running for my second term as Commissioner of the Revenue in Louisa County because I enjoy serving our citizens of Louisa County and assisting them in programs we have that they may qualify for.

Has your position ever been contested? Why do you think there aren’t more candidates for these positions in central Virginia?

Fletcher: Yes, this position has been contested in prior years. The most recent was four years ago when I ran for my first term as Commissioner of the Revenue. It was myself and two other opponents running. I feel like in a smaller locality, like Louisa, if you are in an elected position and are doing a good job, the citizens would like you to remain in that position.

What do you think are the biggest technical improvements that need to be made to assess and collect taxes?

Fletcher: I think having more options to file and make payment electronically would be very helpful to the citizens in Louisa County. Currently citizens are only able to pay real estate and personal property taxes electronically. To have the ability to pay other taxes that are assessed and collected on-line would be beneficial to those that would choose to do so.

Do you have any certifications or qualifications for this position that you want voters to know about?

Fletcher: Prior to being elected Commissioner of the Revenue, I worked in the Commissioner’s office for 24 years and was appointed in 2019 to complete the term of our previous Commissioner. While a Deputy Commissioner I earned my Master Certification from UVA Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2007. I feel that experience played a big part in why the citizens of Louisa felt I was the best candidate when I ran in 2019. Since becoming Commissioner, I have earned my Master Commissioner of the Revenue Certification in 2021 and have acquired Office Accreditation for the Commissioner’s office every year since 2021.

More about the candidate for Commissioner of Revenue

• Fletcher has no campaign contributions, according to the Virginia Public Access Project
• A Q&A in the Central Virginian from 2019, when Fletcher was appointed
• 2019 election results
• A 2021 report in the Central Virginian about a tax proposal Fletcher made

As you get ready to vote, here are some key dates and links from the Virginia Department of Elections:

Polls in Virginia close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, night. The Virginia Department of Elections will publish election results in real time, as they arrive from precincts around the state. To view them, head to this link. These are unofficial results until they are certified. Here’s more about how to get election results.

• Sept. 22: First day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office.
• Oct. 16: Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration. You can also register after this date, and on election day, but you will vote with a provisional ballot, could take longer for officials to count because they will verify your eligibility.
• Oct. 27: Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Your request must be received by your local registrar by 5:00 p.m.
• Oct. 28: Voter registration offices open for early voting.
• Nov. 4: The last day of in-person early voting at your registrar.
• Nov. 7: Election Day. Here is where you can find your polling place.

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