In Virginia, Commissioners of Revenue are elected for four-year terms and serve as chiefs of taxation. P. Renee Lloyd Pope (known as Renee Pope) is the incumbent and is running unopposed for the office of Commissioner of Revenue for Orange County.
Pope has served as clerk in Orange County since 2015 and has so far won in three unopposed elections. Pope was the only candidate certified by the Virginia Department of Elections this year, though voters can write in other candidates’ names if they choose.
Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire based on over 200 responses we received to a voter survey. Pope answered these questions by email in August.
Can you explain what the job of commissioner of revenue is and why you are running?
P. Renee Lloyd Pope: The Commissioner has many duties, some of which are: assessing real estate and personal property; administering the land use program; Veterans tax exemption; meals tax; short-term rental tax; state income taxes; estimated taxes; tax relief for the elderly and handicapped. These are just a few of the responsibilities of my office. I am running because I enjoy helping people, and I like the challenges of my position. There’s always something different to learn.
Has your position ever been contested? Why do you think there aren’t more candidates for these positions in central Virginia?
Pope: Since I first ran in 2015, I have run unopposed. I think the lack of interest stems from the political side of our positions, even though it’s a nonpartisan position.
What do you think are the biggest technical improvements that need to be made to assess and collect taxes?
Pope: Right now, the biggest challenge we are facing is that we are working with a very difficult software system that poses many challenges. I would like to see this software improved for the taxation side.
Do you have any certifications or qualifications for this position that you want voters to know about?
Pope: I have worked in the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office for 27 years. I started out as the receptionist in 1996 and have been in almost every position in the office. I am a member of Commissioner of the Revenue’s Association of Virginia, Virginia Association of Assessing Officers (VAAO), International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), Virginia Association of Local Tax Auditors (VALTA), and the Virginia Association of Local Elected Constitutional Officers (VALECO). I am also the FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] officer for my office.
More links about the Orange County Commissioner of Revenue
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.
