Interviews

Interviews Included:

  • Clara Belle Wheeler (Albemarle Electoral Chair)

  • Allison Spillman (At-Large Representative on the Albemarle County School Board)

Democrat:

  • Fred Missel (Running for Board of Supervisor in the Samuel Miller District)

  • Bruce Kirtley (Albemarle County Democrats)

Republican:

  • Scott Smith (Running for Board of Supervisor in the Samuel Miller District)

  • Nancy Muir (Albemarle County Republican Committee)

American flag flying in front of a neoclassical government building with large white columns.
Collection of political campaign buttons, featuring logos of the Republican and Democratic parties and patriotic designs, with a prominent button displaying the American flag.
Close-up of the Statue of Liberty holding a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left, against a blue sky.

Clara Belle Wheeler

A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a colorful scarf, a black jacket, gold earrings, and a brooch, standing in front of a dark background.

Chairwoman of the Albemarle County Electoral Board

Text that says 'Coming soon' in black cursive font on a white background.

Allison Spillman

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling outdoors.

At Large Representative on the Albemarle County School Board

Text that reads 'Coming soon' in black cursive font on a white background.

Contested Election

Contested Election

A middle-aged man with short, gray hair smiling, wearing a white shirt and dark jacket.

Scott Smith

Samuel Miller District Supervisor Contender

#1: Tell me a little bit about yourself and why you decided to run for Board of Supervisor.

  • Mr. Smith grew up in a university town as a history buff

  • As a Sophomore in high school he won the World History Award, and as a Junior the US Government Award. He had the opportunity to go to Boys State, where he first got his inspiration and passion for politics.

  • He worked in the high tech arena, on the business side with a heavy focus on his engineering skills

  • Mr. Smith and his wife have lived in Albemarle a while, and recently he has been concerned with some of the decisions made. This, coupled with his strong desire to give back to the community, has made taking on a solution focused leadership position a natural shift.

  • If elected, he would focus on being an active listener, and developing community centered approaches to problems we face.

#2: What are some of your biggest campaign platforms?

  • Mr. Smiths biggest campaign platform is centered around family. Every family, no matter the size or income has some type of budget. His goal is to decrease expenses for families, by ensuring the county is being fiscally responsible and minimizing spending where possible.

  • Lowering taxes so Albemarle remains in reach for homeowners. Local taxes are straining businessowners. Mr. Smith believes transparency and accountability in budgeting could mitigate the issues.

  • He is looking to be a voice for common sense, improve efficiency in how the county is run, and reduce the traffic buildup.

#3: What issues will affect teens the most and what is your position on them?

  • Public Safety is an issue that impacts everyone, teens included. Mr. Smith recently did a ride along with the police so he could learn how he could best support them as supervisor.

  • He knows that the increase in property crime and drug crime necessitate a government that consistently prosecutes criminals to keep everyone (including teenages) safe when they are out.

#4: Would you explain what the importance of keeping up with local politics is?

  • Mr. Smith noted that most people are fairly familiar with the stances of people running on a national or statewide scale, however that is often not the case for local races.

  • The Supervisors approve the budget, pass or repeal ordinances, manage land use and oversee county departments, all things that directly affect the everyday life of citizens.

#5: How can teens get involved in your campaign?

  • Telephone calls

  • Door knocking

#6: In general, how has the election process been so far, and what advice do you have for voters?

  • Mr. Smith has been campaigning extensively for many months, and he is (for the most part) pleased with the response he has been getting from the community.

  • He would encourage voters to “vote your values” regardless of political party. Vote based on the issues you care about, and who you think has the best solution.

A middle-aged man with gray hair and blue eyes, smiling, wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and orange patterned tie, standing outdoors against a brick wall.

Fred Missel

Samuel Miller District Supervisor Contender

Text saying 'Coming Soon' in black cursive font on a white background
A woman with short brown hair smiling indoors, with a window and cloudy sky in the background.

Nancy Muir

Role: Interim Chair of the Albemarle County Republican Committee

#1: What is the role of Interim Chair in the ACRC and what led you to this position?

  • Ms. Muir served as a member of the election board for a few months, and has worked as an election officer for about 4 years

  • The former Chair resigned early, so as First Vice Chair Ms. Muir took over the responsibilities

  • The next election is in March of 2026

  • Having this experience as Interim Chair has prepared Ms. Muir to potentially take on the role of Chair

  • An important part of this role is being able to connect many different people, and make an effort to know the involved individuals in the community

#2: What is the ACRC’s role in the community and how has that changed overtime?

  • The ACRC has always served as a voice for Republicans in Albemarle, and inspired individuals to take action within their community

  • Gradually, more young people have been attending the meetings

  • In recent years, the website has been improved, and it has been much easier to contact the ACRC

  • The 6 magisterial districts are all getting more representation within the organization

#3: What has the process of finding and funding candidates been like and how many do you currently have?

  • The ACRC recently sent out a total of 16,000 texts and emails to try to find candidates for races and get people involved. They did it a second time this week to encourage people to early vote in person.

  • The ACRC is currently supporting 1 candidate, Scott Smith. They organize events such as Meet and Greet Parties, set up radio show interviews for him, and introduce him to people they are connected with from this area for fundraising purposes.

#4: What races outside of Albemarle are you paying special attention to?

  • House District 62: Karen Hamilton vs. Sarah Ratcliffe (for a seat formerly held by Delegate Nick Freitas)

#5: How many people are in the ACRC and how are you growing membership? How do you become a member?

  • 104 members currently

  • Using media (like the text campaigns), and ensuring members are available to answer questions to grow membership

  • Become a member by paying $35 in dues, the application is on the website or in person at the meetings

#6: How can teenagers get involved with the ACRC?

  • Door knocking for candidates is the best way for teens to make an impact.

Bruce Kirtley

Text that says 'Coming Soon' in black cursive font.

Role: Chair of the Albemarle County Democrats

Albemarle County Republican Committee
Albemarle County Democrats