Deadline for candidates in special elections Aug. 14; GOP primary Aug. 4
PUBLISHER’s NOTE: PVN plans to publish its annual Q&As for local candidates in contested races during August and September. Stanley Council candidates will be contacted this week. PVN is also planning candidate forums at the Stanley Fire Hall in September for potentially three contested races (see below).
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, July 27 — Last month, as the initial candidate deadline loomed, it appeared as it the Stanley Council would offer the only contested local race on the November ballot with five registered candidates vying for three open seats. Now, two school board seats — both part of special elections — could also be contended, with one race potentially featuring four candidates.
The deadline for candidates filing for special elections this November if Friday, Aug. 14.
The race for Stanley Council seems to be set, and it is currently the most contested November race on the ballot in Page County — and it’s the most contested council race in Stanley in several years. All three seats will be for four-year terms running through Dec. 31, 2030. Voters will be allowed to vote for three choices among the following candidates (in alphabetical order):
- Jason L. Campbell
- Donald E. “JR” Good Jr.
- Robyn Good (incumbent)
- Douglas L. Purdham (incumbent)
- Bruce W. Stoneberger (incumbent, vice mayor)
While the stage is set in Stanley, the Page County School Board could have a couple of last-minute candidates for potential races in Districts 2 and 5, with another uncontested race in District 4. Jason Breeden has filed to retain his appointed seat in District 4 with no current challengers. The former school board chairman was appointed to fill the District 4 seat when former District 4 member, Duane Painter, won the chairman’s seat last November.
In District 2, incumbent Codi Henry has yet to file the paperwork she picked up from the vote register, but she is expected to do so before the deadline in 18 days. Already on the books for the District 2 school board race in November are:
- Jon Griffith
- Karen M. Marcum
- Lisa G. Markowitz
There may be a race in District 5 for the school board seat in the southern end of the county, but currently only incumbent Britt Thomas has officially filed his candidacy. Ana Maria Mendez, who has previously sought the seat, has shown interest again and is expected to file her paperwork in the coming weeks as well.
In Shenandoah, there are four council seats open — including the mayor — and there are four candidates. Clinton Lucas Jr. is expected to continue his long run as mayor, and secure another uncontested, two-year term. Voters will be able to vote for three candidates for council, among an incumbent and two newcomers. Gary “Red” Taylor and Nathan T. Comer will be joining incumbent Lynn E. Fox on the Shenandoah Council. Vice Mayor Bill Kite is stepping away from council after a long tenure, and council member Denise Cave is stepping down after one term.
In Luray, all three incumbents have filed their paperwork with the Page County voter registrar. Terms are ending Dec. 31 for council members Ron Vickers (vice mayor), Jerry Dofflemyer, and Ryan Dean. Former Councilman Alex White submitted his resignation on Oct. 8, 2025 with a little over a year remaining in his four-year term, creating the vacancy that Dean filled by appointment in November.
GOP primary
As of Monday, Page County Voter Registrar Carol Gaunt said just 40 ballots had been cast early ahead of the Aug. 4 Republican Primary. The race will choose who will challenge longtime incumbent Democrat Mark Warner for his U.S. Senate seat. Independent Mark Moran, a former investment banker and first-time candidate, will also be on the ballot. The Republican candidate in the three-way race will chosen among (descriptions from Virginia Mercury 2026 Voter Guide):
- Kim Farington — a CPA and entrepreneur who retired as CEO of the federal First Responder Network Authority. Her stated goals are to eliminate waste and fraud in government spending, protect Second Amendment rights and grow small businesses.
- Bert Mizusawa — a retired Major General of the United States Army who commanded a Combined Joint Interagency Task Force in Afghanistan and served as a senior advisor to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. His priorities include curbing government spending, advancing pro-military policy and simplifying the tax code to make life more affordable for citizens.
- David Williams — led a 30-year career in military service and intelligence and counts fiscal responsibility in the federal government, supporting law enforcement and education as priority issues.
The winner of the U.S. Senate race in Virginia receives a six-year term and an annual salary of $174,000.
Primary elections are normally held in June but this year, state election leaders moved it to August as a proposal to redraw the state’s congressional districts gained momentum. Voters approved the redistricting amendment in an April referendum but it was overturned by the state’s Supreme Court in May, leaving the district boundaries created in 2021 intact.
The last day of in-person early voting is Aug. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 4. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Bring a valid ID to vote on Election Day or early in person.
Former Roanoke Times journalist and author Beth Macy will be the Democratic candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Ben Cline for his 6th District seat in the U.S.House of Representatives.
Voter Registration office is located in the Page County Government Center,
103 South Court Street, Luray; the early voting office is located on the ground floor.
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