Antiques
News
hand-made quilt needs preservation Page 2
T he
Volume 40, Number 45
Additional election coverage Page 4
Sports Cross country: King George HS nets 4a conference 19 Title Page 5 POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
helping you relate to your community
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 50 Cents
Brabo wins At-large seat on King George Board of Supervisors Sisson has served as the county’s At-large supervisor for 12 years. Brabo, who has lived in King George Ruby Brabo won election as since 2006, stressed government King George’s At-large supervisor transparency in her campaign on Tuesday, defeating incumbent events and materials. She called Supervisor Dale Sisson. for additional emphasis on luring With all precincts reporting, tourists to the county as a means of unofficial returns from the State financing infrastructure, Board of Elections showed as well as the need for Brabo garnering more additional fire and than 2,900 votes, or 60.5 rescue personnel to percent, to 1,900 votes, or “I’m really looking forward to answer emergency calls. 39 percent for Sisson. working with the new board... I Brabo said she is ready A boisterous celebration to get to collaborate took place as Brabo think we will make a great team...” with other incoming gathered with more than members of the board of 50 of her supporters – Ruby Brabo, At-large Supervisor-elect supervisors. at King’s Pizza. Brabo “I’m really looking mounted a chair to speak forward to working to a sea of bright blue with the new board in t-shirts emblazoned with as much to me as it did 15 minutes January,” she said. “I think we will the words, “It’s a Ruby Thing.” There was much whistling and ago,” he said. “I’m proud of the way make a great team working for the I’ve conducted myself and the way benefit of the county.” cheering as she began to speak. Brabo listed a number of priorities “I am so excited,” she declared. my campaigns were run.” The race pitted board of supervisors during a brief interview Tuesday “The citizens of this county have night, including development of an clearly indicated they want new ideas colleagues against each other. Brabo currently holds the economic development strategic and new energy.” Sisson gathered with his family Dahlgren District supervisor seat. plan for the county. “It’s the road map on how to achieve and a few supporters for a low-key She chose not to seek re-election but dinner at Vinny’s. Members of the instead to challenge Sisson for the group passed smartphones back and At-large spot. See at-large race, page 8
Ruby Brabo addresses her supporters during a gathering at King’s Pizza shortly after returns from the Virginia Board of Elections showed she had won the At-large seat on the King George Board of Supervisors. Brabo chose to run for the At-large seat rather than seek re-election to the Dahlgren District seat.
Granger wins contest for Madison District Board of Supervisor’s seat
Hart unseats Ando in King George Commissioner of the Revenue contest
George Whitehurst
Phyllis Cook Richard A. Granger has won the race for the Madison District seat on the King George Board of Supervisors. Will all precincts reporting, unofficial returns from the Virginia Board of Elections showed Granger winning 665 votes, or 58 percent, to 468 votes, or 41 percent, collected by Anthony A. Scaramozzi. Reached Tu e s d a y evening, Granger G r a n g e r thanked his supporters and said he is ready to get to work. “I would like to thank everyone who supported me through the election process. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the residents of King George County,” he said. Scaramozzi offered warm
forth as the results began to roll in. At one point a waitress asked Sisson, “How’s the election going?” “First few precincts aren’t too good,” Sisson replied with a grin. After the final returns came in, Sisson expressed no regrets. “King George means every bit
congratulations to Granger after the results came in. “I called and congratulated Richard and I think he’ll do well. Between him and I, the campaigns went fine,” Scaramozzi said. “I think he’ll find himself.” The board of supervisors race was the first for Granger, 37. He moved to King George in 2005 from Maryland. He is a civilian employee at the Navy base at Dahlgren. His primary work focus is develping software for the Scaramozzi U.S. Navy. Granger earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Virginia Tech in 2000. His local involvement includes community service as a member of the South Potomac Civilian-Military Community Relations Council. He is also a volunteer soccer
coach with King George Parks and Recreation. Scaramozzi, 58, has lived in King George since 1985. He too is employed at the Dahlgren naval base. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from University of Mary Washington in 1997, a Master’s in public administration from Indiana University in 2001, and a Master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2009. Scaramozzi served in the U.S. Navy from 1979-85. His various appointments to county committees by the Board of Supervisors include his current service on the Planning Commission In the weeks leading up to the election, Granger echoed fellow candidate Ruby Brabo’s call for creating a strategic economic development plan. He also emphasized increased funding for pubic safety services and vowed to ensure transparency of government operations.
Photo by George Whitehurst
Phyllis Cook King George voters selected a new Commissioner of the Revenue on Tuesday, choosing Judy Hart over incumbent Jo Ann Ando. Unofficial returns showed Hart winning just over 3,000 votes, or 67 percent, to challenger Ando’s 1,500 votes, or 33 percent. Speaking after the results came in, Hart thanked her supporters and said she is ready to move forward. “I am looking forward to coming back and working for King George County. I am humbled and in awe of the support I received from the voters of King George,” Hart said. In a brief telephone interview after the results came in, Ando spoke critically of this year’s political process. “I appreciate all the support everyone has shown throughout my career and even through this campaign with all the dirty politics,” she said. “It’s been the greatest honor of my life to have served the King George constituents.”
“I am humbled and in awe of the support I received from the voters of King George” – Judy Hart, Commissioner of the Revenue-elect Both women grew up in King George and graduated from King George High School, with Hart graduating in 1977 and Ando in 1978. Ando, 55, has served one term as commissioner of the revenue, having run unopposed in 2011 after the retirement of longtime Commissioner Faye Lumpkin. She started in the commissioner’s office in 1994 with various promotions over the years to become Deputy III and land-use technician. Hart, 57, has lived in King George since her family moved to the area from Rawlings, VA in 1962. She started in the commissioner’s office in 2003, after driving a school bus in King George for 16 years. Hart left the King George commissioner’s office in 2013 to take a
Hart
Ando
similar position in the Spotsylvania County office of commissioner of revenue. The commissioner of revenue is responsible for keeping tax books, preparing tax bills and is the receiving point for state income tax forms. It is a full-time administrative job which includes supervision of staff members.
Kids enjoy ghoulish good time at King George Halloween Fun Fest Staff Report More than 100 children and 150 parents attended King George Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual Halloween Funfest. The fun evening included 15 carnival games, a flashlight egg hunt and a donut-eating race. Mystery walkers gave prizes for great costumes. Photos courtesy of King George Parks & Recreation
Oscar and Tyler Madison (left) took first prize for their R2D2 and C3PO getups in the funfest costume contest. (Far left) Jacob Smith won for scariest costume with his Zipper Face disguise, while Aris Smith took honorable mention as Little Red Riding Hood’s daughter.
Now you can follow local breaking news daily on our website at www.journalpress.com
The winners of the costume contest are as follows: First Prize Oscar Madson as CP3O and Tyler Madson as R2D2 Second Prize Kelis Whiting as Cleopatra Third Prize - Scariest Jacob Smith as Zipper Face Aris Smith as Little Red Riding Hood had a Daughter - (Honorable Mention)