April 29, 2025: Scott Smith rides into Samuel Miller District race for Albemarle Board of Supervisors

Plus: Charlottesville to soon launch community survey to inform next strategic plan

Before writing about the now, a review of different examples of then helps move the fingers across the keyboard. Ten years ago this April 29, the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles played in front of an empty stadium due to protests against the death of Freddie Gray. In 2004, the last Oldsmobile rolled off the production line in Lansing, Michigan. Twelve years before, riots in Los Angeles broke out after four police officers were acquitted after being caught on video beating Rodney King. Further back in 1861, the state of Maryland voted against seceding from the United States.

Charlottesville Community Engagement is not in the business of writing history, but the work is intended to capture a little of what’s happened along the way. Make sure to check out each edition’s Reading Material to get more of the story. I’m Sean Tubbs, grateful to be able to do this as often as I can.

In today’s installment:

• Republican Scott Smith has launched a campaign for the Samuel Miller District on the Albemarle Board of Supervisors

• Charlottesville residents will soon be asked to fill out the National Community Survey

First shout-out: Piedmont Master Gardeners Plant Sale coming up this Saturday

The Piedmont Master Gardeners will hold their annual Spring Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Albemarle Square Shopping Center in Charlottesville. The sale will offer thousands of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, fruit-bearing plants, herbs and houseplants, along with a wide assortment of gently used garden tools, yard ornaments, outdoor furniture and other “Green Elephants.”

The sale’s large selection of native plants will include curated combinations of native species that support pollinators and provide food and habitat for wildlife throughout the growing season. These collections will be available in two versions, one for sunny locations and another for shade. Shoppers will also be able to purchase bags of locally produced compost and pick up kits for sending soil samples to Virginia Cooperative Extension for testing.

Trained Master Gardeners will be on hand to help shoppers with their plant selections and will staff a Help Desk for addressing plant questions. Display booths and information tables will provide research-based educational resources on a variety of topics, such as conservation landscaping, soil health, composting, pest management and controlling invasive plants.

Corrections from #855

A key tenet of journalism is the acknowledgment of errors. Yesterday’s edition has two I want to put up top.

• The student from the Community Lab School is named Reed Chrobak. I had an incorrect spelling.

• Judy Le is the School Board member from the Rivanna District and not the Rio District. Le is not up for reelection this year. The Rio District seat currently held by Kimberly Leslie Pryor is up. Pryor was appointed in January to fill a vacancy left by the death of Chuck Pace. If she decides to run, she will face Jim Dillenbeck in the November 4 election. I regret the error.

Scott Smith launches campaign for Samuel Miller District seat on Albemarle Board

For the first time since 2013 there will be a contested race on the ballot for the Samuel Miller District seat on the Albemarle Board of Supervisors.

Republican Scott Smith will face Democrat Fred Missel in the November 4 election. The last time there was a contested race was 2017 when Democrat Lizbeth Palmer faced John Lowry.

A small crowd cheered as Smith cycled his way toward the steps of the Albemarle County office building in downtown Charlottesville.

“You might have noticed me riding on a little orange horse here,” Smith said, pointing at his bike. “It’s reminiscent of Paul Revere riding in to warn the patriots at Lexington and also Jack Jouett when he wanted Jefferson and many others in Charlottesville of impending danger.”

Smith pointed to the front doors of the former Lane High School and said he was here to warn voters of what he described as a “brewing tempest of tax increases.”

“As a citizen over the last five years, I’ve watched our property taxes essentially double,” Smith said. “And I was curious, why? Why are they going up so much?”

Smith hinted that one reason is that the University of Virginia doesn’t pay taxes, putting the burden on the rest of the county. He also pointed out the county’s budget has increased from nearly $352 million in FY2015 to $642 million in the draft FY2026 budget.

Smith’s background is in enterprise software sales and he said he has worked for companies with thousands of employees and he has skills that would translate to being on the Board.

“I’m trained to listen,” Smith said. “One of the refrains that I heard very frequently as I talk about people on the county Board is that they don’t listen. I’m specifically trained to listen. I’m trained to solve problems. I’m trained to work with large teams in complex environments. I think that’s a perfect fit for getting a seat at the table and helping with conversation.”

Smith and his wife moved to Albemarle County five years ago and last year they volunteered as election officials. He also called for the county to do “smart development” on U.S. 29 where there are currently empty shopping centers. These centers are within the footprint of the Rio / 29 Form-Based zoning code.

Smith’s campaign website can be found here.

Supervisor Jim Andrews was elected in 2021 and faced no opposition on the ballot. Fred Missel announced his campaign for the seat in February. He is the director of design and development for the University of Virginia Foundation.

Two Democrats are facing off in the Jack Jouett District to replace Diantha McKeel. McKeel announced in late January she would not seek a new term.

Sally Duncan announced her candidacy at the county office building on February 26 on a day when the University of Virginia was under lockdown. Duncan is a history teacher.

David Shreve announced his candidacy in February at a gathering of local Democrats. He slightly outraised Duncan in the first campaign finance reporting period for the year.

There is at least one campaign forum scheduled for this race. The Free Enterprise Forum will hold an event at Journey Middle School on May 21. This event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and topics to be discussed will include affordable housing, economic vitality, infrastructure, regulations, and taxation.

“Contested elections make better public officials”, said Free Enterprise Forum President Neil Williamson in an information release.

Incumbent Ned Gallaway is seeking a third term for the Rio District seat. So far he has no opposition. He won that race in 2017 and 2021 without any opposition on the ballot.

McKeel had an opponent in 2013 but had no opponent in 2017 or 2021.

Nancy Muir, the chair of the Albemarle Republican Party, said she is still working to identify candidates to make challenges this year.

“We are entertaining another Supervisor candidate right now,” Muir said but did not identify which district. “We’re always looking for both seats. We have until June 17.”

That’s the date of the party primaries and the final day for independents to qualify for the ballot.

Charlottesville announces upcoming opportunity to provide feedback

Charlottesville is in the early stages of creating a new strategic plan to succeed one adopted in September 2023. Such documents are used by municipal governments to direct the work of staff and to justify the expenditure of funds.

Households will be selected at random to complete a version of the National Community Survey developed by the National Research Center. Questions will be asked about a variety of questions including the economy, getting around, infrastructure, public safety, and other items.

“Our vision is to be a place where everyone thrives,” an information release quotes City Manager. “We are excited for this opportunity to provide an additional resource for the community to provide input to guide our strategic plan and live up to our vision,” said City Manager, Sam Sanders.

Those not selected at random will be able to fill out an online survey when it is released in a few weeks.

The city has used the National Community Survey before. A total of 371 responses were collected in November and December 2022.

“Residents generally feel safe in Charlottesville but have some concerns about police services,” reads the top key finding from the report from the 2022 survey.

“Charlottesville residents widely use alternative forms of transport and support increasing transportation options,” reads the second finding.

“While ratings for utilities are strong overall, Charlottesville residents point to affordable high-speed internet access as an area of opportunity,” reads the third.

An overview of the findings from the 2022 survey (Credit: National Research Center / POLCO)

Second shout-out: Plant Virginia Natives

Spring is here and there’s still time to plan for upgrades to your outdoors. You can take some time to get ready for spring! Check out Plant Virginia Natives!

Plant Virginia Natives is part of a partnership with ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, from the Northern Piedmont to the Eastern Shore. Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. For the Charlottesville area, download a free copy of the handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens.

Plant Northern Piedmont Natives is for anyone who works with native plants, whether you are a property owner, private consultant, landscape designer, nursery operator, conservation group, or local government.

Reading material:

• Upgrades to Sugar Hollow Dam almost finished, Sharra Klug, CBS19, April 28, 2025

• State legislators concerned about ICE arrests at courthouse, McKenna Schonbrun, CBS19 News, April 28, 2025

• Charlottesville, UVA express interest in Federal Executive Institute property, Hannah Davis-Reid, VPM, April 29, 2025

A word about #856

Only two stories? That’s not enough for me, but this was a day in which I went out into the field, had a meeting with someone about fundraising for this newsletter, had lunch at my favorite spot, and then just helped a friend review some designs.

I’m halfway through a third story but I needed to ask another question.

A fourth story is also waiting for comments from a government officials.

That brings us to 4 p.m. and I have a need to get this out so I can head out to run an important errand. So, that’s how that works.

How does Town Crier Productions work? Essentially people pay me to keep an eye on things, which is why I’m not quite happy about today’s edition as a whole. But those two stories above are going to be fleshed out, and I’ve got several more stories lined up for this week. I may force myself to take some time off, but I’m happiest when I get to write.

The world is complicated. My hope for my journalism is to explain pieces, and to try to keep doing it until I get it right. The older I get, the more my worldview is coming into focus even as my eyes deteriorate. Do you know how hard it is to see someone’s Pinterest board on a tiny iPhone screen?

Time to end with a FatBoy Slim remix of a Beastie Boys song and hope for the best!