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Culpeper has seven running

Two incumbents among those seeking four at-large seats in Town Council election on May 2.

By DONNIE JOHNSTON

Date published: 4/26/2006

By Pam Jenkins

By DONNIE JOHNSTON

Seven men, including two incumbents, are seeking four at-large seats in Culpeper's May 2 Town Council election.

Duke duFrane, who was first appointed to fill Steve Walker's slot in 2000, will be seeking his second full term on the council while William "Billy" Yowell is also hoping to retain the seat he last won in 2002. Vice Mayor Pam Jenkins and Councilman Tom Huggard chose not to run again.

Also on this year's ballot are Kenton Dunn, Kevin Smith, Jim Risner, Steve Jenkins and "Colonel" Tom Reese, men with wide-ranging professional backgrounds.

Dunn is a builder, Smith a lawyer, Risner is an army logistical specialist, Jenkins a salesman and ex-policeman and Reese is a used-car salesman and auctioneer.

Incumbent duFrane is a retired manufacturing executive who is now in property management, while Yowell is a financial services officer in Northern Virginia.

There is also a wide age disparity in this year's candidates, ranging from Reese at 77 to Dunn at 32.

While their backgrounds and ages may differ, there is a general consensus among almost all the candidates as to the key issues in this year's election.

When polled, annexation and the possible creation of a regional water/sewer authority ranked near the top of almost everyone's list.

"We need to develop a water and wastewater plan between the town and county and have an open mind regarding a [regional] authority," Yowell said. "We must explore all options."

Dunn, who currently sits on the Town Planning Commission, sees the water/sewer and annexation issues as intertwined.

"The boundary adjustment is part of the water and sewer authority deal with the county," Dunn said. But he added that he believes that the town must lay a groundwork before the deal can be made.

"The Board of Supervisors, would be reluctant, in my opinion, to approve the boundary adjustment unless major revisions take place in the town comprehensive plan and zoning/subdivision ordinances," he said.

Risner also believes that changes are needed in Culpeper's long-range outlook.

"[We need to] update the town's comprehensive plan in order to guide zoning and ordinance changes, which manage growth in a beneficial way for the town," Risner said.

Yowell, Smith, Risner and Reese also believe the Town Council needs to take some action to relieve the traffic congestion that has been caused by Culpeper's explosive growth.

"[The town needs to] define and implement near-term traffic solutions while continuing to work on long-term solutions," Risner said.

"We need to develop a plan for these transportation issues," Yowell said.

While most of the candidates have campaign signs along the streets of Culpeper, there are none with Reese's name on them.

"I don't like to stick signs around," the auctioneer said. "I'm just going to talk to the people."

Besides duFrane and Yowell, the two incumbents in this year's race, only Reese and Jenkins have previous political experience.

Reese served as mayor of Remington and on the Remington Town Council in the 1970s while Jenkins served two terms (1992-2000) as the East Fairfax representative on the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors.

Mayor Pranas Rimeikis is unopposed in his first bid for re-election.

To reach DONNIE JOHNSTON:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com

Duke duFrane Born: April 19, 1941 Address: Zeuswyn Drive Birthplace: Newport News Family: Wife, Ann; two children; three grandchildren Political offices held: Town Council, six years Occupation: Property management Education: Engineering degree, Virginia Tech, 1965 Military record: Army, 1967-68, served in Vietnam Community/church activities: St. Stephens Church. Key issues: Water and wastewater, police station, annexation, traffic, residential and commercial growth. Kenton Dunn Born: June 4, 1973 Birthplace: Culpeper Address: Morningside Drive Family: Wife, Tara Previous offices held: Town Planning Commission Occupation: Homebuilder Education: Bachelor's degree, Randolph-Macon College Community Church activities: N/A Key issues: Water and sewer authority deal with county; town boundary adjustment; rewriting town's comprehensive plan. Steve Jenkins Born: April 12, 1961 Address: Redbud Street Birthplace: Culpeper Family: Single, with two children Previous offices held: Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, 1999-2000; Virginia Criminal Justice Service Board, 1997-99. Occupation: Sales representative Education: Culpeper High graduate; associate's degree, Germanna Community College Community/church activities: Culpeper Baptist Church. Honors: Johnny Deane Award 1979; MVP high school football. Key issues: Quality of life, growth management, water/wastewater. 'Colonel' Tom W. Reese Sr. Born: May 8, 1929 Address: North Main Street Birthplace: Remington Family: Wife, Blanche Lee; six children; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Previous offices held: Mayor, Remington; Remington Town Council. Occupation: Auctioneer, car salesman, apartment maintenance manager, farmer Education: High school Community/church activities: First Baptist Church of Culpeper Honors, awards: Past president, Remington Volunteer Fire Department; past captain, Remington Rescue Squad; past president Remington Lions Club. Key issues: Affordable housing, traffic, annexation. James C. Risner Born: Feb. 5, 1959 Address: East Spencer Street Birthplace: Jacksonville, N.C. Family: Wife, Lori; two children Previous offices held: None Occupation: Senior logistician, Department of the Army, Fort Belvoir Education: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University; master's degree, Florida Institute of Technology; certificate in public management, Old Dominion University; two bachelor's degrees, Truman State University. Military record: sergeant, Marine Corps, 1977-80 Community /church activities: Town Planning Commission, 2000-04, chairman, 2002-04; Joint Board of Zoning Appeals, 2003 to present; Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission, 2001-03; Depot District Neighborhood Watch since 2000; Piedmont-Fairfax Planning Grant Management Team since 2003; Town Visioning Oversight Committee since January. Honors/awards: Excellence in Army Ammunition Management, 2003; Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service, 1996, 2000; Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, 1993. Key issues: Update comprehensive plan to manage growth; develop neighborhood parks and swimming pool; define and implement near-term traffic solutions while working on long-term solutions. Kevin E. Smith Born: Dec. 1, 1956 Address: Second Street Birthplace: York, Pa. Family: Wife, Showane Occupation: Lawyer Education: Bachelor's degree, George Washington University; law degree, George Mason University School of Law Community/church activities: Christian Issues: Water and sewer, traffic congestion, downtown parking, recreation. William 'Billy' Yowell Born: April 28, 1949 Address: West Park Avenue Family: Wife, Julie; four stepchildren Previous offices held: Town Council, 1988-98, 2002-present Occupation: Financial services officer Education: Bachelor's degree, Virginia Tech Community/church activities: St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; Culpeper Chamber of Commerce board; past president, Culpeper Rotary Club; United Way; American Red Cross; American Cancer Society. Campaign issues: Better communication and cooperation with Board of Supervisors, develop transportation plan, build affordable police facility, build affordable public swimming pool, develop a water and sewer plan with county with open mind on joint authority.

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Date published: 4/26/2006