Who Will Be The PittsCo BoS Chairman for 2015?

Pittsylvania County’s Board of Supervisors will meet Monday night and will elect a new chairman for 2015. Let’s analyze this and see what’s probably going to happen and why.

Let’s wheel out the Big Chalkboard and stick some magnets on it…

It’s our version of the Magic Wall! We can move them around wherever we want!

Ok, let’s get down to business. Let’s pick one name at a time and see “Why They Will” and “Why They Won’t” be elected chairman.

Jessie Barksdale:

• Why He Will: Barksdale has brought a calm and rational voice to the table as Chairman in 2014. He’s well-spoken and he also doesn’t say stupid things nor does he throw temper tantrums. He’s the favorite to get another term.
• Why He Won’t: The dysfunctional Board of Supervisors is prone to do stupid things that make them look ridiculous. Not giving Barksdale another term would be just that ridiculous.
• Chances: 70%

Coy Harville:

• Why He Will: He’s allied with James Snead & Tim Barber. He’s allied with Jerry Hagerman when Hagerman wants to be allied with him. There’s a decent chance that Harville makes a run for it.
• Why He Won’t: Harville is brash and outspoken. He’s also smart enough to see that Jessie Barksdale is doing a good job.
• Chances: 20%

Jerry Hagerman:

• Why He Will: Jerry Hagerman does what’s best for Jerry Hagerman and his district. He would be a good compromise between the Northern and the Southern factions on the board.
• Why He Won’t: I don’t think he has any interest in it. He can do more as vice-chair or just as a wild card.
• Chances: 3%

James Snead:

• Why He Will: He’s been in the chairman’s seat before and he liked it.
• Why He Won’t:  He says he doesn’t have any interest in the chairman role. He’s also still remembered for the phone call when he was yelling and abusive about rescue squad funding.
• Chances: 3%

Tim Barber:

• Why He Will: Barber has been in the chairman’s seat before as well and also liked it. Barber is also the only member so far that may have real opposition in the November election, so being the chairman would help his appearance.
• Why He Won’t: Barber is still remembered for his “State of the County” speech where he wasn’t very appreciative of foreign-owned companies location in the region. He’s kept a low profile since then.
• Chances: 3%

Brenda Bowman:

• Why She Will: Bowman could piece together the four votes needed to win if Jessie Barksdale wanted to step down.
• Why She Won’t: Bowman and Barksdale get along extremely well and she won’t try to step on top of him. Also, Coy Harville, James Snead and Tim Barber still think that she has cooties.
• Chances: 1%

Elton Blackstock:

• Why He Will: He won’t.
• Why He Won’t: He’s still too “new” and he also hasn’t started playing the Board of Supervisors Game of Thrones yet.
• Chances: 0%

All righty, we’re done. Let’s finish moving these magnets around, we’ll draw some lines and put some numbers on the board.

Jeez. That’s one ugly chalkboard. More coming up on SouthsideCentral!