Powers, Lowe, Pearce, Murray win town council seats
Christopher J. Easter won the four-way race for Middlesex County sheriff in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 special election. Easter received 2,539 votes or 43.60% of the votes cast, according to unofficial results posted Tuesday night on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
He was followed by K.L. Schomburg, 2,229, 38.28%; Bryan P. Longest, 774, 13.29%; and Thomas G. Justis, 269, 4.62%.
Easter, who is currently serving as interim sheriff, will now also fill the remaining term of David Bushey, who resigned in March. The term runs through Dec. 31, 2027.
| Precinct | Schomburg | Easter | Longest | Justis |
| Saluda | 69 | 82 | 28 | 15 |
| Urbanna | 118 | 161 | 40 | 17 |
| New Mkt. | 265 | 323 | 70 | 44 |
| Church Vw. | 145 | 247 | 138 | 22 |
| Harmony | 172 | 216 | 82 | 25 |
| Wilton | 241 | 241 | 77 | 32 |
| Total | 2,229 | 2,539 | 774 | 269 |
Urbanna Town Council
Winners of the three general election seats up for grabs on the Urbanna Town Council include Lisa M. Powers, 202, 27.98%; Martha J. Lowe, 196, 27.15%; and Anthony C. Pearce, 152, 21.05%. Also on the ballot but failing to win a seat were John William Ryland III, 111, 15.27%; and Jim B. Thrift, 45, 6.23%. The three newly elected councilors will serve four-year terms, starting on Jan. 1, 2027.
R. Bruce Murray won the special election seat up for grabs on the town council, capturing 174 votes, 60.84%, defeating J. Dan Snead, 109, 38.11%. The special election seat is to fill the unexpired term of former town councilor Robert E. “Robbie” Wilson III, who gave up the seat to become mayor after former mayor Bill Goldsmith resigned in June. Murray’s term will run through Dec. 31, 2028.
Middlesex sales tax
Voters also approved a measure allowing Middlesex County to add a 1% general retail sales tax on purchases to provide revenue solely for the construction or major renovation projects by Middlesex County Public Schools. The measure received 2,997 yes votes, 51.15%; and 2,862 no votes, 48.85%
Congressional race
First District voters ousted longtime incumbent Republican congressman Rob Wittman, electing Henrico County Democratic prosecutor Shannon Taylor. District-wide, Taylor received 213,608 votes, 50.48%; while Wittman received 208,515, 49.28%. However, Middlesex County voters favored Wittman, giving him 3,705 votes, 62.94%; while Taylor received 2,173 votes, 26.91%
Out of Middlesex County’s 9,078 registered voters, 5,960 cast ballots in the election, yielding a 66% voter turnout for Middlesex.
