Voter lines were so long, especially at the polling places in Fork Union and Lake Monticello, that some voters had to wait in line for up to two hours. But long lines were a problem across the state. In consultation with officials from both the Republican and Democratic parties, the Virginia State Board of Elections did not begin reporting election results until 8 p.m. to ensure voters were not unduly influenced by preliminary results.
Fluvanna County – with a population of about 26,000 – has almost 16,000 voters.
Rittenhouse is well known in the county. Both Rittenhouse and his father graduated from Carysbrook High School, and at one time there was a bus stop near Scottsville that picked up 19 of his cousins. Rittenhouse Brothers Inc., his father’s construction company, built Cunningham Elementary, Central Elementary and the annex to the Abrams Building.
Rittenhouse told the Fluvanna Review in an earlier interview that he believes his strong Fluvanna connections and experience with running a construction business will serve him well on the school board. “The economy is not that good. I know how to stretch a dollar, and I have a different perspective on money,” said Rittenhouse.
Hughes, a former Marine, was appointed in October to fill a vacancy in the Cunningham District left by the resignation of Doug Johnson. Hughes moved to Fluvanna seven years ago after retiring here from the Village of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York where he held a variety of positions in the job-development field.
Hughes told the Fluvanna Review in a recent interview that he wanted cooperation between the school board and the Board of Supervisors. The two groups have butted heads over budget issues.
“I would like to see our Board of Supervisors working with us, in terms of coming up with solutions to these problems,” said Hughes. “I have yet to hear them say that they want to help the schools. Some of them don’t go to school functions; we need their involvement and commitment to our schools rather than just money.”
Carol Tracy Carr, ran unopposed for the school board’s Rivanna District seat.
