Botetourt county supervisor Terry Austin won [1] Tuesday’s firehouse primary for 19th district House seat that was held for decades by Lacey Putney:
He received 787 votes in Tuesday night’s three-hour firehouse primary, conducted at three polling places across the sprawling district, which stretches about 60 miles from north to south, from the mountains of Alleghany County to southern Bedford County.
Moneta businessman Jim McKelvey won 576 votes, Bedford County businessman Zach Martin won 356 votes, and Eagle Rock pastor Zachary Hatcher won 51 votes.
The real story? An experienced campaigner gets his people to the polls and wins. And endorsements? They are great things to have. But they are no substitute for shoe leather.
So far, there is no Democratic candidate for the seat.