DEADLINE TO APPLY 5:00 P.M. FRIDAY
Political seas are turbulent at Blackstone Town Hall, but three men — and possibly a fourth — believe they can calm choppy waters on Elm Street by serving as this community’s next Mayor.
Council President Eric Nash, who’s served on Council for 15 years and who presided last Monday night after the Aug. 16th resignation of Ben Green, told the Courier-Record at presstime that he plans to submit paperwork this week.
Nash joins Allen Queen, the first applicant to turn-in papers at Town Hall; and Dr. Devin Foster, who last week announced his intentions on Facebook. Lafayette Dickens at presstime said he’s “considering” an application as well.
The deadline to complete a Town application and submit resumes and letters of recommendation is 5:00 p.m. this coming Friday, May 2nd. All applications will be available for public inspection after Friday.
Council plans to hold a required public hearing on applicants at its Monday, May 19th Council meeting.
An appointment is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th — three days before the Town’s 45-day deadline expires. If Council — which has been divided in recent months on several issues — can’t reach a consensus, the appointment will be made by Nottoway Circuit Court.
Those interested in serving must be a registered voter in Blackstone.
The “electorate” in this case boils down to members of Council, and one of them — Council President Nash — won’t be able to vote because he’s an applicant. So the actual “electorate” is six: Jake Allman, Wes Gormus, Nathaniel Miller, Chris Page, Carolyn Williams, and Lloyette Wynn.
Whomever is appointed — if they wish to continue serving — must run in a special election on November 4th. And he or she won’t have time to rest because the next townwide municipal elections are November 2026.
The appointee will inherit what’s best described as a tumultuous environment at Town Hall after a sexual harassment complaint forced the resignation of Green.
The Town also is without a Treasurer after Brittany Morgan’s recent resignation, which included a letter that claimed several members of Council expect special treatment and that employees fear retaliation from management if they question certain practices.
‘Foster Change’
Foster, 27, is Deputy Chief of Blackstone Vol. Fire Dept. and Director of Community Relations for Nottoway County Public Schools. Foster was first to publicly announce his intention to seek the position with a statement on Facebook, and he also was first to drop a potential campaign slogan: “Blackstone is at a pivotal moment. In light of recent events, our community has been left with unanswered questions at a time when trust in our local government is already on shaky ground,” Foster declared.
Foster’s statement continued: “I also want to recognize the seriousness of the situation that led us here. No one is above accountability, and every individual deserves to feel safe and respected in their workplace and community…Let me be clear: I am fully committed to fairness, transparency, and stability. This is not about politics — this is about our citizens, our guests, and the future of our community…I intend to be a part of the conversation and more importantly, part of the solution. Together, let’s Foster Change for Blackstone.” Foster submitted his application and paperwork this past Monday (Apr. 28th).
Led DBI
Dickens, 68, is retired. He was the first Executive Director
of Blackstone’s Virginia Main Street program, Downtown Blackstone, Inc., which he led from 2007-15. Dickens is an active member of Shiloh Baptist Church and could make history by serving as the Town’s first Black mayor. Dickens ran for Nottoway County Treasurer in 2015.
Council President
Nash, 38-year-old owner of Clay’s Landscaping and a local entrepreneur, in 2010 was the youngest person ever elected to Town Council — at age 23 — and has served as Council President since 2021. Nash may have been inspired, at least in part, last Monday night (21st) after an unidentified woman in the audience urged Council to pick one of its own to “move up in the chair. And then get another Council member.” If Nash were to win appointment as Mayor, Council would have to hurry to petition Circuit Court for another special election
in November and select Nash’s replacement as an at-large member of Council. Nash would be the tie-breaker if there were a 3-3 split on his successor.
That unidentified woman in the audience, believed to have been Julia McLeod, asked officials, “You all know what you’re supposed to be doing, so why are you gonna search for somebody that doesn’t know what’s going on in town? You all are already sitting up there, so why put a new person in?”
On Two Town Panels
Applicant Allen Queen, 47, serves on Blackstone’s Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. He’s run previously for Town Council and the Nottoway Board of Supervisors. He’s the Recycling Manager at Fort Barfoot and an assistant football coach at Kenston Forest.
Quicke Is Out
Morgan Quicke, a former Town Hall staffer who went on
to manage Richmond County for 11 years before moving back here, said he’s no longer considering the position. “I am firmly out, although I’m not sure I was ever ‘in,’ the consideration for interim mayor.”
Quicke’s name had been floated on Facebook by friend Woodson Irby. Quicke did say this week that he wouldn’t ruleout seeking the at-large Council seat if Nash were to be appointed Mayor.
The Mayor’s job pays $4,000 per year, and members of Council make $3,500 annually. Officials receive two Town paychecks during the year — in June and December.
Treasurer’s Job
Town Manager Philip Vannoorbeeck said Monday that six persons have applied for the vacant position of Town Treasurer. The deadline for applications is May 16th. Vannoorbeeck said he doesn’t know at this time how Council will proceed with filling that vacancy.
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