Five seeking seats on Appomattox board

Incumbent Sam Carter will be one among five candidates vying for a Board of Supervisor’s seat in Appomattox on Election Day.

Carter will oppose Planning Commission member Peter Zdgiebloski for re-election in the Courthouse District.

Carter has served on the board for 12 years, acting as chairman for six of those years.

If re-elected, Carter said his primary concern would be to ensure that the board selects “the best qualified” candidate to serve as the county’s economic development director.

His other aims include keeping taxes affordable and resolving the lingering issues surrounding the U.S. 460 water line project.

A lifelong Appomattox native, Carter, 61, works as a transportation specialist for Areva.

His opponent, Zdgiebloski, 42, has served on the planning commission since May 2008 and works as a detailing development director for Commercial Metals Co.’s Rebar Virginia technical center in Amherst County. He moved to Appomattox in 2006 with his two sons and wife, Cathy.

If elected, Zdgiebloski said he would work toward creating a more open and transparent government and improving the county’s education system.

Three candidates also are vying for the Piney Mountain District seat that is currently occupied by Russell Moore, who is not seeking re-election.

Moore, who has served as a board supervisor for 18 years, will retire after his current term.

Jerry Small, Jessie Lewis and Jeffrey Drinkard will contest one another in their first runs for public office.

Small, 65, has lived in the county for 35 years. Now retired after a 42-year career with Thomasville furniture, Small described himself as a “fiscal conservative” with strong Christian values.

If elected, he said he would strive to bring more industry to Appomattox and forge a better working relationship between the town and county.

Lewis, 61, was born in Appomattox and returned to the county in 2003 after a career with the U.S. Postal Service and a seven-year period serving in the U.S. Air Force.

He is retired and resides in Appomattox with his wife, Shirley.

Lewis said he would work to strengthen the county’s educational system and offer more career opportunities to county citizens if elected.

Drinkard, also an Appomattox native, works for Evergreen Basement Systems and lives with his wife, Rebecca, and two daughters.

If elected, Drinkard, 40, said he would strive to lower taxes and bring more jobs to the county.

All the candidates running for office in the Nov. 3 election have exempted themselves from reporting requirements except Zdgiebloski and Drinkard.

As of Oct. 15, the deadline for the last reporting period, Zdgiebloski had received more than $750 in campaign contributions and had a balance of $149.48. Drinkard had not spent any money on his campaign.