Vice Mayor Bert Dodson and City Councilman Michael Gillette both expressed support Monday for Del. Shannon Valentine in her bid for re-election.
Two other Lynchburg councilmen, Scott Garrett, at large, and Jeff Helgeson, Ward III, both announced Monday they were seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Valentine in the November elections.
Valentine, a Democrat, has held the 23rd District House of Delegates seat since 2006. The district encompasses Lynchburg and part of Amherst County.
"Jeff and Scott are good council members," said Dodson. "They care about the city. But Shannon has proven herself to me. She's done a good job and represented the area extremely well. She's very dedicated to the (district)."
Gillette, Ward I, praised Valentine as "incredibly intelligent and very skilled at working with people from all different sides of the spectrum."
"Every time you talk to her, you're impressed by her breadth of knowledge and the heart she brings to the job," he said. ". I think the city and state will lose a great deal if Shannon Valentine were to lose her seat in the House."
Lynchburg's three remaining council members declined to make immediate endorsements in the House race.
Mayor Joan Foster said she wanted to retain the ability to work with all three candidates. "The bottom line is they all want Lynchburg to be a better place," she said. ". Their definition of that may differ."
Councilman Ceasor Johnson, Ward II, said he wished all the candidates well. "May the best woman or man win," he said.
Councilman Turner Perrow, a member of the Lynchburg Republican Committee who along with Garrett and Helgeson make up a conservative minority on council, said he won't be issuing an endorsement during the contest for the party nomination.
"I don't believe I'll be wearing any buttons," he said.
Perrow, Ward IV, said both Republican hopefuls bring "some very valuable assets" to the table. He attended Garrett's formal candidacy announcement Monday and said he will also attend Helgeson's when it is scheduled.
Should one of the councilmen leave their current office for the House of Delegates, their seat would be filled by an appointee of council's choosing. City Attorney Walter Erwin said council has broad authority to determine how that selection process would take place. The appointee would be chosen by a majority vote of council and serve until the next general election.
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