The race for Martinsville’s commissioner of the revenue between Ruth Easley and challenger Shasta Carmichael will conclude on Election Day, Nov. 4.
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Easley is the incumbent, while Carmichael serves as the executive assistant to the city manager. While both are registered as independents, the pair have their own ideas on what the Martinsville community needs from its commissioner of the revenue.
“I believe in treating everyone with dignity, respect, and compassion — whether you’re a first-time business owner, a senior on a fixed income, or a student just starting out,” Carmichael said. “I will work every day to make sure our office serves with clarity, fairness, and a genuine welcome for all. I’m here to represent you, and I will never forget who I’m working for.”
A Martinsville native, Easley was first elected in 2001 and said her mentors at the time played a key role.
“I was hired by my predecessor, Ronnie Minter, as a temp in the real estate division in 1998,” Easley wrote in comments to Cardinal News.
She later added that former clerk of court Ashby Pritchett was another guiding force. He encouraged her to run in 2001.
“He noted my legislative experience and familiarity with federal, state, and local statutes as assets for being commissioner of the revenue in addition to how quickly I had learned the other duties of the office,” Easley said.
Carmichael was the owner of design company Shazzy Creations before choosing instead to focus on her role with the city. She first moved to Martinsville as a teenager and graduated from Martinsville High School in 1996. She considers herself part of the citizenry whose support she is fighting for.
She said, despite not being a politician, she has a deep passion to serve her community.
“Martinsville isn’t just where I live; it’s in my DNA. I’ve walked the same streets, faced the same struggles, and celebrated the same victories as so many in our community,” Carmichael said.
Easley hopes voters will prioritize experience. According to the city’s transparency report, the position has an annual salary of $107,080. She is in her 24th year as commissioner and believes the work she has done qualifies her for another term.
“I bring experience and continuity along with institutional knowledge of how things were in Martinsville during the era of economic prosperity for the area,” Easley said, adding that during her 24 years of service, she is aware of how the city got to where it is and where it is going.
Carmichael said a priority is to make the office of six employees more open and less intimidating to residents. She said too many people feel the office is difficult to navigate, which can lead to them feeling overlooked.
“Citizens need better access and understanding of what this office does,” Carmichael said. “I’ll make information clear and easy to follow, breaking it down in plain language so people feel empowered instead of frustrated. Having worked in both government and small business, I know how to bridge that gap.”
As the incumbent Easley highlighted issues she hopes to tackle if given another term.
“Providing secure ways for taxpayers to submit confidential information for assessment purposes has been a challenge with limited IT support and proper software,” Easley said. “We have made strides in providing options working with available resources.”
Easley hopes voters want someone who can hit the ground running on day one.
“Experience matters as the chief assessing officer for the city,” Easley said, and later added “I have provided consistent and transparent leadership during turbulent times while being an advocate for our brick and mortar businesses and every city resident. I have been a good steward of tax dollars by consistently operating my office for less than the authorized budget every year.”
Carmichael said that while experience is important there are other factors to consider.
“My opponent has 23 years of experience, and I respect that,” Carmichael said. “But Martinsville needs more than experience—we need solutions and fresh energy.”
