Cloe-Eva Barker easily won reelection to her third term as Bristol’s commissioner of the revenue in a rematch Tuesday with challenger Steven Gobble Jr.
With all five precincts reporting, Barker won nearly 60% of the votes to Gobble’s 40%, according to unofficial totals late Tuesday posted on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
“First of all, I am just grateful for the voters that came out today and entrusted me with being able to run the office for four more years,” Barker said after learning of the race’s outcome. “I’m thankful for my family and friends and co-workers who went out and worked the polls today and it really takes everybody. It’s not just a one-person show.”
She added that she believes voters chose her over her opponent because of her 40 years of experience working in the office and because they’re happy with the way she currently runs the office.
She joined the office as soon as she graduated from Emory & Henry University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Barker and Gobble first ran against each other in November 2021, when Barker received 50.5% of the vote, Gobble picked up 28%, and a third candidate, Neal Osborne, had 21.3% of ballots cast.
Their latest matchup was Bristol’s only contested local race. Throughout the race, Barker, a Democrat, touted her experience and knowledge of the position and her familiarity with city residents as reasons for voters to give her another term.
Gobble, a Republican who has had a diverse career, including a stint in the Washington County Commissioner of the Revenue’s office, said the Bristol office needs new leadership and a fresh approach.
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Gobble had said he would communicate more with city residents, possibly through a Facebook page, where residents could learn about tax relief and other services offered.
In addition to running earlier for the commissioner of the revenue job, Gobble was an unsuccessful candidate for the city’s school board in 2022.
The commissioner of the revenue is a constitutional office that assesses a variety of taxes, including real property, personal property and business taxes.
The term is for four years. The current salary for the position is $90,640.
