Interim Montgomery County Sheriff Robert Page defeated challenger Tim Shepherd in Saturday’s “firehouse primary” for the Republican nomination, securing a spot on the November ballot.
Page won 1,259 votes to 500 votes, with results coming in just under two hours after voting ended.
“I’m very thankful that people came out on a Saturday in the summer and gave their support,” Page said. “I think somebody told me that this was the largest [firehouse] primary that we’ve had in Montgomery County, and that’s just awesome that people are coming out to get their voice in.”
The special election on November’s ballot was prompted after former Sheriff Hank Partin announced his retirement in March.
The county Republican Committee decided to hold the party-run “firehouse primary” this month as opposed to adding it to the statewide primary election date on Aug. 4. “Because of the gerrymandering that the Democrats did, they pushed the primary from June to August, and we thought August was way too late for a primary,” said Nic Lauer, Montgomery County GOP chair in reference to the congressional redistricting referendum that was tossed out by the Virginia Supreme Court in May.
Page will face the winner of the Democratic primary on Aug 4. The three Democratic candidates are retired county sheriff’s office Capt. Ed Hertling, Christiansburg police Lt. Tim Brown and former county sheriff’s office Lt. Greg Warden.
The general election is Nov. 3.
According to his campaign website, Page’s priorities include public safety, providing mental health resources to deputies and improving jail rehabilitation opportunities for former inmates. He has also defended second amendment rights “without hesitation, without question, and without apology,” according to a post to his Facebook account.
“There are a lot of issues to address that are coming up,” said Page. “We’ve got a drug issue that we’ve got to keep tackling and stay proactive for. Past that, it’s gonna be getting back on the trail and working our way towards it.”
Shepherd said he would continue to support the Republican Party but did not provide a specific endorsement for Page. When asked about what his next plans were, Shepherd said, “I’m going to be laying at the pool because I said no matter what happens, good or bad, I am going to enjoy it.”
