Reeves appointed to Robinson District Supervisors seat

Reeves and board
Newly appointed Robinson District Supervisor Jeffery Reeves addresses the Board of Supervisors Monday evening. (Mike Williams/The Patriot)

Jeffery G. Reeves has been appointed by the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors to fill the Robinson District seat on the board.

Reeves was one of eight people who applied to the board to fill the Robinson seat, left vacant officially Jan. 4 upon the retirement of Charles Bopp.

Bopp had announced in late December that he would be retiring from his seat due to health concerns.

The supervisors met in open session Tuesday evening following a whole day of interviews with the eight applicants for the seat.

In the end, Reeves was the pick.

Two years remain on Bopp’s term, so Reeves will serve until November when a special election will be held in the Robinson District. The winner of that election will finish out the final year remaining of the term. All supervisor seats will be filled the next year, in November 2023.

Following a motion and second by John Travis and Dirk Compton respectively, Cloyd District Supervisor Joe Guthrie provided background on Reeves.

Guthrie said Reeves and his wife, Ann Kegley Reeves own a large, diversified farm in Pulaski. He is the son of two educators in Augusta County. He has a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech.

Guthrie said Reeves had lived and farmed in Pulaski County since 1990.

“He is a very successful and well-respected farmer,” Guthrie said, noting he and his wife have raised three children on the farm, Emma, Ella and Eli. Both daughters, he noted are graduates of Pulaski County High School and Virginia Tech and his son will graduate from PCHS this year.

Reeves is one of two members on the county’s Soil and Water Conservation Board and is active in New Dublin Presbyterian Church.

“Jeff brings a great depth of knowledge from a business owner’s perspective and great knowledge of agriculture to the board, said Guthrie.

Guthrie added that Reeves told the board on his application, “If I am selected, I will work diligently to make informed decisions on all matters brought before the board and will apply my knowledge and previous experience as a business owner, father and resident to each issue.”

Newly elected board Chairman Laura Walters said the supervisors were really excited to have eight “really good candidates.”

Vice Chairman Dirk Compton agreed the board had eight good candidates to choose from.

He said the selection process had put the supervisors in a difficult position because all eight were strong candidates.

“I like for voters to make these kinds of decisions,” Compton noted. “But we had to make the hard decision and I think we did good at least until November when the voters can decide. I was really pleased by all the candidates.”

Massie Supervisor John Travis said each of the applicants were good candidates.

“Each had their own strengths,” he said. “We do appreciate them for coming forward.”

After the unanimous vote to appoint him, Reeves told the board he appreciated the confidence they had shown in him.

“I look forward to serving with all of you. I want to let everyone know that I am open to any suggestions and comments. I plan to handle this with an open mind, but with conservative values,” he said.

After the meeting, Reeves told The Patriot that he had run for the position before, in 2003. He was defeated in that bid by Eddie Hale by a 632 to 483 vote.

“Our son came along, and I put [running again] on the back burner,” Reeves said.

“Now that my son’s grown, I think it’s time to start giving back a little bit for what they’ve done for my family and my kids. I hope I can represent everybody with an open mind.

“Our county is conservative and that’s what makes us special. We’re a little bit different and we need to represent ourselves verses the rest of the state,” Reeves said.

By MIKE WILLIAMS, The Patriot