Two Democrats have announced for Jack Jouett seat on Albemarle Board of Supervisors

For the first time in six years, there will be a contested race for the Democratic nomination for a seat on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

In January, Supervisor Diantha McKeel announced she would not seek re-election to another term for the seat she has held since 2015. Two candidate have expressed interest in replacing her as the Democrat on the ballot for the Jack Jouett District.

Sally Duncan of Earlysville, a history teacher, has filed paperwork with the Virginia Department of Elections to run as a Democrat for the seat.

Earlier this month, historian David Shreve told members of the Albemarle Democratic Party that he would also be seeking the nomination.

The two as well any other candidates who emerge will be on the ballot of the June 17, 2025 Democratic Party unless the local party decides to pick another nomination process.

Sally Duncan

In an email, Duncan said she loves living in Albemarle County with her family and wants to stay here.

“I am a renter, and so I would like to help create policies that increase housing options and availability for everyone,” Duncan said. “I also have three kids who are students at Albemarle High School and so I am deeply invested in the Jack Jouett District and want to make it a place where everyone can thrive.”

Duncan received an undergraduate degree in American Studies from the University of Virginia in 2020 and earned a graduate degree in Religious Studies in 2023. She’s currently a high school history teacher and has a total of five children.

Duncan will formally announce her candidacy at the County Office Building on February 25 at 11 a.m.

David Shreve

In an interview, Shreve said he is running because he feels his experience as both a historian as well as a community activist have positioned him for the seat.

“All politics is local,” Shreve said. “I’m also a student of American fiscal federalism so I understand I think as well as anyone the ways in which local, state, and federal governments work together or don’t work together.”

Shreve said there are many ways to improve the relationships between all three. He also said he would work to refine funding mechanisms for public education.

Shreve has served as a member of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee as well as the Albemarle County Economic Development Authority. He has also served as co-chair of the Jack Jouett District Albemarle Democratic Party Committee. Shreve has also been involved with several non-profit groups including a board member at the group Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Populai

In his professional capacity, Shreve has worked for the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia and spent one year working for the National Governor’s Association. He recently started a job as a senior economist for the Center for the Advancement of a Steady State Economy.

Shreve has not yet filed his paperwork.

A contested nomination

The last time there was a primary race for a position on the Board of Supervisors was in 2019 in the Rivanna District. Bea LaPisto-Kirtley defeated fellow Democrat Jerrod Smith 896 votes to 757. That’s 54.2 percent to 45.8 percent of the vote. In the general election that November, LaPisto-Kirtley faced a write-in campaign from a candidate who got 34 percent of the vote.

In 2007, Albemarle County Democrats held a caucus rather than a primary, as reported by Charlottesville Tomorrow at the time. While the White Hall and Rivanna District nominations were uncontested, Lindsay Dorrier faced a challenger named Kevin Fletcher.

Is there a nomination race I’m missing from 2000 and on? A very helpful resource is the Virginia Department of Elections.

A request for more information has been sent to the chair of the Albemarle Democrats to learn more about how the process will unfold.

Republicans on the ballot?

None of the three Supervisors elected in 2021 faced opposition in the November elections that year. That could be different this time.

“It is the intention of the [Albemarle County Republican Committee] to have every seat contested,” said Nancy Muir, the chairwoman of the local party, in an email.

However, Muir did not have any candidates to confirm at this time.

Neither Rio District Supervisor Ned Gallaway nor Samuel Miller District Supervisor Jim Andrews have announced their plans.

In 2009, Republicans won seats in the Rivanna District, Samuel Miller District, and Rio District. The last Republican to hold a seat on the Board of Supervisors was Ken Boyd who won in 2011 with 56.6 percent of the vote, or 2,934 votes to 2,249 votes. Boyd opted not to seek a fourth term.

In 2023, Supervisor Ann Mallek of the White Hall District faced her toughest re-election to date with a challenge from independent Brad Rykal. Mallek won with 52.8 percent of the vote, or 4,535 votes to Rykal’s 4,032.

In 2019, Mallek defeated Republican Steve Harvey with 56.7 percent votes, or 4,381 votes to Harvey’s 3,336 votes.

Supervisor Mike Pruitt, a Democrat, faced no opposition in the 2023 race for the Scottsville seat. Republicans ran candidates for this seat in 2015 and 2019.

Democrat Donna Price won election in 2019 against Republican Michael Hallahan with 55.2 percent of the vote. The count was 3,016 votes to 2,428. In 2015, Democrat Rick Randolph won against Republican Earl Smith in 2015 with 57 percent of the vote, or 1,841 votes to 1,378 votes.

Before you go: This post and all of the others are intended to increase awareness about the role local government plays in American democracy, especially in and around Charlottesville. This was originally sent out in the February 17, 2025 edition of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter. If you would like to support the work, you can buy a paid subscription or support through Patreon.