Dillenbeck unseats Pryor in Rio School Board Race

A man who applied to fill a vacancy on Rio District seat on the Albemarle School Board earlier this year has now won election to the position.

Jim Dillenbeck received 51.32 percent of the vote to 47.75 percent for Leslie Pryor.

In January, the School Board appointed Pryor to fill a vacancy left by the death of Chuck Pace in late 2024. Dillenbeck had been among the seven people who stepped forward.

Shortly before his death, Pace had been elected in a special election to fill a vacancy. Pace defeated Dillenbeck with 52.35 percent of the vote.

Kate Acuff won election to a fourth term representing the Jack Jouett District on the School Board.

Newcomer Bob Beard won election to the Samuel Miller District in an uncontested race to succeed Graham Paige. Beard posted a thank you note on Facebook.

“I do want to focus on: improving academic outcomes for ALL students, taking care of our teachers and staff, alleviating overcrowding with new expansion (and a new High School) and partnering with the Board of Supervisors, and General Assembly, to improve our schools,” Beard said.

As the votes continue to be processed, follow along on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

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This particular story was not posted here until August 18, 2026, a oversight in the production process. It has been posted here but backdated closer to the original publication date with this note as a disclaimer.