Ned Gallaway to serve as Chair of Albemarle Board of Supervisors in 2026

Rio District Supervisor Ned Gallaway has been selected as Chair of the six-member Board of Supervisors in 2026, a position he previously held in 2019 and 2020.

Gallaway was nominated by White Hall District Supervisor Ann Mallek and seconded by Rivanna District Supervisor Bea La-Pisto Kirtley. There were no other nominations.

In his comments, Gallaway discussed the need to cooperate with other localities in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District.

“Our Planning District Commission is a footprint of six localities shared by Fluvanna and Nelson at Charlottesville, Greene and Louisa,” Gallaway said. “And we’re only as successful as our neighboring counties are in this region.”

LaPisto-Kirtley nominated Fred Missel, the new Supervisor for the Samuel Miller District, to serve as vice chair. Mallek seconded.

“I’m humbled by the confidence you all have placed in me,” Missel said. “It’s a little daunting, but I’m looking forward to trying to measure up and I’m especially honored to serve these people of Albemarle County.”

Missel comes to the position after terms on the Architectural Review Board as well as the Planning Commission. He is the director of design and development for the University of Virginia Foundation.

Supervisors also approved rules of procedure for 2026, Board policies for 2026, and operating guidelines for 2026.

In her comments, Supervisor Mallek welcomed both Missel and new Jack Jouett District Supervisor Sally Duncan to the Board and noted that three of the county’s elected officials live in rural areas and three live in the growth area.

“We know that issues we face are not separated in rural or urban, but affect people all over the county,” Mallek said. “We will do well to resist when advocates seek to divide, to question the intent of fellow county residents.”

After hearing the first roll call vote, Supervisor Mike Pruitt of the Scottsville District noted that half of the Board used the word “aye” and the other half used the phrase “yes” during the vote.

“Of course we know that issues we face are not separated in rural or urban, but affect people all over the county,” Pruitt said. “It certainly took me some time to fully discern how I fell on certain issues that come before us frequently and to feel out my own heuristics on these.”

Duncan did not prepare any remarks but thanked staff for getting her prepared for her time as an elected official.

“It is an honor to do this,” Duncan said. “I don’t take this job lightly. I really believe in the power of local government. And so I’m just really excited to do this more and to learn more about my community and my neighbors and to really serve and work with people in this way.”

Missel said he expects 2026 to be a major year for Albemarle.

“We anticipate major decisions on land use and growth management, advancing our work on affordable and workforce housing,” Missel said. “With the realities of AstraZeneca on the horizon, we need to be strategically and physically positioned to welcome them to the county. And I certainly see this, as I know everyone else does, as a huge lift over the past or the next several years. We obviously need to deliver.”

Gallaway noted that in addition to a new term as chair, he is also at the start of his third term representing the Rio District. He said he is still learning how to do the job.

“I also want to recognize getting into my third term, that time spent does not equate to expertise,” Gallaway said. “It may equate to experience, but it doesn’t make me an expert just because I’ve had additional years here.”

The Board of Supervisors next meets on January 14.

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