Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 4, 1991 TAG: 9104120915
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
Holt joined the clerk's office on April 1, 1952, as a deputy clerk and has been the chief clerk for the last 31 years.
Holt said he would be leaving the clerk's job on July 1 instead of staying until the end of the term in December because he's taking advantage of the state's one-time early-retirement buyout.
He becomes the third elected official Botetourt official to announce plans to leave office. Sheriff Norman Sprinkle, who is retirement age, said he is stepping down, and Commonwealth's Attorney William L. "Buck" HEartwell said he is leaving office to devote more time to his private practice.
But Treasurer C. Benton Bolton, Commisioner of Revenue Jean Bare and three members of the board of supervisors - Wanda C. "Wendy" Wingo, Harold Wilhelm and G.C. Thompson Jr. - have announced plans to seek re-election.
The November election also will have three people seeking office for the first time. In the sheriff's department, Jerry Gardner, the department's chief deputy, and B. Reed Kelly, the detective supervisor, are running for sheriff.
In the commonwealth's attorney's office, Robert C. Hagan Jr., plans to seek election to succeed Heartwell.
Other candidates also are expected to file for these posts, courthouse insiders in Botetourt say.
Those who plan to run can file as late as Sept. 10. This is later than usual because of statewide redistricting made necessary by the 1990 national census.
During his tenure as Botetourt's clerk, Holt, 63, has been active with the Virginia Court Clerks Association and has been president of that group.
"People have been very nice to me," he said.
Holt said his only plans for retirement is to "take it easy," at least for the time being.
He is a native of Martinsville and moved to Fincastle in 1952. He graduated from Martinsville High School and attended college in Missouri.
Holt's departure from the clerk's office before the end of his term means the four judges in the judicial circuit, which includes Botetourt, must appoint someone to serve as clerk until the fall elections.
There is no indication who might get the appointment.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 11, 1991.
Jerry Caldwell, chief deputy of the Botetourt County Sheriff's Department, is running for sheriff in the November election. Because of a reporter's error, his name was given incorrectly in a Neighbors story on April 4.
Memo: CORRECTION