Liberty theology professor runs for office

November has arrived, and with it comes some familiar traditions. Leaves are falling, assignments are piling up and Liberty students will once again have the opportunity to vote in local elections on Nov. 8. Upon entering the voting booth, some students may recognize the name of one of their professors on the ballot.

Dr. James A. Borland will run for a position on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors in the Spring Hill District. Borland is currently in his 35th year of teaching Bible and Theology at Liberty.

“When I first came here, there were no buildings,” Borland said.

He recounted how Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. had first shown him around, pointing to empty fields and telling Borland which buildings would go where.

Borland has resided in Campbell County for the last 34 years. However, his family heritage goes back much farther.

“My ancestors were here before Campbell County was founded. They were Quakers, and they met at the old Quaker meeting house in 1755. The county was formed in 1791,” Borland said. “Now I have a chance to get into the history as well.”

The Campbell County Board of Supervisors consists of seven elected Campbell County citizens, with each representing a different district of the County.

The officials serve their district in a variety of ways. According to Campbell County’s official website, Supervisors’ responsibilities include setting tax rates, reviewing County budgets and making decisions concerning land use.

Borland said he believes the opportunity to run for office presented itself at the perfect time.

“I was asked to consider it, and I thought if there was any time in my life where I could serve and was ready to serve, it would be now,” Borland said.

Borland’s longtime friend Harold Knowles was among the first to contribute to Borland’s campaign.

Knowles, who works for Estate Planning at Liberty, first met Borland 20 years ago while helping with his estate plans. Knowles expressed confidence in Borland as a candidate.

“He is a great husband and a great father to his children,” Knowles said. “Over the years that I’ve known him, I’ve watched him work very hard in the tasks he was asked to do. He has proven that he is a man of integrity and honor.”

Though his heritage has roots in Campbell County, Borland himself originally hails from Santa Monica, Calif. He studied at Los Angeles Bible College followed by Los Angeles Theological Seminary. He received his master’s degree from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1971 and earned a Doctorate of Theology from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind. in 1976.

Borland moved to Lynchburg, Va., the next year.

The Campbell County Spring Hill district, for which Borland will run, encompasses a large area stretching from Waterlick Road to English Tavern Road, as well as major stretches of Wards Road and Candler’s Mountain Road.

Borland said that chief among his concerns for the county is his belief in limiting taxes. Borland’s campaign brochure advertises that he believes government taxing and spending do not increase jobs and tax revenues. Borland also supports low property taxes for Campbell County residents, he said.

“I told my constituents, ‘I can’t promise I will never raise taxes. I promise that I will never vote to raise taxes in this county without first having a constituent meeting where my constituents in my district demand to raise the taxes,’” Borland said.

In the past, Borland has served as Treasurer for the Campbell County Republican Party, as well as Treasurer for the Evangelical Theological society. While residing in California, Borland also served as a Deputy Sherriff in Los Angeles.

“Ronald Reagan actually signed my peace officer certificate,” he said.

Borland currently lives in Campbell County. His wife, Linda, teaches science at Sandusky Middle School in Lynchburg, where she serves as department chair. The Borlands have eight children and 20 grandchildren.