Election connections

Four board of supervisor candidates in Campbell County have ties to Liberty

Four members from the Liberty University community will be running for seats on the board of supervisors in Campbell County’s general election this year, which will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Incumbent Dr. James Borland (R), a Liberty staff member, is running against John Ferguson (I), a Liberty alumnus, for a seat in the Spring Hill District. Sunburst District Supervisor Steve Shockley is retiring, and both Travis Griffin (I), another Liberty alumnus, and Robert “Bob” Good (R), a Liberty staff member, are running for Shockley’s seat.

Borland is the current chairman of the board of supervisors, seeking his second term. He is a professor of philosophy and theology in the Liberty School of Divinity and has been teaching for 38 years, according to an article by the News & Advance. He has also written numerous books and articles.

Ferguson graduated from Liberty in 2008 with a bachelor of science in government. He served as a police officer in the Liberty University Police Department for three-and-a-half years. After that, he served as an officer at the Brookneal Police Department and currently serves as a deputy sheriff in the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office.

“I know firsthand the importance of strong and well supported public safety agencies,” Ferguson said in a news release. “Our county must first adequately provide the resources necessary for our public safety heroes to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Griffin graduated from Liberty in 2000 with a bachelor of social sciences and has also served as a member on the Campbell County Industrial Development Authority for Sunburst for four years, according to the News and Advance. Presently, Griffin works as a payroll administrator for AREVA Inc.

“I am running because I believe in the fiscally responsible funding of essential county services such as our public schools, police, fire and rescue squads as well as our libraries and public parks,” Griffin said in a news release over the summer.

Good is the current director of athletics development and Flames Club at Liberty. He has been a member of the Liberty University Athletics Department for the past seven years. He earned his bachelor of science in 1988 and his MBA in 2010, both from Liberty.

If elected to take Shockley’s chair, Good hopes to promote a low tax and limited government and encourage a climate for growth and development, according to an article in the News and Advance.

“I always made the excuse I was too busy with family to serve but have been encouraged by others to run because I have strong convictions,” Good said.

Tory Stadel, a Liberty student, is encouraged by the success she sees from former Liberty students and hopes the student body will continue to be noticed in all types of fields, whether they have graduated yet or not.

“It’s really cool to see (former Liberty) students making a difference in the community,” Stadel said. “It just goes to show that our mission for training champions for Christ really does work, and we’re collectively making an effort to be a light in all aspects of society, including government.”

For more information about the Campbell County elections, visit co.campbell.va.us.

RITTER is a news reporter.