Republicans are on track to increase their majority on Lynchburg City Council to six out of seven members, based on unofficial election results as of early Wednesday morning.
The four winners of this election will each represent one of the city’s wards for a four-year term.
As of early Wednesday, Republican Jacqueline Timmer was in the lead to secure the Ward I seat held by two-term independent MaryJane Dolan, who did not seek reelection. Ward II appeared set to reelect incumbent Democrat Sterling Wilder; Ward III favored Republican Curt Diemer to replace fellow Republican Jeff Helgeson, who did not seek reelection; and Ward IV saw incumbent Republican Chris Faraldi narrowly leading against a Democratic opponent while also facing two write-in challengers.
The available voting results do not include mail-in absentee ballots received by deadline but processed afterward, nor do they include provisional ballots, such as those from people who both registered and voted on Tuesday.
The four winners will join the city council’s other three members: Mayor Stephanie Reed, Marty Misjuns and Larry Taylor, all of whom are Republicans. Reed, Misjuns and Taylor were elected to four-year terms in 2022 by the city at large, rather than by an individual ward.
This year brought a notable change in procedure as Lynchburg voters cast their ballots for city council members at the same time as for a president. In 2020, Lynchburg City Council elections were held in May, but state legislation passed in 2021 moved the city’s elections to November.
Ward I: Timmer ahead of two opponents
As of early Wednesday morning, Timmer had 44% of the vote in Ward I, ahead of Democrat Randy Smith’s 39% and independent Cameron Craddock Howe’s 17%.
“I’m so grateful for all the support,” Timmer said in a statement from her campaign.
Ward I covers much of the northern and western areas of the city and includes the Bedford Hills, Boonsboro and Peakland neighborhoods as well as Randolph College.
Timmer is the founder of The American Voters’ Alliance, a nonprofit that assists election integrity groups. Smith owns two businesses: Hill City Hardwoods, which sells lumber to woodworkers, and The Craft Crucible, which provides space to local artisans. Howe is a zoning official with the City of Lynchburg and serves on the board of the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, the city’s bus system.
Ward II: Wilder on track for reelection
In Ward II, Wilder had 65% of the vote, ahead of Republican Rodney Hubbard’s 25% and independent Tori Howard’s 10%.
“I’m excited that Ward II has had the faith in me to elect me for another term,” said Wilder, who was first elected to council in 2016. He added that he hopes to use his voice on council to support schools and reduce crime and poverty.
Ward II is in the eastern part of the city and includes Lynchburg’s downtown district; the Dearington neighborhood; historic neighborhoods such as as Diamond Hill and Garland Hill; and the Tyreeanna area.
Wilder is executive director of the Jubilee Family Development Center, which offers academic and social programs for at-risk youth. Hubbard owns Hubbard Automotive on Monroe Street and the gospel radio station WLLL 930 AM. Howard is a recreation specialist with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Ward III: Diemer in the lead
As of early Wednesday, Diemer had 61% of the vote in Lynchburg’s Ward III, while Democratic challenger James Coleman had 39%.
Republicans nominated Diemer in September after incumbent Republican councilor Jeff Helgeson announced he would not seek reelection after 20 years on council.
Diemer said Tuesday night that he felt it was too early to make a statement on the race. Among other things, he said Liberty University saw more than 1,200 same-day registrations on Election Day; those will be counted as provisional ballots and have yet to be tallied.
Ward III is in the southern part of the city and includes the Fort Hill and Sheffield neighborhoods as well as Central Virginia Community College, Liberty University and the Wards Road shopping corridor.
Diemer owns a photography business and is a longtime Republican activist, including having served as legislative aide to former state Sen. Steve Newman. Coleman is dean of Virginia University of Lynchburg’s School of Religion, senior pastor of Providence Transformation Church International and has served on the city’s school board and planning commission.
Ward IV: Faraldi leads three challengers
As of early Wednesday, Faraldi, the city’s vice mayor, was in the lead as he battled not just a Democratic challenger but also two write-in candidates.
With 48% of the vote, Faraldi was ahead of Democratic candidate April Watson, who had 46%. His margin was the slimmest of any of the leading candidates, with just 167 votes separating him from Watson. The Republicans’ hope to increase their majority hinges on Faraldi maintaining his lead.
Faraldi did not respond to a message seeking comment just after midnight.
Peter Alexander launched a write-in campaign after he lost the ward’s Republican primary to Faraldi. Business owner Michelle Harvey also ran a write-in campaign in Ward IV. As of early Wednesday, write-in votes accounted for 6% of the total.
Ward IV runs from Lynchburg’s southwestern border, through the middle and into the northern part of the city. It’s bordered by each of the other three wards and includes the Linkhorne, Perrymont and Sandusky neighborhoods, as well as the University of Lynchburg.
Faraldi is a Realtor. Watson is a clinical social worker and deputy director of human resources for the city. Alexander is a retired contractor and administrative pastor of a church, while Harvey is an Army veteran who owns a massage and manicure business.
