Richard Cox will seek election to the Smith River District seat on the Patrick County Board of Supervisors in November.
Cox, who was appointed to the board in April to fill the vacancy in the district, said he initially intended to serve only until the November election. However, after several months on the board, he decided to seek the remainder of the term.
If elected, Cox would serve the remaining three years of the term.
“I thought, ‘Well, I haven’t heard of anyone else that’s stepping up to run.’ That may change as it gets closer, but I felt like if I was in a position to serve the community and the community chose me to serve, that I was in a position to represent them in an effective manner to achieve common goals,” he said.
Cox said one of the county’s biggest challenges is creating economic opportunities while preserving Patrick County’s rural character.
He cited job opportunities and infrastructure — including the electrical grid, broadband access and roads — as key issues facing the county.
