Chris Lawless has announced his candidacy for the Collinsville District supervisor seat currently held by Joe Bryant in the upcoming election. Bryant has not yet said whether he will seek reelection.
Lawless, a 39-year-old business owner, made his bid official on Jan. 28, emphasizing his commitment to the community and acknowledging his potential opponent, Joe Bryant, who initially encouraged him to run.
A Collinsville resident, Lawless lives near the post office and founded Lawless Welding in 2016. Since its inception, the business has grown from two employees to 30. He said his motivation for seeking office stems from a desire to give back to the community that has supported him.
“Ninety percent of my business is in Martinsville, Henry County, and I want everybody to know that my community has been good to me and it’s time to give back to my community,” he said.
Lawless has been involved with several local charities, a commitment he attributes to his wife’s work with the United Way. He has supported initiatives such as the Warming Shelter, local food pantries, and Boy Scouts programs, offering welding classes for young participants. He has also made contributions to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and assists members of the community whenever possible.
In June 2024, Lawless spoke with Bryant about running for the supervisor seat. At that time, Bryant indicated he had no plans to seek reelection in 2025 and advised Lawless to secure his place on the ballot early. Taking that advice, Lawless used the recent snowfall as an opportunity to gather signatures while Collinsville residents were home.
During his outreach efforts, Lawless said he received a warm reception, with some residents inviting him into their homes. He noted that his biggest concern while going door to door was not the people but the dogs behind the doors.
Although Lawless initially believed Bryant would not seek reelection, he later learned that Bryant was reconsidering after being encouraged by influential supporters. Lawless questioned Bryant’s level of commitment to the race, stating that a candidate should be fully invested in serving the community.
Regarding Bryant’s legal issues, Lawless said they do not factor in his campaign.
“In my personal opinion, a person is innocent until proven guilty, that’s number one. Also, that’s a personal matter. We’re here for business,” he said.
Lawless emphasized that his campaign will focus on local issues rather than personal attacks. He intends to prioritize community improvements, including addressing litter, assisting elderly residents, and tackling infrastructure concerns.
He also cited the need for affordable housing as a major concern.
“Mobile homes now cost over $100,000, how’s that affordable?” he said, expressing his desire to find solutions that make housing more accessible.
Lawless wants to see increased support and better compensation for first responders. He also advocates for expanding trade job opportunities to help retain residents and strengthen the local workforce.
“What you do is you build a strong workforce that way. Jobs that can’t go overseas. Jobs that have to stay over here because you have skilled labor doing it,” he said.
He believes Henry County must adapt to remain competitive and pointed to Danville as an example of a locality making significant progress.
“Danville’s soaring past us like never before,” he said.
Engaging younger generations is another priority for Lawless. “We need some new schools because we need our population to grow,” he said, and pledged to stay active in the community regardless of the election outcome.
He also vowed to be present at as many community events and photo opportunities as possible, not for personal promotion, but to help raise awareness for the organizations he supports.
As part of his outreach efforts, Lawless plans to visit the Chatham Heights and Leatherwood areas within the Collinsville District that he said often receives little attention. He made it clear that his campaign is not about promoting business interests.
“I’m not selling fiber optics. The only thing I’m doing is trying to sell myself to get your vote,” he said.
Lawless believes Henry County is facing an identity crisis and must address wage disparities to remain viable. While he did not criticize the current board, he said maintaining the status quo is not enough for the county to thrive.
“The board is maintaining, I have nothing bad to say about those guys,” he said.
Lawless also intends to help resolve issues surrounding sound competitions at Bryant Radio in Collinsville. Rather than shutting down the events, he suggested alternative locations, such as the local Smith River Sports Complex, that could better accommodate them.
“I don’t want to stop business, I want everybody to understand that. Why can’t we use the sports complex? Why can’t we make it a bigger event? Why can’t we do it somewhere else besides the middle of Collinsville?” he said.
