JCC Gets Five Applications for Jamestown Seat

By Desiree Parker Wednesday, January 18, 2012

James City County’s Board of Supervisors received five applications for its vacant Jamestown seat.

The applicants are: retired Army officer and former supervisor Michael Brown; former Vice President for the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance Robert Hershberger; retired Air National Guard member and Verizon employee Steven Pasco; former reporter and current Managing Director for Botetourt Press Wilford Kale; and retired builder Sasha Digges.

Many applicants indicated they would work towards finding common ground and try to stay objective when making decisions. Four of the five applicants are not affiliated with a political party.

Whomever the board selects for the position will fill a seat on an often divisive board with two members from each party who generally vote along party lines on controversial issues.

The Board will interview selected candidates publicly, and they need to make a selection roughly by February. Should the board not be able to agree, the selection will be made by a Circuit Court judge.

Michael Brown

Brown, a Republican, served on the board from 2002 through 2005 as Powhatan District supervisor. In his cover letter to the board, Brown says he does not plan to run for the Jamestown seat in the special election in the fall.

Brown received his MBA from William and Mary and served in the Army for over 26 years. Over the course of his career, he oversaw a multi-million dollar budget and various operations of a training installation, among other duties.

Brown has served for three years as a member of the county’s Parks and Recreation Commission and has volunteered for 19 years with the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which offers free tax preparation assistance.

Brown cites his former experience and ability to easily slip back into the role as reasons why he should be selected.

“As an appointed interim, rather than elected, supervisor, I strongly feel I would be duty bound to work towards finding consensus and acting in a conciliatory manner in all contentious matters that might come before the Board,” he says in his cover letter.

“The overall best interests of James City County in both short and long terms would always be my fundamental concern in all Board decisions and votes.”

Robert Hershberger

Hershberger served as vice president of the Alliance for 24 years. Prior to this role, Hershberger served on a variety of other regional chambers of commerce; from 1968 through 1981 he worked in the Air Force doing intelligence work.

Hershberger graduated in 1968 from the Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina.

Currently, he is the Program Coordinator for Lead Historic Triangle, a community leadership awareness program started by the Alliance.

In his cover letter, Hershberger notes that throughout his service with the Alliance he has worked with various businesses, government officials and civic leaders “to create a vision for the community” and “help [the vision] become a reality.”

He also worked with county officials and staff on planning, development and budget issues. “This involvement enabled me to gain an insight into local government operation and gain a better understanding of the need to examine all sides of a particular issue.”

On his application, Hershberger says he has no affiliation with political groups and says, “Now in retirement, the desire remains to serve the citizens of James City County and the Jamestown District in partnership with the sitting supervisors to provide unbiased and non-political representation.”

Steven Pasco

Note: According to county staff, county records indicate Pasco lives in the Powhatan District, not the Jamestown District. He lists his address as 6215 Sommerset lane.

Pasco, a technician for Verizon, received a degree in Spanish from Old Dominion University, and moved to Williamsburg 16 years ago.

He served for 26 years in the Virginia Air National Guard, where he worked as an avionics technician and later as a communication supervisor maintaining network and computer systems.

Pasco does not have any experience in government roles, “but it seems to me that an unknown – a neophyte devoid of any political baggage might be just in order here,” he says in his cover letter.

“I present myself out of a sense patriotism and civic duty,” Pasco says in his application. He also says, “I feel that as a non-partisan I can be an objective voice in the functioning of the Board.”

Pasco does not list any political party affiliations.

Wilford Kale

For 24 of 30 years as a journalist, Kale covered James City County government as a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He is currently the Managing Director for Botetourt Press, which specializes in regional Virginia books.

Prior to his current role, he worked at the Virginia Marine Resource Commission supervising public affairs, public policy and legislative liaison programs.

Kale served two terms on the Planning Commission from 1998 through 2006, and was a founding member of the James City County Historical Commission.

Kale studied at William and Mary but got his Bachelor’s degree from Park College. He received a Master of Philosophy in History from the University of Leicester in Leicester, England.

Kale has no political party affiliation, and notes that he understands the workings of county government.

In his cover letter, Kale says, “I would be interested in supporting what is best for the county, regardless of political persuasion… I would think I could, from my perspective, bring a modulating factor to the Board that could help develop an attitude of compromise among board members.”

He continues: “I am not a politician, nor do I want to be one. I have absolutely no desire for elected office. Nevertheless, I would view this opportunity to serve the citizens of James City County as a very important obligation, coming at a very important time in the county’s history.”

Sasha Digges

Digges is “semi-retired” from the Bush Construction Company. Though he calls himself “a farmer and commercial fisherman at heart,” Digges says he and his family built affordable homes for people of lesser means and for first-time home buyers for 30 years.

“My main interest is always to help families afford a home,” he says in his cover letter. “Owning a home has always been an American Dream and I tried to help make their dreams come true.”

Digges indicates he has a law degree from the University of Baltimore.

On his application, Digges says he is and Independent, but he also says, “I have always tried to be a fiscal conservative, save the environment, and the concerns of my fellow man are very important to me. I have been a voice at meetings when I feel the rights of the poor, the needy and underdog are being trampled.”

Digges most recently spoke out in a Board meeting against the contentious mausoleum project planned at St. Bede Catholic church.