Hopewell residents will head to the polls tomorrow in three wards in what could be one of the city's most interesting City Council elections.

The races in Hopewell are among scores of local contests across Virginia including 20 city councils, a half-dozen school boards and numerous small-town mayor and town council elections. A few of the races are hard-fought, but many are uncontested or lightly contested. More than a dozen races failed to attract any candidates at all.

Higher turnout is expected in Hopewell compared with four years ago because of several ongoing issues and because races in two wards are contested.

The outcome of the election could determine the route Hopewell takes. A new mayor and vice mayor will be elected when the new council convenes in July.

Ward 4 Councilman E. Randy Sealey faces challenger Gerald S. Stokes. The two have outlined different ways of running the city and are known for their personal and political differences.

Sealey, 51, a Republican, is a businessman who has pushed for housing and economic development as a council member. He has the support of some key people in the local business community and in the Republican Party.

Stokes, a Democrat, served as Hopewell's treasurer for more than 30 years before retiring. He questions some of the city's investments in development projects.

Both are running as independents.

In Ward 5, longtime residents K. Wayne Walton Sr. and Jerry A. Williams, former schoolmates, are vying for Mayor Steven R. Taylor's seat. Taylor is retiring from public office at the end of his second term.

Walton, who ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2000, is well-known for his community involvement and his passion for the Appomattox River.

Walton, who worked 41 years at Hercules Inc. before retiring, is a member of Friends of the Lower Appomattox River and presents a vision of having "a vibrant waterfront community."

Williams, who has never run for public office, has outlined public works, schools, safety and taxes as Hopewell's top priorities. Williams worked at Verizon before retiring.

"Both are good candidates," Taylor said.

Brenda S. Pelham, vice mayor representing Ward 6, is running unopposed for re-election.

In 2004, none of the three races was contested, and voter turnout was low.

Janice Denton, founder of Hopewell Citizens for Good Government, said she has seen more excitement this time as residents have real options at the polls.

"I really believe the citizens are more aware of what is going on in the city," said Denton, a lifelong resident.

There are efforts to revitalize downtown, growth resulting from the expansion of Fort Lee nearby, ongoing development projects, plans to make better use of the city's waterfront, and the controversial proposal to build an ethanol plant near downtown.

"It's a very critical election because there are a lot of things happening," Taylor said.

. . .

Other contested races in the region are:

BOWLING GREEN: Tomorrow's Town Council election is just about as tranquil as this town of neat frame houses and leafy streets. The incumbent mayor is running unopposed and only eight candidates are on the ballot for the town's seven council seats.

"Unfortunately, there's nothing good and juicy to report," said Mayor David W. Storke, who took office as a write-in candidate two years ago. "We're a little Mayberry -- just a wonderful place to live and raise a family."

Storke said election issues are as rare as discord in town hall. Bowling Green is the county seat of Caroline County and recently inched over the 1,000 population mark.

Five incumbent council members are seeking votes to be returned to office: Bobby J. Ketterman Sr., Daniel C. Webb, E. Glenn McDearmon, Eric V. Hinson and Otis Lee Wright.

Challengers Jason E. Satterwhite, Mark S. Mallin and Randal O. Robillard round out the ballot choices.

. . .

McKENNEY: In this Dinwiddie County town of nearly 500 residents, voters tomorrow will vote from a lineup of seven candidates to fill five Town Council seats.

Mayor Charles T. Mansfield is again running unopposed for re-election.

All four incumbents are seeking re-election: Carl P. Craig Jr., G.L. Abernathy, Rick L. Hawthorne and Virginia S. Howard.

The three other candidates seeking council seats are: J. Windell Tucker, John T. Owen and Linda L. Hawthorne.

In February, longtime council member Melvin B. Alsbrooks, who also was principal of Sunnyside Elementary School, died of cancer.

. . .

WAKEFIELD: A low-key Town Council election features six incumbents and one challenger vying for six at-large seats.

Challenger David L. Fronek, who ran unsuccessfully for council before, will try to supplant one of the six incumbents: Jean C. Barker, Charles W. Gray, J.M. "Jim" Long Jr., Mary L. Renney, O.E. "Chip" Parker III and J.R. "Jack" Stringfield.

All the candidates list themselves as independents.

Mayor C. Winston Britt, who is running unopposed, said the Sussex County town's biggest issues are trying to persuade state highway officials to include an interchange in the proposed new U.S. 460, which is to bypass Wakefield; and trying to discourage the Navy from building an outlying landing field nearby where noisy jets will simulate landing on aircraft carriers. Neither has been an issue in this election, he said.

. . .

WAVERLY: Four incumbents and three challengers are vying for five at-large Town Council seats. The open seat is being vacated by Valarie Patterson-Ricks, an employee of the town police department who chose not to seek re-election.

The incumbents seeking re-election are Andrew W. Mayes, Betty C. Harrell, Kayda Pope Thornton and Sonda Johnson Parham. The challengers are Barbara L. Taylor -- a former council member -- and Erica M. Gatling and Willie Cheeks Walker.

All the candidates list themselves as independents.

Mayor Susan Pope Irving, who is running unopposed, said the key issues facing Waverly today are trying to get two interchanges on the new U.S. 460 and trying to keep the Navy from building a jet practice field near the Sussex County town. Neither issue has been a campaign topic in a low-key election.
Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.

Staff writers Bill Geroux and Lawrence Latané III contributed to this report.