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School board rejects December special election, will appoint interim for Clover Hill seat
Summary
After learning a special election would require a 45-day early-voting window, the Chesterfield County school board on Sept. 23 declined to seek a Dec. 9 special election to fill the Clover Hill District vacancy and agreed to appoint an interim member to serve until a new member is sworn in Jan. 1, 2026.
The Chesterfield County school board on Sept. 23 declined to pursue a Dec. 9 special election to fill a vacancy in the Clover Hill District and voted to fill the seat by appointment, with the appointee to be sworn in Jan. 1, 2026.
Mr. Roberts told the board that Miss Hefron announced her resignation effective Dec. 31, 2025 and submitted a letter on Sept. 19; the board accepted that resignation earlier on the meeting's consent agenda. He cited "Virginia code section 24.226" as authorizing the board to ask a circuit court to issue a writ calling a special election before the next general election and presented a resolution (memo 134-25) authorizing the school board attorney to petition the court for a Dec. 9, 2025 special election so the Clover Hill district would be represented beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Board members pushed back after receiving guidance from the county registrar. "We need 45 days prior to do early voting," Dominique Chatters said, thanking the registrar's office for emailing the board. "I would suggest that we move the date ' till 2026 ' and go with an interim option." Chatters said the change would allow the board to avoid rushing the election process and to provide adequate early-voting time.
"I do believe it is in the best interest not only of this board but of our community," Mr. Fonte said, "in light of a general election, a gubernatorial election, ' not to interfere and confuse voters potentially in regards to having two separate ballots. I think the path forward would be to name an interim and place a date for a special election later in 2026." Lisa Hudgins echoed those concerns, saying the December date had been suggested to ease transition but that the board had not realized a special election would require early voting.
After discussion, a motion to approve memo 134-25 failed on a roll call. The clerk recorded Dominique Chatters, Steven Pronto, Lisa Hudgins and Anne Coker voting "nay," and the motion did not pass. The board did not record any "yes" votes for the motion to seek a Dec. 9 special election.
Board members said they will proceed with an appointment process for the Clover Hill vacancy. Mrs. Chatters said the board plans to publish an application, hold interviews, accept community feedback submitted seven days prior to an appointment, and then name a candidate; that person would not be sworn in until Jan. 1, 2026, staff confirmed. Mr. Roberts said staff will communicate the application timeline through normal channels.
The board also announced a work session for Oct. 14, 2025 at 4 p.m., followed by a business meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned following a unanimous roll-call vote to close the session.
What happens next: the board will publish application and interview details for the interim appointment; any subsequent special election date will be set later and would follow applicable early-voting timelines.
