Rooker seeking another term

Dennis S. Rooker announced Wednesday that he’ll seek another stint on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. His term is set to expire at the end of the year.

Though Rooker painted a dim picture of the economy, he said that he’s optimistic about the county’s future, listing several of the county’s attributes, including the 71-cent real estate tax rate, a nationally recognized schools system and governmental operations that use advanced technology.

“Those are some of the reasons why over the past eight years this community has been named by more than 30 publications and organizations as one of the best places in America to live,” Rooker said. “It’s because I want to continue contributing to making Albemarle County the best place in America to live that I today am announcing my candidacy to re-election to the Board of Supervisors.”

Rooker, 58, said he wants to ensure that the county continues to lead in environmental protection and that governmental operations remain efficient. As a lawyer and business owner with a background in economics, he said that his experiences are ideal for battling the county’s budget woes.

“Nationwide, we’re in one of the roughest economic situations we’ve had in my lifetime,” Rooker said. “I want to participate in helping to steer the county through this time in a way that preserves the important attributes of the county that have made us such a great place to live.”

His political accomplishments, he said, have included setting a goal to “increase the land in conservation easements by 50 percent over a four-year period of time, and we’re on schedule to do that.” He also said he has his eyes set on improving the county’s affordable housing system, as well as “making certain that we fund excellence in education in this county.”

“An excellent education system not only serves to prepare our kids better for the future but also is a reason why our community is considered a great place for people to locate and for businesses to locate,” he said.

Rooker, who represents the Jack Jouett District, has run as an independent since he was elected to his first four-year term in 2001. He said that he would run as an independent again in his upcoming campaign.

“I don’t think the problems which face the county are Republican or Democrat problems, and I don’t think they’re problems that should be embroiled in party politics,” he said.

Supervisors Sally H. Thomas and David L. Slutzky, whose terms also expire at the end of the year, have yet to announce whether they’ll run again, though Slutzky said that he’s leaning toward seeking another term.

Though he hasn’t decided whether he’ll run as an independent or as a member of a political party, John Lowry, a local businessesman, is campaigning for the seat in the Samuel Miller District now held by Thomas. And Republican Rodney Thomas, a local businessman and former planning commissioner, is challenging Slutzky, a Democrat, for his seat in the Rio District.

As yet, nobody has announced plans to challenge Rooker.