Change of procedure could see Boyd chair Board of Supervisors

Based on the tradition of a long-standing rotation system, it’s arguably Democrat Ann H. Mallek’s turn to chair the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. But the gavel might end up with the leader of the county’s Republican movement.

Mallek wants to be chairwoman — and she believes it’s her turn. But Republican Kenneth C. Boyd says he’s willing to accept the role, if he can assemble enough support.

Boyd’s interest in the position could spawn a contentious debate in January, when the six-member board meets behind closed doors to appoint a chairperson. And it comes at a time when he also is angling to win the GOP nomination to run for Congress in Virginia’s 5th District against incumbent Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy.

Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker, an independent, called Boyd’s move an example of “crass” politics.

However, Boyd said “we’re in an era of change” and the county may “need to change some procedures that we’ve done in the past.”

“Some of the newly elected members of the Board of Supervisors are going to have a very conservative agenda and they want to look particularly at the budget process, and they feel that with my financial background that I would be able to lead us through that,” Boyd said.

For decades, the vice chairperson — currently, Mallek — graduates to chairperson after serving two years in the second-string position. However, David L. Slutzky, a Democrat, was voted out of office in November — after only a year as chairman — leaving the post vacant for 2010.

Boyd: No disruption

Boyd said that if he were appointed chairman, it would not disrupt the custom of allowing the vice chairperson to become chairperson after two years, considering that Mallek has only served one year as vice chairwoman.

If the rotation system used for decades were to be followed, Boyd definitely would not be in line to be the next chairman, considering that he had the post from 2007 to 2008, but there’s no law preventing supervisors from abandoning the custom, if that’s what the majority chooses to do.

“I would fully expect that when Ann was scheduled to become chair that she would become chair, which is not next year, but 2011,” Boyd said.

Mallek declined to comment on whether she’d be interested in the vice chairmanship position if she doesn’t get enough votes to chair the board.

“I don’t want to go there, as far as hypotheticals,” Mallek said. “I don’t want to give the impression at all that I’m ready for second.”

Mallek said she’d give all supervisors a fair opportunity to introduce new ideas and discuss issues, as chairwoman, and that a good chairperson simply makes sure that the meetings run smoothly, and ensures that residents and supervisors have a fair chance to be heard.

Rooker says it’s “inappropriate” for Boyd to butt in line, adding that Boyd probably would not have been appointed chairman in 2007 and 2008 had supervisors simply voted on who they wanted and abandoned the rotation system. Rooker said the rotation system creates more congeniality amongst supervisors and that “the issues facing the board are not Republican issues. They’re not Democrat issues. They’re county issues.”

Prior to this month, Boyd was the only Republican on the board. However, the political makeup shifted sharply right, when two new Republicans won seats in November.

“If we had done what Ken is trying to do now, he would not have been chair,” Rooker said, adding that he rejected offers to seek chairmanship out of turn. “I said, ‘No. That’s not the way we do things here. … It’s his turn and he’s going to be chair.’”

Of the six who will serve on the board in 2010, the only supervisor who has confirmed he’ll vote for Mallek — other than Mallek herself — is Rooker.

Newly elected Republican Rodney S. Thomas is aligned with Boyd.

“I think we need the stability and experience that Ken has,” Thomas said, adding that though board chairs only have one vote, as everyone else, “they do control the agenda.”

“I feel like it will help support what we’re trying to do,” Thomas said.

Republican Duane Snow, who was also elected in November, said he has basically made up his mind about how he’ll cast his vote, though he declined to tip his hand, adding that he hadn’t informed supervisors of his decision yet and didn’t want them to find out through the press.

Dorrier undecided

Lindsay G. Dorrier Jr., a Democrat who often sides with Boyd on issues and describes himself as a fiscal conservative, said he hasn’t decided who he wants to be chairperson, adding that he wants to discuss the matter with supervisors before making a decision.

The six supervisors plan to discuss who will be chairperson and vice chairperson during a closed session on Jan. 6, and then publicly announce a verdict at the board meeting.

County spokeswoman Lee Catlin said that if there were a 3-3 impasse, supervisors could choose an “acting” chairperson temporarily, until a permanent chairperson is selected, “but obviously, the group does need to negotiate a permanent chairman.”

“It’s going to be a very touchy subject, obviously, because there’s differences of opinion,” Boyd said. “But we’ve had differences of opinion on the board before.”

Boyd, seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Perriello, said that becoming chairman again could be more of a campaign challenge than a boost.

“In fact, that’s what my campaign people [asked]: ‘Well, how much more time is that going to take you away from our campaign?’” Boyd said. “I’m willing to put in that extra time to do it.”