ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — Rockingham County Planning Commissioner Matt Dale has announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination to succeed retiring District 3 Supervisor Rick Chandler and represent the Town of Grottoes and communities of Melrose, Keezletown, Massanetta Springs, Cross Keys, Port Republic, and a portion of Penn Laird on the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors.

“In addition to furthering our county’s reputation as a highly professional and well-run jurisdiction, I’m running with three main priorities,” Dale said. “I want to preserve the rural and agricultural character of our county; encourage and steward sustainable economic growth in and around our population centers; and ensure our law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel are fully equipped, have the best possible training, and are well compensated for the dangerous jobs they do in service to our community.”

Commissioner Dale is also running to prevent industrial solar power from irreparably spoiling the county. “There is a movement in Richmond to take the decision-making power away from localities regarding the construction of industrial solar facilities. As recently as December, the Planning Commission heard a proposal for a 360 acre industrial solar project in Keezletown. I made the motion to recommend denial – it passed unanimously. Large data centers in Northern Virginia and elsewhere in the state say they need the Shenandoah Valley to pony up our land to meet their shockingly high power needs. This cannot happen. Our farmland, our forests, our open spaces cannot be sacrificed in the name of big data. As Supervisor, I will work tirelessly with our local officials and state representatives to keep large scale industrial solar out.”

In addition to representing District 3 on the Rockingham County Planning Commission, Mr. Dale also serves as an Associate Director on the board of the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, an adjunct professor in James Madison University’s College of Business, and as president of Dale Enterprises, a consulting firm specializing in helping small businesses and nonprofits win government contracts and grants. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Virginia Military Institute, a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Eastern Mennonite University, and lives in Massanetta Springs with his wife Kristin and son Brady.

The following Rockingham County elected officials and residents of District 3 have endorsed his candidacy: Supervisor Rick Chandler, Supervisor Joel Hensley (Chairman), Supervisor Dewey Ritchie, Supervisor Leila Longcor, State Senator Mark Obenshain, Delegate Tony Wilt, Delegate Chris Runion, Clerk of Court Chaz Haywood, Treasurer Todd Garber, Commissioner of the Revenue Dan Cullers, Jon Ritenour, and Doug Wright.