By Frederic Lee

Staff writer

Smithfield Town Council elections are coming up on May 5, with three out of six seats coming to the end of their four-year terms. 

Town Council members Randy Pack, Michael Smith and Denise Tynes are up for reelection this spring, and each has plans to run for reelection with their current terms ending June 30. 

As of Thursday afternoon, only incumbent candidates had registered to run for the three seats, according to Isle of Wight County Deputy Registrar Victoria Mainwaring. 

Smith and Pack are both running for their third terms, while Tynes would be running for her fourth. Each term is four years. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

The deadline to register as a candidate is March 3, and in order to do so, one must be a resident of the town, qualified to vote, be a resident of Virginia for one year preceding the election and have a petition of 125 signatures from qualified voters. Prospective candidates must also fill out a certificate of candidate qualification form, campaign finance forms and several other generic forms related to candidacy. 

Smith and Pack both said in interviews on Jan. 30 that overseeing the progression of the Pinewood Heights relocation project, the Joseph W. Luter Sports Complex and other projects would be aims of their next terms if reelected.  

On accomplishments, Smith named projects recently completed or nearing completion, such as the sports complex and Windsor Castle Park restoration project — which wrapped up just weeks ago. Because of the development of those project, the next four years would probably be busy for Town Council, because they have to be maintained now. 

“We’ve got a lot on us right now,” said Smith. 

On future objectives, Smith also named the developing park-to-park bike and pedestrian trail plan that has a stretch of path through town, water and sewer developments in town and the completion of the Pinewood Heights relocation project as key focus areas. The Pinewood Heights project is currently in its final phase. 

Discussing past accomplishments, Pack also pointed out the completion of the manor house and also mentioned the new boat ramp at Clontz Park, which opened last year. 

Pack also said that, with national unemployment numbers low, maintaining a good town staff was also an accomplishment for Town Council in recent years. 

On future goals as a Town Council member, Pack said that he’d like to see Town Council keep the projects that the town has recently completed under control, without moving too fast on other projects. He added that it would be important to manage growth in terms of future housing development proposals.   

Like Smith, Pack and Tynes referenced the completion of the Pinewood Heights project as an objective. 

Town residents can register up to three weeks before the May 5 election, according to Mainwaring.  

Town Council members Valerie Butler, Wayne Hall and Beth Haywood. And Mayor Carter Williams will come to the end of their terms June 30, 2022. {/mprestriction}