JAMES CITY-Ruth Larson, Berkeley Representative on the James City County Board of Supervisors, was elected to the Virginia Association of Counties’ (VACo) 2021-2022 Executive Committee on November 16 during the 87th Annual Business Meeting. She will serve as the second vice president. Larson previously represented Region 2 on the VACo Board of Directors from 2019 to 2021.
“I am very honored to have been elected by my supervisor peers to serve on the executive committee,” said Larson in a prepared statement. “As we get ready to welcome a new administration to Richmond, it is vital that VACo members work with the new administration to recognize the importance of local government and to advocate for our citizens. This is an exciting time to be starting a new chapter with VACo.”
Joining Larson on the executive committee are:
- President: Meg Bohmke, Stafford County
- President-Elect: Jason D. Bellows, Lancaster County
- First Vice President: Ann H. Mallek, Albemarle County
- Secretary-Treasurer: Donald L. Hart, Jr., Accomack County
- Immediate Past-President: Jeffrey C. McKay, Fairfax County
Larson was first elected to the James City County Board of Supervisors in November 2015 and reelected in 2019. She served as the chairman in 2018. Larson also serves as the 2021 chairman for the James City Service Authority (JCSA) and was the JCSA vice chairman in 2020. Larson previously served on the Williamsburg-James City County School Board beginning in 2006 until her election to the Board of Supervisors in 2015.
VACo’s goal is to support county officials and effectively represent, promote and protect the interests of counties to better serve the people of Virginia. VACo’s missions are to be efficient, innovative and goal-oriented while serving as an effective force representing local governments at state and national levels in legislative and regulatory processes. A resource network for planning and implementing new ideas and technologies, VACo is governed by a board of directors composed of local government officials.
VACo’s legislative steering committees monitor state and national legislative activities for changes affecting local governments and recommend an annual legislative program, which is adopted at the annual conference.