Grice won’t seek reelection as supervisor
Published 3:47 pm Thursday, February 9, 2023
After seven years representing Smithfield on Isle of Wight County’s Board of Supervisors, Dick Grice is ready to step down.
Grice, whose current term in office ends Dec. 31, confirmed at the board’s Jan. 2 meeting that he would not seek reelection.
His is one of three seats on the five-member board up for election this year. Board Chairman William McCarty and Vice Chairman Joel Acree, who hold the other two seats, will each likely run for reelection.
According to Isle of Wight County Voter Registrar Lisa Betterton, McCarty and Acree recently picked up candidate forms at her office, but haven’t officially filed for reelection yet. Each will need to submit a nominating petition bearing the signatures of at least 125 registered voters from their respective districts.
Grice’s former Smithfield District, now listed as District 1 on county maps, encompasses most of Smithfield, the village of Battery Park, the Days Point Road area and one side of Route 10 from the edge of town to St. Luke’s Church. McCarty represents the former Newport District, now District 2, which spans much of the Carrollton and Brewers Neck boulevard corridors. Acree represents the former Windsor District, now District 4, which spans from one side of Whippingham Parkway in Carrollton south through the town of Windsor. A map of the voting districts is available here.
Renee Rountree, who currently serves on the Smithfield Town Council, confirmed to The Smithfield Times in December that she plans to run for Grice’s seat.
Candidates have until June 20 to file the paperwork to get their names on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Grice, McCarty and Acree each won their first terms in the November 2015 election.