Colsey announces bid for Louisa District Board of Supervisors seat

Christopher Colsey, in late April, formally announced plans to seek the Louisa District seat on the Board of Supervisors as a Republican. In a press release, Colsey said that, as an experienced public official who holds “no Louisa County obligations to affect his objectivity,” he believes he would be “an effective and reliable representative” for the Louisa District. 

Eric Purcell (I), who currently occupies the Louisa District seat, announced in mid-March that he won't seek re-election. 

Colsey and his wife are both public school teachers. The couple bought a “fixer-upper” at Blue Ridge Shores in 2016 while residing outside the county and, during the pandemic, lived here full-time as they worked as “distance learning teachers,” he told Engage Louisa in an email. They eventually sold their other home and moved to Louisa permanently.

Colsey currently works as a teacher in Fluvanna County Public Schools and, since 2005, has served as an adjunct professor of government. He holds graduate degrees in Public Administration, Education and Biblical Studies/Christian Education, and completed the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office’s Citizens Academy in 2022.

If elected, Colsey would bring extensive experience in local government to the board.  Before earning his teaching license in 2015, he briefly worked as a senior legislative aide to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. Prior to that, he served in various volunteer, elected and appointed roles in multiple municipal governments in New York including winning election to two terms as town supervisor and budget officer and serving as a director of zoning, planning and building.

Colsey spent 14 years working in the corporate world before moving on to public service and teaching. He has also been involved in Christian ministry work with Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child. He said a desire to serve his community sparked him to run for the board. 

“I personally believe that community service is necessary for every citizen, and beyond my service in ministry (Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child) and other charitable efforts, I believe I am best gifted as a local public servant,” Colsey said. “While I was successful in my corporate career, my efforts were focused on the financial ‘bottom line’ yet (I) found far greater satisfaction in serving my community. Seeking this role on the Board of Supervisors is a combination of my skills, experience, and desire to serve.”

As a board member, Colsey said that he would focus on ensuring that local government provides necessary and efficient services and adequately supports emergency service providers. He said that he believes Louisa County offers ample opportunity for commercial growth to offset the residential tax burden and provide jobs, but he also wishes “to protect the rural nature of county.”

With respect to Louisa County Public Schools, whose funding constitutes about 60 percent of the county budget, Colsey said he wants to make sure taxpayer money “directly support(s) the improved education of our youth.” 

Louisa supervisors have traditionally run for office as independents, but that trend began to change in 2017 when Mineral District Supervisor Duane Adams became the first candidate to win a board seat running as a Republican. Since then, Jackson District Supervisor Toni Williams and Green Springs District Supervisor Rachel Jones have both won seats as Republicans.

When asked why he decided to run as a Republican, Colsey said that he’s been a Republican for most of his life and believes the party provides “the best opportunities for a prosperous nation.” 

“The foundational principles of free enterprise, sanctity of life, personal faith, respect for those in uniform, a strong work ethic and a valuing of the wisdom of our Founders have always been a part of my world view,” he said. 

Colsey will face at least one challenger this November. Last week, Greg Jones, a small business owner and former president of the Louisa branch of the NAACP, formally filed to run as an independent. Jones represented the Louisa District on the Louisa County Planning Commission from 2017 to 2020. He previously ran for a seat on the board in 2007, losing to PT Spencer by just 15 votes.  Candidates have until June 20 to get in the race.