The Sunburst Showdown: Experience Meets Innovation in Campbell County's Pivotal Special Election

Special elections, you know, they always feel a little different, don't they? They pop up, sometimes unexpectedly, carving out their own unique space in our civic calendar, demanding our attention for a specific, often crucial, moment. And here in Campbell County's Sunburst District, that moment is now. Voters are heading to the polls this Tuesday, tasked with filling a vacant seat on the Board of Supervisors—a seat left open after Jon Hardie, a familiar face, stepped down due to health concerns. It’s a classic two-person race, pitting experience against a fresh perspective, each vying for the chance to shape the district’s future.

On one side, we have Matt Latham. Now, he’s not exactly new to the rodeo, is he? A small business owner—runs Latham Insurance Agency, for those keeping score—he’s actually a returning figure in county governance. He’s been there, done that, serving both on the School Board and, importantly, a previous stint on the Board of Supervisors from 2002 to 2006. So, when he talks about fiscal conservatism, about keeping taxes low and making government run efficiently, honestly, it carries the weight of someone who’s actually grappled with those spreadsheets and decisions before. He’s got that focus, you see, on public safety, on ensuring our schools are top-notch, and yes, on reining in what he perceives as overregulation. He’s big on his budget experience, and for good reason—it’s a strong suit.

But then there's Josh Higgins, who brings a decidedly different flavor to the table. A senior data scientist over at Liberty University, Higgins is, in truth, a relative newcomer to the Sunburst District itself, though he’s quickly making his presence felt. His approach? Well, it’s rooted in what he calls "common sense," which, for him, seems to translate into leveraging data, hard facts, to make decisions that genuinely improve county services. He talks about economic development, about giving our young people reasons to stay and thrive right here, and about tackling tough issues like substance abuse head-on. Transparency, open government—these aren't just buzzwords for Higgins; they appear to be core tenets of his vision, suggesting a keen desire to make county operations more accessible, more accountable to the folks he hopes to represent.

The recent candidate forum, you could say, offered a rather illuminating peek into their respective philosophies. Both men, predictably, touched on the big-ticket items: fiscal responsibility, growing the local economy, the perennial importance of education, and the ever-present challenge of substance abuse. Yet, their angles diverged, didn't they? Higgins, naturally, underscored his belief in data-driven decision-making, in letting the numbers guide the way. Latham, conversely, leaned heavily into his extensive past experience, emphasizing his track record and familiar command of county affairs. It really boiled down to a choice, didn't it: proven local experience versus a fresh, analytical approach.

So, as Tuesday dawns, residents of the Sunburst District face a decision, one that will undoubtedly shape the contours of their local government for the foreseeable future. Will it be the steady hand of someone who's walked these halls before, or the analytical mind of a newcomer eager to bring new tools and perspectives to the challenges at hand? It's a question, ultimately, for the voters to answer. And that, truly, is the beauty—and sometimes, the delightful messiness—of local democracy.