Coates to run for another term in office

Liz Mitchell / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: May 9, 2007

Salem Supervisor John Coates has never run unopposed in an election and this year won't be any different.

Coates, 67, is seeking a fifth term in office Nov. 6 against challenger Tom Underwood.

Both are hoping to win the Republican nomination at the mass meeting May 17.

"I feel I can still contribute," Coates said. "And I think with the years of experience and knowing and looking forward to some of the future needs of this county, I feel I can better address the needs."

Coates has served on the Board of Supervisors for 16 years with eight years as the chairman.

His background includes 27 years of experience with the Virginia Department of Transportation as an engineer.

If re-elected Coates plans to continue working on transportation - one of his main priorities.

Specifically, he said the western bypass or outer loop road is essential for the future of the town and county.

"There's no way to move traffic in the town because you've got a railroad to the east, you've got East Street, West Street, Blue Ridge, which are residential streets," he said. "The vertical alignment is very poor on all three streets. They are not suited for parallel roads so therefore, it's going to have to be a western bypass to relieve some of the congestion on Main Street."

Coates also sees education, public safety and the hotly debated water and sewer authority as major issues for the county.

"The county has already created a service authority," he said. "But if this gets on track we will step aside and have a permanent board in place representing the town and county.

And (then) we could move forward with other issues just as pressing for both parties."

The town has consistently stated it would only join the authority if the county agrees to a boundary line adjustment that would create a new Culpeper nearly twice its current size.

Coates said the key to the agreement is cooperation and acceptance from the BOS but he personally thinks the proposed annexation is too large.

"I'm sure they'd like to have the whole county but, in my opinion, (it needs to be) something reasonable or something that could be phased in over a period of time," Coates said. "I certainly want to protect those areas where it's presently agricultural use."

Coates said the county has also made commitments to certain businesses, such as Terremark and would not want to hurt the high-tech industries coming to Culpeper with town taxes.

Taxes and growth are some of the main concerns of people in his district, Coates said.

In his four terms as supervisor, Coates said he is surprised by many of the changes in the county, particularly related to growth.

"We've gone from two shopping centers to considerable commercial growth," he said. "Lowe's, Target, PetSmart, Staples, it's just the start of what we are going to witness and see. And I see the 29 business between the Co-op and Inlet becoming a gateway to Culpeper, if it's done in the right fashion."

Coates said dealing with developments that have been on the books since the 1980s has been one of the most challenging aspects of his job.

He stresses the importance of communication and involving the developer in ways to improve the project for the betterment of the community.

When asked why he would be a good man for the job, Coates answered with his experience, community service and dedication to Culpeper.

"I just want to continue to serve and I think I can contribute," he said.

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or

Meet John Coates
Who: Salem Supervisor, seeking re-election
Age: 67
Family: Married to Betty
Occupation: Farmer in Culpeper and Rappahannock counties
Background: Worked as a transportation engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation for 27 years, served as supervisor for four terms
Committees: Public Works, Building and Grounds, Economic Development
Community service: Received most valuable state employee from VDOT in 1991, the Chamber of Commerce L.B. Henretty award, active in Slate Mills Baptist Church, Culpeper Dawn Lions Club and the Salem Ruritan Club