RICHMOND (November 13, 2024) — James City County Supervisor Ruth Larson has been elected as President of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) for the 2024-2025 term. This announcement was made during VACo’s 90th Annual Conference held in Bath County with new officers beginning their terms at VACo’s Annual Business Meeting on November 12.
Larson, succeeding Albemarle County Supervisor Ann H. Mallek, becomes the second President from James City County since VACo’s establishment in 1934, following in the footsteps of Jack D. Edwards (1977).
“I am excited and humbled to be selected as the next VACo President, and I’m honored to represent James City County and the Virginia Peninsula region.” Larson said. “I’ve learned a lot from VACo over the years and want to ensure we continue our strength of educating and informing Virginia’s local leaders. I’m also looking forward to working with state and federal leaders to protect important governing tools like local authority. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Larson, who works with husband Craig in several ventures, started her public service career as a PTA mom. She was elected to the Williamsburg-James City County School Board in 2006 and served until her election to the James City Board of Supervisors in 2016 to represent the Berkeley District. Larson can trace her family tree to the area back to when her great grandfather moved to be a silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg. Her mother’s family roots in the area date back to 1670. Larson sincerely serves to give back to James City County, which has given her and her family so much through the years.
“Thank you to my colleagues on the James City County Board of Supervisors for their support, encouragement, and advice,” Larson said. “I share this honor with them and our James City community.”
VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch expressed enthusiasm about Larson’s presidency, saying, “Ruth has longtime institutional memory on local issues because of the roots she has established in her community. She knows the issues of James City County and the Peninsula region. And she has made it a point to learn more about the issues affecting all localities in the Commonwealth. This curiosity and concern for local issues will serve Ruth well as our next President.”
In addition to Larson’s election, the VACo 2024-2025 Executive Committee and Board Directors have also been named:
VACo 2024-25 Executive Committee
President: Ruth Larson | James City County
President-Elect: William M. McCarty, Sr. | Isle of Wight County
First Vice President: Victor S. Angry | Prince William County
Second Vice President: Phil C. North | Roanoke County
Secretary-Treasurer: Donald L. Hart, Jr. | Accomack County
Immediate Past President: Ann H. Mallek | Albemarle County
VACo 2024-25 Board of Directors
In addition to the VACo Executive Committee and Past Presidents, the Board of Directors consists of supervisors representing 13 regions of the state, and a NACo Delegate. The terms are on a two-year cycle and the number of directors, per region, is based on the population.
This year, representatives were selected in regions 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
VACo 2024-25 new board members
Region 1
- Joel Acree | Isle of Wight County
Region 5
- John M. (Mike) Sheridan | Fluvanna County
Region 6
- Terri T. Catlett | Clarke County
Region 7
- Cathy Binder | King George County
Region 8
- Juli Briskman | Loudoun County
- Matt de Ferranti | Arlington County
- Margaret Angela Franklin | Prince William County
- Open
- Open
Region 10
- Linda DeVito Kuchenbuch | Floyd County
Region 11
- April DeMotts | Montgomery County
- Open
Region 12
- Laura W. Walters | Pulaski County
Past President
- Jeffrey C. McKay | Fairfax County
- Meg Bohmke | Stafford County
- Jason D. Bellows | Lancaster County
NACo Delegate
- Jason D. Bellows | Lancaster County