Longtime Blue Ridge resident, Sam Foster has announced his intention to seek the Blue Ridge District seat on the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors.  He will be running as an Independent.

Foster is well known for his hard work and dedication to public education for more than 35 years, the family farm, and other business endeavors.  He intends to apply this diverse background to assist in moving the County in a positive direction.

Foster states that he attributes his strong work ethic to “the influences of my family, my faith, and my desire to be of service to others.”  This is exemplified through a close family which has been in Botetourt County for five generations, his longtime service and participation in the Cloverdale Church of the Brethren, and service to others through public education and community organizations.  Most recently Foster has added to his community service resume by representing the Blue Ridge District on the Botetourt County Planning Commission.

Prior to and since his recent retirement from full-time employment with the Botetourt County Public Schools, Foster has assisted in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the past several School Board budgets.  This was accomplished during difficult economic times.  Foster sees this experience as extremely relevant as he seeks a seat on the Board of Supervisors.  Asked what was the greatest accomplishment regarding the fiscal challenges, Foster states, “The single most important factor has been the communication and cooperation between the school division and the County which I would fully support and hope to improve upon.”   Further he states “while the school budget is the largest component of the County budget, I am equally interested in other areas such as public safety, parks and recreation, and economic development.”

Foster stated he is accustomed to working in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation and would attempt to bring that atmosphere to the Board of Supervisors.  When pressed, Foster states, “My goal for the County is simply the betterment of the quality of life for the citizens of Blue Ridge and the County as a whole.”  Foster is not shy of his support of public education and subsequently supports a replacement for Colonial Elementary School, “as soon as economically feasible.”

In closing, Foster states “I would be honored to serve the citizens of Blue Ridge as a member of the Board of Supervisors and I respectfully ask for their votes at the ballot box and more importantly their vote of confidence.”

–submitted by Sam Foster