UNLIKE SOME OTHER SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNNITIES, St. Paul has always been a mixture of the old and the new, with both established families and newcomers. That has been St. Paul’s strength. It’s a mixture of what was, what is, and what is yet to be.

With that in mind, the CVT is doing something today that is unprecedented in our recent history. We are endorsing a candidate for public office. That person is Carey Beth Watkins, a candidate for St. Paul Town Council.

L to R: TONY WATKINS, NORMA BUCKINGHAM, and CAREY WATKINS

When Carey and her husband Tony came to Southwest Virginia, they made a choice to relocate from an urban area to a friendlier, more engaged place. They could have chosen any community, but they chose to be HERE.

After Tony and Carey moved from Castle Run to St. Paul a few years ago, Carey’s mother, Norma Buckingham, moved here, too. Carey and Tony live in what we oldsters still refer to as “The Dickenson House” on Buchanan St. Norma lives just up the street from them. They love St. Paul and are here to stay.

What are the specific reasons for the CVT’s endorsement of Carey’s candidacy? First, she brings a wider-world view to St. Paul. Having been employed at large banking institutions, she has practical experience in budgeting, contracts, finance, and project management. Second, when she walks into a room, she has done her homework, knows the facts, and the pros and cons of what is being proposed. That’s extremely important in today’s uncertain world. Why? Because the cost of the services St. Paul’s citizens enjoy is going up, while the town’s yearly income is steadily decreasing.

As some of you know, St. Paul’s contract with Dominion Energy provides a yearly lump-sum payment on a decreasing scale. This, along with money from government grants, has been a major source of funding for St. Paul’s infrastructure improvements – which have been good and necessary. However, the cost of maintaining those improvements will rest solely with the Town of St. Paul. Everything has a lifespan, so this situation could become problematic in the future.

Carey has previously served on St. Paul’s town council, completing the unexpired term of another council member. She currently serves as a board member of the St. Paul Industrial Development Authority (IDA). That’s why she is very familiar with all the issues facing the town. For example, when I asked her “Do you think St. Paul is carrying too much debt?” Carey’s answer was “Yes.” That was an informed answer, not just a guess.

Many of you have met Carey at the St. Paul Farmers Market where she sells baked goods each week during the market’s season. She is also an active member of the FANS (Feed a Neighbor Supper) meal program, which is a joint effort of the St. Paul UMC and the Fort Gibson UMC. Through these and other community betterment activities, her goal is to help older adults and children to have better and more secure lives.

Although I haven’t lived in St. Paul for many years, I co-operate a business there and operate the St. Paul Virginia Railroad Museum. At the museum, and through the Clinch Valley Times, I keep the town’s history alive by making it available to others for free. I do this because I care what happens here. Both David Gregory and I have worked hard to sustain the Clinch Valley Times’ reputation for integrity, so under no circumstances would we ask any of our readers to do something we would not do. 

Vote for Carey Beth Watkins for St. Paul Town Council. You’ll be glad you did.

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