February 16, 2018

Grace Rigby, 19, enters race for mayor of Warrenton

Grace Rigby, a Kettle Run High School graduate, works at a Warrenton law firm. Grace Rigby • Age: 19



• Home: Warrenton



• Work: Legal assistant at Howard, Clark & Howard, Warrenton, 2017 to present.



• Education: Lord Fairfax Community College, 2017 to present; Kettle Run High School, 2017.



• Family: Mother, Kim and stepfather Kevin Nay; father, Rob and stepmother Jackie Rigby; brothers, Michael and Joshua; stepsister, Kaleigh.



By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Staff Journalist





If elected, Grace Rigby, 19, would become Warrenton’s first female mayor.



Ms. Rigby became the second candidate for the position in the May 1 election. Downtown merchant



“I think it would be an amazing experience, not only for me, but to have a member of the youth on the town council,” Ms. Rigby said. “I think we are often underrepresented. We have a lot of youth (in Warrenton). I think I could bring some refreshing ideas.”



Warrenton voters also will elect the two at-large council members in May. Those elected will earn four-year terms that start July 1.



Councilman



Potential candidates must file petitions, with the signatures of at least 125 registered town voters, by March 6 to get on the ballot.



A Lord Fairfax Community College student, Ms. Rigby works at the law firm of Howard, Clark & Howard. She has lived in Warrenton most of her life.



“I see all the opportunities that are here. I have an amazing job. I love it here,” she said. “My whole family has been here. You can’t not see people you know. I feel like I’m in the Andy Griffith Show. I know everyone.”



Ms. Rigby recently decided to run after reading a story about Mr. Nevill’s announcement.



“I think that just reading that inspired me to think that’s an option,” she said. “I’m very inspired by government, and I think the government has the potential to do so much for their constituents.



“No matter what social policies I want to run on, what’s most important are the people who I’m representing — what they think, what they want.”



She developed her leadership and public speaking skills at Kettle Run High School, where Ms. Rigby served as vice president of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club and as co-founder and president of the school’s chapter of Amnesty International.



Being a three-year member of the Model United Nations club sparked Ms. Rigby’s interest in politics.



“I’ve always been interested in politics, especially local government,” she said. “You can do so much good in your own community.”



Ms. Rigby has attended several town council meetings in the last two years, including work sessions on the Walker Drive mixed-use rezoning.



If elected, she hopes to boost youth involvement in the community through volunteerism and internships and to improve Warrenton’s waste management program.



“I think that that position some people might classify it as a figurehead, but I think it carries a lot of weight in the community,” Ms. Rigby said. “With that weight I’d probably implement the social policies I’m running on of involving youth in the community . . . . I think it would be beneficial for us to incentivize recycling.



“Obviously everyone wants to reduce town taxes, but I’d have to look at going about that without cutting programs,” she added. “It would be my ultimate goal to reduce taxes and get youth involved in the community.



“Across America, youth are familiarized with teaching and firefighters, but not a lot of people are considering politics. I think involving youth in the community and the youth council . . . would really inspire them and show them it’s possible.”



She said the town should “keep growing our economy and town, but also preserve our small-town feel. That’s why people are so drawn to Warrenton and come to Warrenton, to see our beauty.”



Ms. Rigby plans to talk to voters by going door-to-door on weekends.



Allison Coppage, who works as an attorney with Walker Jones and lives in Warrenton, has known Ms. Rigby her entire life.



“She has an amazing, youthful exuberance, which is missing in a lot of youth these days — motivation, dedication,” Ms. Coppage said. “She’s bringing to the forefront that youth can be involved in the government . . . . It may encourage other youth to say, ‘I can do this.’”



Ms. Rigby said she will launch a campaign Facebook page soon.



Town council members earn $400 a month and the mayor gets $800 a month. Warrenton’s elected officials also qualify for the same town health insurance coverage that municipal employees receive.



Warrenton voters will elect council members in the town’s five wards in May 2020. About two weeks before the filing deadline, a teenage legal assistant announced Thursday that she will run for mayor of Warrenton.If elected, Grace Rigby, 19, would become Warrenton’s first female mayor.Ms. Rigby became the second candidate for the position in the May 1 election. Downtown merchant Carter Nevill also recently announced his candidacy to succeed Mayor Powell Duggan, who will step down June 30 after one four-year term.“I think it would be an amazing experience, not only for me, but to have a member of the youth on the town council,” Ms. Rigby said. “I think we are often underrepresented. We have a lot of youth (in Warrenton). I think I could bring some refreshing ideas.”Warrenton voters also will elect the two at-large council members in May. Those elected will earn four-year terms that start July 1.Councilman Linda “Sunny” Reynolds in January announced that she will seek re-election this year. Councilman Sean Polster has not indicated whether he will run again.Potential candidates must file petitions, with the signatures of at least 125 registered town voters, by March 6 to get on the ballot.A Lord Fairfax Community College student, Ms. Rigby works at the law firm of Howard, Clark & Howard. She has lived in Warrenton most of her life.“I see all the opportunities that are here. I have an amazing job. I love it here,” she said. “My whole family has been here. You can’t not see people you know. I feel like I’m in the Andy Griffith Show. I know everyone.”Ms. Rigby recently decided to run after reading a story about Mr. Nevill’s announcement.“I think that just reading that inspired me to think that’s an option,” she said. “I’m very inspired by government, and I think the government has the potential to do so much for their constituents.“No matter what social policies I want to run on, what’s most important are the people who I’m representing — what they think, what they want.”She developed her leadership and public speaking skills at Kettle Run High School, where Ms. Rigby served as vice president of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club and as co-founder and president of the school’s chapter of Amnesty International.Being a three-year member of the Model United Nations club sparked Ms. Rigby’s interest in politics.“I’ve always been interested in politics, especially local government,” she said. “You can do so much good in your own community.”Ms. Rigby has attended several town council meetings in the last two years, including work sessions on the Walker Drive mixed-use rezoning.If elected, she hopes to boost youth involvement in the community through volunteerism and internships and to improve Warrenton’s waste management program.“I think that that position some people might classify it as a figurehead, but I think it carries a lot of weight in the community,” Ms. Rigby said. “With that weight I’d probably implement the social policies I’m running on of involving youth in the community . . . . I think it would be beneficial for us to incentivize recycling.“Obviously everyone wants to reduce town taxes, but I’d have to look at going about that without cutting programs,” she added. “It would be my ultimate goal to reduce taxes and get youth involved in the community.“Across America, youth are familiarized with teaching and firefighters, but not a lot of people are considering politics. I think involving youth in the community and the youth council . . . would really inspire them and show them it’s possible.”She said the town should “keep growing our economy and town, but also preserve our small-town feel. That’s why people are so drawn to Warrenton and come to Warrenton, to see our beauty.”Ms. Rigby plans to talk to voters by going door-to-door on weekends.Allison Coppage, who works as an attorney with Walker Jones and lives in Warrenton, has known Ms. Rigby her entire life.“She has an amazing, youthful exuberance, which is missing in a lot of youth these days — motivation, dedication,” Ms. Coppage said. “She’s bringing to the forefront that youth can be involved in the government . . . . It may encourage other youth to say, ‘I can do this.’”Ms. Rigby said she will launch a campaign Facebook page soon.Town council members earn $400 a month and the mayor gets $800 a month. Warrenton’s elected officials also qualify for the same town health insurance coverage that municipal employees receive.Warrenton voters will elect council members in the town’s five wards in May 2020.

Member comments

For credibility, sign your real name; stand behind your comments. Readers will give less credence to anonymous posts. Please, be polite. Avoid name-calling and profanity.For credibility, sign your real name; stand behind your comments. Readers will give less credence to anonymous posts.

J. Chris Cloud · March 30, 2018 at 2:05 pm Is she Democrat or Republican?

citizen observer · February 24, 2018 at 8:10 pm You are correct, my bad. I hadn't read all the comments to see the correlation.

Fred_GarvinJr · February 24, 2018 at 7:51 pm citizen observer, please do us the favor of paying attention. My comment referenced “Observer” - not “citizen observer.” Reading is fundamental. 😉

citizen observer · February 24, 2018 at 7:32 pm Age nor gender?



I was speaking about residency and experience. As long as she is now a Town resident I'm okay with it.



The mayor has additional and different responsibilities than council members. I prefer someone with experience to lead the council. That is why we have elections. See you at the polls.

Fred_GarvinJr · February 24, 2018 at 2:07 pm Get off my lawn, Local Resident! LOL!



Observer, you claim that neither age nor gender are qualifications for those positions. Yet, your tone certainly seems to indicate that they disqualify someone. If it serves to disqualify someone, it would certainly seem that the opposite is true. Unless, of course, you just like having it both ways.

citizen observer · February 23, 2018 at 1:48 pm The article said she went to Kettle Run HS. From the school maps I was able to find, no residents from the Town limits go to Kettle Run. They all go to Fauquier HS.



Does one have to be a resident of the Town to be the mayor? Is she now a Town resident?



I commend her on her interests in politics.

However, having someone start at the top with no real business or political experience is probably not best for the Town. Why didn't she put in for one of the council seats to start with?

claire.9703 · February 22, 2018 at 2:26 pm Grace is very intelligent and she has always worked for the things she has achieved in life. Her perseverance and determination is what people should look for in a mayoral candidate. It would be really comforting and impressive seeing a youth in our local government after all these are the years of the millennials. Pretty soon our youth now will be involved in our government so shouldn't we have a charismatic role model for these youths to base their knowledge of the youth in government on?

Wellitsthetruth · February 18, 2018 at 6:11 pm I don't live in the town so I have no opinion on the actual article but some of the comments are just too good to pass up.





Carol Scott:



>No private trolling should be allowed. No cowards that hide behind generic names. I believe in freedom of speech but there needs to be a face to it.



Trolling? That doesn't mean what you think it does. Cowards? lol, namecalling what a great comeback wow much impressed. That's not freedom of speech/expression then if you demand there has to be a face with it.



Tony Tedeschi:



>Local Resident is critical of this candidate but not brave enough to put their name to their rant which makes it worthless.



Worthless just because they didn't put a name to it? Come on. Yeah what they were trying to say didn't come out as it was written but whatever.



>Fauquier Now needs to change their policy and not let commentors hide behide pseudonyms.



So you want them to censor people who won't verify their identity? Try a bit harder.



>it needs to be commented on like a newspaper with full name, city of residence and phone number given



This isnt a newspaper, this is a news website. Welcome to 2005.



>Otherwise this section can be turned into a garbage dump.



Have you seen the comment sections on some of these with everyone using their own names and such? It's still a pile of garbage. Try again.



>Fauquier Now, you are too vital of a service to allow this to continue.



Yes Fauquier now, you are too vital of a service to require verification to comment.







BJ · February 18, 2018 at 5:44 pm Forgot to put my name:

Blaine Johnson

Casanova, VA

BJ · February 18, 2018 at 10:02 am As Carter Nevill stated, “My first and foremost responsibility is to make sure our business (Carter & Spence) succeeds,” Mr. Nevill said. “The role of mayor provided a better fit for me to serve as the public face of our business.”



He sees the role of mayor as “an ambassador — building strong relationships with council members, fostering sense of unity. Where there is tension, finesse it to a positive end.”



Mr. Nevill's stance is his family business first, then the Town of Warrenton. Ms. Rigby's stance is, “No matter what social policies I want to run on, what’s most important are the people who I’m representing — what they think, what they want.”



It's not like Warrenton is some large metropolis, such as Washington DC, Chicago, or San Francisco. Ms. Rigby is within her rights to run for Mayor of Warrenton. Let the voters decide.

Alex Gable · February 18, 2018 at 4:12 am #1 - Go Grace!!!!! This announcement is a sign of hope for our beloved and beautiful Fauquier! Supporting you from afar!



Howdy doo doo to you to Sherriff Observer - your cynical approach to insulting a young woman that is currently studying was poorly executed by your blatant inability to spell words in your own native language. Keep that in mind when you assumably choose to insult other minorities whose second language is English.



To Mr. Local Resident ( A.K.A. Fauquier Troll), it would beehoothe you to not compare an determined and educated young woman to a wet dog or your old car. Misogyny is your game, but dying breed is your name.





Janice kessler · February 17, 2018 at 5:29 pm I think having our younger citizens wanting to be involved in their community and to give back is admirabe . Fresh ideas should always be welcomed...i would like to think that some of the new ideas would work well with the tried and true . We should always try to make things better for sll. You should run Grace...give it everything...and be grateful for the chance to tell people what you believe in. You can do this Grace . You’re intelligent, fair and have the desire to commit your time to your hometown.

Jim Griffin · February 17, 2018 at 9:49 am It is a good for Grace to run. Life is a journey, experience the best teacher. I have no vote in Warrenton but it's good when fresh faces step up to public service. When Grace Rigby and others seek leadership roles we are doing something right; When they stop, we have a problem. Run, Grace, run.

Mamirato · February 16, 2018 at 11:08 pm Grace, go for it. You are young. You are a woman. You are intelligent.

Local Resident · February 16, 2018 at 10:31 pm Congratulations you graduated high school and the entirety of your resume can fit on a standardized flashcard. I have heard of good ideas and I have heard of great ideas but honestly this is just a sad one. Its like watching a wet St. Bernard try to get in through the cat door. You want to help it but at the same time what can you really do. My 1997 Subaru Outback is older than this candidate and frankly has seen more miles. Granted the drivers window rolls down and doesn't go back up willingly but I digress. She will make a good politician because she already promised the people she is going to find a way to cut taxes without cutting any programs. I too believe in fairy tales. In 2012 when Obama was sworn into office a second time she hadn't even made it to high school yet. A year ago she had not even graduated high school. Model UN is fine and all however, she basically played a board game about a useless power group. I am not too worried about that remark the UN is probably just going to write me a strongly worded letter. Aviators are making a comeback (or they never left) that is a good idea. Electing a 19 year old mayor is the equivalent of sneezing so hard you smack your head on the table. Will it make a funny story yes but you risk a concussion and possibly brain damage.

Davebenjamin · February 16, 2018 at 8:35 pm *councilwoman Reynolds

Kimberly Nay · February 16, 2018 at 3:21 pm Grace Rigby is a full-time college student (making the Dean's List last semester) while working full-time at a legal office in the town of Warrenton; now she is prepared to give back to the town where she grew up.

I couldn't be more proud of her. Not only does Grace appreciate the advantages of a small-town life and share in it’s values: family/friends, faith, neighborly love, responsibility, and hard work, she sees the future growth of the town thriving by awakening those values in our youth. I was so very impressed with her vision of the town’s youth and senior citizens volunteering together to make an impact.

We will be collecting signatures this weekend. Town of Warrenton residents and friends, contact us if you would like to support her by signing the Petition to add her name to the ballot.

Jim Griffin · February 16, 2018 at 1:03 pm



Apparently, young people are leaving Facebook, too:



https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/16/parents-killed-it-facebook-losing-teenage-users

I urge Ms. Rigby not to condition access to her campaign materials on a Facebook account. Very interested in her campaign but not joining Facebook.Apparently, young people are leaving Facebook, too:

Facebook comments