I really appreciate the chance to represent the people of Laurel Fork as the Democratic Candidate for Laurel Fork Supervisor. I want to thank the Democratic Committee for all their help and encouragement, especially Raleigh Cooley, Jonathan McGrady, and Sam Dickson.

I want to introduce my husband Glen Tate MD – he is a physician at the Tri- Area Health Clinic and Medical Director. He also serves as the OMD (Operation Medical Director) for the Laurel Fork Rescue Squad. We have been married 31 years and have two children Adam and Lindsey Clark.

When I ponder about what shaped me and inspired me to want to take on the difficult task of running for local office, I always come back to the influence of my father, Joel Hylton. Some of you knew him. Those that did know what a staunch Democrat he was, he was an avid reader and loved politics.

He felt very strongly that the Democratic Party is the party for the working man, the party for the people, and the party of hope.

I have the affliction of hope. But hope must be tempered by accountability, fairness, integrity, and hard work. We must have these in our local government. As supervisors we have the responsibility to inform and educate ourselves about any tool for government the State of Virginia allows us to use.

In local government meetings, from the BOS (Board of Supervisors), PSA (Public Service Authority), IDA (Industrial Development Authority), to the Planning Commission, special interest groups are well represented. Impacts to the citizens are not being addressed. Isn’t that what elected officials are supposed to do? Protect health, safety, and welfare of the citizens?

I won’t just sit back and hope for things to get better. I will commit to work hard to make things better!