CHERITON, Va. ·- Cheriton salon owner Hope Wolff-Wilson is asking town voters to write in her name for mayor on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Her name will not be printed on the ballot.
Charles Kolakowski is the only candidate listed for mayor in Cheriton this year. Wolff-Wilson’s campaign flyer urges residents to fill in the write-in line instead.
The winner will take office Jan. 1, 2027, succeeding Mayor Stacey Sparrow, whose current term runs through Dec. 31, 2026.
A first-time candidate with local roots
Wolff-Wilson describes herself as a Cheriton resident who owns a salon in town. Her campaign material frames the run around that connection, saying Cheriton “isn’t just where I live and work—it’s home.”
She is upfront that she has never held the office. “I haven’t yet served as Mayor, but I’m ready to listen, learn, and work hard for every resident of Cheriton,” the flyer reads.
What she says she would do
If elected, Wolff-Wilson says she would work to:
- Preserve the town’s beauty, charm and character
- Encourage community events that bring residents together
- Support local businesses and encourage responsible growth
- Listen to residents and make sure every voice is heard
- Promote transparency, honesty and open communication
- Help keep Cheriton clean, safe and welcoming
- Make decisions that honor the town’s past while investing in its future
The race and how to vote
Cheriton elects a mayor and six council members at large every two years, under the town charter. The mayor presides over council and votes only to break a tie, but holds veto power that council can override by a two-thirds vote.
Turnout in the town of about 486 residents is small. In 2024, Sparrow won the mayor’s race with 159 votes, or 64.4% of the total, according to Northampton County results.
Six candidates are listed for six council seats this year: incumbents Barry Downing Jr., Norma Spencer, Bo Lewis Sr., Terri Tatem and Sheila Traina, plus newcomer Matthew Yancy III.
Under Virginia law, voters in local general elections may write in a candidate not printed on the ballot. On Cheriton’s ballot, that means filling in the oval beside the blank write-in line and printing the candidate’s name on it.
Early voting ends Saturday, Oct. 31; the Northampton registrar’s office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters with questions about write-ins should contact the Northampton County registrar.
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