Clifton Forge Town Council Fills Two Vacancies

During a Jan. 25 meeting of the Clifton Forge Town Council, Vice-Mayor Jeff Irvine announced that Dale Burdette and Deborah Loudermilk have been chosen by Council to replace Pam Marshall and Dr. Ronald Goings.

According to the Town Council, nine applicants had submitted letters of application to fill the two vacant Council seats created after Marshall unexpected resigned just prior to the Clifton Forge Town Council’s meeting on Jan. 11 and Dr. Goings’ letter of resignation that he had submitted following his election victory to become a member of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors.

After the meeting was called to order by Irvine, Councilman Shorty Wolfe led in prayer, and those present participated in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

Irvine then stated the purpose of the 7:00 p.m. public meeting, which followed the Council’s 5:00 p.m. closed meeting, as being to announce the two selections from the nine who submitted letters requesting to fill the two vacancies.

Clifton Forge Town Manager Chuck Unroe was present, but he did not have a role in the selection process nor did he offer any comments following the announcements of the two who were selected.

Comments were made by each councilman after the announcement. Councilman Bob Umstead led off by praising all of the applicants for being strong candidates to fill the two vacancies. He noted that any one of those who submitted letters of application would have been a good choice, and he praised the Town of Clifton Forge for having so many with impressive credentials who are willing to serve.

Wolfe followed by amplifying Umstead’s comments, and he encouraged the applicants who were not chosen along with those who were to run for the office and let the people decide.

Irvine remarked, “Any of those who applied would have done a good job, and it was a hard choice because all had good credentials.”

Umstead, observed, “It was the most heated competition since I have served on Council.”

All three of the councilmen were in agreement that those who applied were highly qualified.

“We chose the two that we thought would be the best for the Town, and I hope that all of them will run for the seats in November,” Irvine concluded.

Loudermilk, a retiree who resides in Clifton Forge, was not present and unavailable for an interview.

Dale Burdette

Burdette, the winningest wrestling coach in the history of Alleghany High School who has coached his varsity teams to 263 victories while posting a 70 percent plus-winning mark, said, “After graduating from law school, I returned home thinking that I would want to get into politics, but as it turned out, I got into coaching.”

In Dec. of 2021, Burdette completed 15 years as recreation supervisor for Alleghany County, a position previously listed as a recreation coordinator. He has also served as head wrestling coach for 15 years.

Additionally, he has coached ten wrestlers who graduated from AHS and went on to become college wrestlers, and two of his wrestlers were able to finish as runner-ups in Virginia’s State Wrestling Tournament.

Also, after serving as a teacher’s assistant for four years at Boiling Spring Elementary School upon his return from Tenn., he was hired for various coaching positions at AHS, including JV baseball and assistant football.

Burdette is a 1997 graduate of VMI, and he holds his Doctorate of Juris Prudence from the University of Tennessee.

He is married to Sabrina Thacker Burdette, and the couple have twins, Brock and Brooklynn, six. Burdette also has two stepsons, Remington Tucker and Dylan Tucker.

Before leaving the Clifton Forge Town Hall, Burdette received instructions about his next step to becoming certified via delivering an official letter to the Alleghany County Circuit Court.