Craig Stariha 
Rob Thompson 
Kevin Carroll
The recent announcement that two-term county supervisor Steve Elswick is not running again has resulted in three declared Republican candidates thus far.
Kevin Carroll had already announced, but shortly after Elswick’s decision, current Matoaca District school board member Rob Thompson and Matoaca District planning commissioner Craig Stariha also came forward.
The three men will square off for the Grand Old Party’s nomination in the June 11 primary.
Carroll, 55, a Rhode Island native, worked for the Chesterfield County Police Department for 32 years after moving to Chesterfield in 1986 and retiring Oct. 1, 2018.
As a police officer, Carroll worked in numerous positions, including as
He has been president of the Chesterfield branch of the Fraternal Order of Police since 2002. He also served as president of the FOP’s state chapter from 2014 to 18.
Thompson, 52, was born in Florida and grew up in Georgia. He was elected to the school board in 2015 and recently announced that he would not run again because the youngest of his two daughters is set to graduate this year. “I believe that unless you are career educator then you need to have kids in the school system,” he said in an email.
Thompson served over 20 years in the Navy. He began as an enlisted fire
He earned a bachelor’s degree in vocational education from Southern Illinois University, a bachelor’s degree in electronics technology from Norfolk State University and a master’s degree in systems technology from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Stariha, 61, and a native of
According to a press release, Stariha has a degree from Iowa Wesleyan College and an MBA from Averett University. He worked at tobacco producer Altria for more than 31 years before retiring in 2012.
“Government should be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money and Craig’s financial background provides a unique perspective into allocating financial resources responsibly,” Stariha stated in the press release.
Stariha said he has lived in Chesterfield County since 1980.
4 Comments
Rob Thompson, current Matoaca School Board representative is actively seeking the Republican endorsement to run for Elswick’s seat on the Board of Supervisor (BOS). Thompson has already announced he would not re run for the School Board.
Under no circumstances should Chesterfield Republicans endorse Rob Thompson for the BOS and/or CCPS School Board.
Why? = Because Rob Thompson has and continues to be unfit to hold any elected office in Chesterfield County and /or CCPS School Board based on his horrible track record and his actions on the CCPS School Board.
He has and continually violates his oath of office and CCPS Code of Conduct for School Board Members.
He considers himself “Lord of the Manner”.
He listens to NO ONE.
He rules by intimidation / and bullying.
He habitually ignores “chain of command”.
He insists on injecting himself into the workings of administration resulting in his materially flawed and wrong decisions which are NOT aligned and in agreement with his constituents’ base.
He is on the record with his constituents in the Matoaca District they have no right and should have no access to or any communication with the Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools, CCPS Executive Management any CCPS staff.
He is of the opinion it is he and only he who communicates with the School Superintendent, CCPS executive management and staff speaking on behalf of his constituents.
He is a “control freak” and wants to silence everyone and anyone who challenges him or speaks negatively about him.
He is retired military and unable to separate himself and sees himself as the “Officer in Charge” who issues the orders/directives to his constituents.
He views his constituents as rank and file staff who should agree his opinions without questioning or second guessing him.
He is arrogant, aloof, dismissive, vindictive and cannot be trusted.
He is of the opinion he and other school board members fixed / saved the CCPS SRP. This is an absolute bold face like. The BOS and Joe Casey, Chesterfield County Administrator saved SRP not Rob Thompson or anyone else on the CCPS School Board. Why because Rob Thompson and the entire School Board were greedy and refused to give up anything to “fix” SRP.
He continues to be in denial about the absolute failure and exceedingly expensive “outsourced CCPS janitorial services” which has and continues to happen under his tenure. To date, CCPS continues to have “dirty, filthy, schools” which should be condemned by the Virginia Board of Health for such issues as lice and cock roaches infestations, feces on bathroom walls and stalls, urine puddles, toilets and urinal routinely not being cleaned, feminine hygiene sanitation issues etc.
He continually ignores, and covers up for the CCPS Chief Operating Officer for oversight of the approvals and payments of materially incorrect outsourced vendor’s invoices for janitorial work / hours which was not performed .
He insists on ignoring the severity of $57 million in immediate critical maintenance needs for Chesterfield Schools while supporting and giving priority of over $2,000,000 for Chrome Books for Elementary Schools and 5% pay raises for CCPS Executive Management, Central and Division Office Staff
He continues to downplay / sweep under the rug the severity of the multitude of transportation / bus issues which have plagued “school start times” and to date have never been satisfactorily resolved, vetted or tested.
He is anything but forthcoming and truthful.
He failed to disclosed to his constituents his and others “behind the scenes 18 month work on the Magnolia Green Elementary School and intentionally sprang it July 4th holiday week with the hopes it would sail through.so he could than brag and strut “look what I have done for Matoaca”. Well it blew up in his face because not everyone was asleep at the wheel. The heat got turned up in his kitchen and he got peppered with question after question and the next thing you know Steve Elswick too was not supporting him.and good ole Magnolia Green got deferred.
He is deceitful and manipulative.
It is all about Rob Thompson, his image, his greatness and his being “King of the Mountain”.
This is the complete opposite of the type of person Chesterfield County needs or should have on the Board of Supervisors and well as the School Board.. Absolutely under no conditions should Rob Thompson be endorsed / supported by any political party for the BOS or CCPS School Board.
Here’s the issue. If you want the same old group to be making decisions for you and the county, then go ahead and vote for Rob or Chris. One has been on the planning commission and one on the school board.
I don’t know about you, but I feel elections are about getting new blood with new ideas on the Board of Supervisors. If you keep electing the same establishment, nothing ever changes or gets better.
Please vote for positive change on the board and vote for Kevin Carroll for Matoaca District, Board of Supervisors.
I have known Kevin Carroll for more than 3 decades as his veterinarian and friend. His reputation is impeccable and he is one of the most ethical people I know. His long history of interacting with the county and state governments would make him a valuable asset on the Board of Supervisors.
Whenever we discussed an issue facing the county he always displayed a well researched grasp of the subject. Kevin is an objective ethical candidate who should be elected to the Board…….a candidate who knows the county, its people, and has the vision to address the problems associated with its growth.
Carroll = YES Thompson & Stariha = ABSOLUTELY NO Why No ? = ARROGANCE PERSONIFIED
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