Supervisors  Appoint Douglas Shaffer to fill Berryville District seat

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By Cathy Kuehner

During its public work session on May 13, the Clarke County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to appoint Douglas Shaffer to fill the Berryville District seat recently vacated by Matthew Bass. Bass tendered his letter of resignation in early April; his last day as a Supervisor was April 30.

After being sworn in by the Circuit Court Clerk, Shaffer participated in his first Supervisors meeting on May 21. He will serve as the Berryville District supervisor until the Clarke County Electoral Board certifies the results of a special election on Nov. 5, 2024. Anyone who is qualified, including Shaffer, may run this year to fill Bass’s unexpired term that ends in 2027.

In early May, Supervisors chair David Weiss (Buckmarsh District), vice chair Terri Catlett (Millwood District), Bev McKay (White Post District), and Doug Lawrence (Russell District) interviewed four candidates for the temporary appointment.

“We interviewed four great individuals who applied for the vacant seat,” said Weiss. “I was impressed with their knowledge and commitment to their community.” Catlett added that the four applicants “all brought a lot to the table.”

Weiss noted, “Doug brings 20 years of service to the town, and he has aa solution-based way of approaching issues.”

Shaffer, 63, was born and raised in Berryville, the county seat. He served on the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals from 2000 to 2010. Appointed to the Town Planning Commission in 2002, he served as its chair from 2010 to 2021. In 2012, Shaffer was elected to Berryville Town Council, representing Ward 1 for one four-year term. He is a Virginia certified 

planning commissioner.

“I want to be a voice for the town again,” Shaffer said. “A few years ago, I needed to step back for personal reasons, but now I’m anxious to get back into service.” As for officially running for Berryville District supervisor this fall, Shaffer said, “My hope is to work with the Board for a couple months, because it won’t mirror Town Council or Town Planning Commission. Then, I’ll feel confident running for the seat.”

Shaffer’s decades-long career has been in construction material management. He is presently a building inspector for the county’s 

building department. 

“Berryville has been well served [by its Supervisors] and will continue to be well served,” said Weiss.Find more information about the Board of Supervisors at www.clarkecounty.gov/government/boards-commissions.