CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Greene County Board of Supervisors begun taking applications for an interim at-large supervisor.
Francis McGuigan resigned from that post earlier this month, then tried to rescind that resignation two days later.
At a Thursday night Board of Supervisors special meeting, Chairman and Standardsville Supervisor Steve Catalano argued McGuigan’s resignation became official upon receipt of his resignation letter.
“As you can on the screen, that’s Mr. McGuigan’s letter of resignation vacating his seat effective immediately,” Catalano said, pointing to a projection of the letter. “I think we received it on 1/21/26, and it was hand-delivered to the County Administration Building along with his key fob,” Catalano pointed out.
The short, handwritten letter was dated Jan. 16, but delivered on Jan. 21, the actual date of resignation.
Two days later, on Jan. 23, he delivered another letter to the administration building seeking to rescind his resignation “due to the overwhelming support and requests to reconsider by my constituents”.
The letter contended “under long-established Virginia law and Attorney General opinions” that his resignation was not effective until formally “accepted by the governing body empowered to fill the vacancy.”
However, County Attorney Kelly Kemp informed the Board Thursday evening that applicable state code makes a resignation irrevocable after the Jan. 21 date McGuigan submitted his resignation.
Though McGuigan’s resignation letter didn’t state a specific date of his resignation, the county embossed the letter with the Jan. 21 date received as the effective date.
The board had been scheduled to discuss its deliberations for applications in closed session, but the board decided to keep the session open.
County Administrator Cathy Schafrik informed the board they need to appoint an interim within 45 days of the effective resignation of the previous member.
She calculated that date as March 7 but recommended with quick agreement from board members that the appointment be made prior to the March 3 when Schafrik pointed out “starts all the budget deliberations”.
They made a two-week application period due by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 12.
Staff will confirm that applicants are Greene County residents as well as registered voters, and they hope to interview candidates Feb. 16.
“Hopefully, like in one day we can interview everybody,” Catalano said.
“I expect for the amount of phone calls I’ve gotten, and I know all of you have gotten phone calls and emails, there are going to be a lot of people to interview.”
Schafrik pointed out they went through the process not too long ago of filling a Stanardsville resignation and there were nine applicants for that.
She expects there will be more because this seat is “At-Large”.
The Board will deliberate the candidates Feb. 24 in a closed meeting and follow with an announcement in an open public meetings at 6:30 p.m.
The announcement of the application process noted, “To abide by the Code of Virginia, an announcement will be made during the Feb. 16, 2026, meeting of the names of those being considered and their appointment profiles and resumes will be available for review at the County Administrator’s Office.”
The selected person will serve as interim Supervisor until a special election is held and Supervisors expect to formally approve at their Feb. 3 meeting that a writ be submitted to the Greene County Circuit Court requesting that be part of the November 3, 2026 general election.
