Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Dave Shreve, longtime local advocate and former district chair of the Democratic Party, has announced his candidacy for the Jack Jouett seat on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. With incumbent Diantha McKeel retiring, Shreve sees this open seat as a pivotal opportunity. “It seems logical to me that I should run,” Shreve said, adding, “Now is probably the most important time in a long time to get involved locally and make sure that we keep our community strong.” 

An economist by training and former UVA professor, Shreve is focused on ensuring broad-based economic prosperity and tackling affordability issues, especially in housing. “If you don’t do economic policy well on any level, you’re going to have a hard time making up ground elsewhere,” he said. He emphasized the unique inflationary behavior of sectors like housing and the challenges of using property tax to fund affordability programs: “You’re actually taxing heavily the people you’re trying to help.” 

Education is another cornerstone of Shreve’s platform. A proud parent of two Albemarle County School graduates, Shreve wants to sustain and strengthen the school system. “They thrived, and a lot of that is a credit to the Albemarle County schools,” he shared, emphasizing the need for more support staff to prevent burnout among teachers. As the Democratic primary approaches on June 17, Shreve urges voters to consider his long-standing dedication to public service: “What distinguishes me is my experience and my dedication to serving, and I want to continue that.” 

Listen to the full conversation here: