Maurer won’t seek another term in Stafford. Her hand-picked replacement says she’ll seek the seat.

STAFFORD — Rock Hill Supervisor Wendy Maurer will not be seeking re-election for her seat come November.

Maurer, currently serving her first term on the Board of Supervisors announced her decision during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8 meeting.

Maurer who for 12 years has had Myelofibrosis, a chronic form of Leukemia, cited her health as a reason to take a “strategic pause from politics.”

“I have never hidden from the fact I have cancer,” Maurer said. “I take chemo pills every day.” 

She was first elected to the Stafford Board in 2015. She’s been a staunch advocate for schools, transparency, and listened to constituents who urged her to push for the creation of a special tax district that would bring funds for the reconstruction of two new dams, preserving two lakes in the county’s Lake Arrowhead neighborhood.

Mauer recommended Rock Hill Planning Commission Member Crystal Vanuch, 35, to run for her seat this November. She described Vanuch as “a fighter” for the Rock Hill district. “She has shown from her time on the Planning Commission that she is just wicked smart,” Maurer said.

Maurer said if Vanuch were to run she would have her full support. Today, she accepted the call to run. 

“I have decided to run for Supervisor to continue serving and fighting for the residents of Rock Hill.  In my three years on the Planning Commission, I have fought for every single one of my residents’ issues, as my own, not overlooking even the most controversial. Now I want to expand that fight for my residents onto the Board of Supervisors where we see more than approving/denying land uses,” Vanuch penned in a press release. “There are a host of issues coming to the board that could forever change our county and I will not allow special interests to dictate my vote. I want to find solutions to ensure development pays for itself and that we find ways to work with state and federal officials to get real solutions to the constant traffic congestion this county sees daily. I sit in the same traffic and have the same frustrations in lack of infrastructure. I have seen Stafford go from a one-lane road on route 610 to the congestion it is today. The residents of Rock Hill are tired of the same old promises, lack of transparency, and backroom deals.”

Vanuch, a Stafford County native and Virginia Wesleyan College graduate, has served on the Planning Commission since 2016 when Maurer appointed her. Vanuch was re-elected as Chairwoman for the Planning Commission during their meeting on Jan. 9.

Vanuch leads a Stafford County-based Capitol Hill Solutions public affairs firm. She has also worked for Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Vivus Inc, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer. She’s married to her husband, David.

Maurer is not resigning but will finish her term on the Board once it ends Dec. 31.

“We have a lot of controversial topics such as the Capital Improvement Plan that I look forward to working on later this year,” Maurer said.

The other Board members offered thanks for Maurer’s service on the Board and support for her decision.

“Wendy, you’ve done a great job for three years,” Falmouth Supervisor Meg Bohmke said. “I’m proud of you for putting yourself first.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing you and working with you for 20 years now, and it comes to the time when I sit down next to you and decide to not to run again,” George Washington Supervisor Tom Coen said.  “You will be sorely missed on this Board.”

Bohme and Coen offered support for Vanuch during their portion of the Board’s comments.

“Crystal would do a great job in your [Maurer’s] seat,” Bohmke said.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Ms. Vanuch,” Coen said. “It’s always nice seeing my former students rise up.”