Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson will serve as chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors and Three Chopt District Supervisor Thomas M. Branin will serve as vice chairman for 2019 following their unanimous elections Tuesday. The board selected its leaders for the year during its annual organizational meeting.
Nelson will serve as chairman for the second time, after previously holding the position in 2016. He served as vice chairman in 2018, while Fairfield District Supervisor Frank J. Thornton was chairman. Nelson is completing his second term as Varina supervisor, having been elected in 2011 and 2015.
In brief remarks, Nelson highlighted recent accomplishments in such areas as economic development, tourism, schools, public transit and county facilities, and thanked his colleagues for entrusting him with the chairmanship.
“I’m excited about the community that I represent, the team that I work with — our county manager, our staff and my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. The 2019 calendar year should be an exciting one,” Nelson said, referring to work underway on two new high schools, a community aquatics center, upgrades to Dorey and Glover parks, a new elementary school in the Brookland District and a new indoor sports facility. He also referred to plans to address an issue of salary compression for employees of Henrico’s general government and Henrico County Public Schools.
In addition to his work as supervisor, Nelson serves on various governmental and community organizations, including the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission Executive Committee, Virginia Transit Association Board of Directors, Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Board of Visitors. He also serves on the Capital Region Airport Commission, Virginia State Compensation Board and committees of Virginia Association of Counties and National Association of Counties.
A native of the Varina District, Nelson earned an associate degree from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, a bachelor’s degree from VCU and a master’s degree from Virginia Union University. He is pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Branin is serving as the board’s vice chairman for the first time. He is completing his first term as the Three Chopt representative, following his election in 2015. He previously served on the Henrico Planning Commission from 2005 to 2015. In addition to the Board of Supervisors, he serves on the Henrico Self-Insurance Trustees Committee and on committees of the Virginia Association of Counties and National Association of Counties. He previously served on the Virginia State Water Control Board and the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board.
After graduating from Douglas S. Freeman High School, Branin earned a bachelor’s degree from Ferrum College. He is national sales manager for Colonial Construction Materials.
The Board of Supervisors regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings typically are not scheduled for the fourth Tuesday in August and December.
Meetings are held in the Board Room at the Henrico Government Center, 4301 E. Parham Road, and are livestreamed at henrico.us/supervisors. Archived video of meetings and additional information are available from the website.
