Welcome to the Beaverdam Honorary Mayor Site!
The Honorary Mayor of Beaverdam Campaign is an annual fund raiser designed to support four important local organizations. The Association for the Preservation of the Beaverdam Depot, Beaverdam Ruritan, Beaverdam Heritage Days Foundation and the American Legion Post 90. Every year we invite the community to "run" for Honorary Mayor. Each candidate asks for donations with each dollar collected counting a one vote. At the end of the campaign, the Honorary Mayor title is awarded to the person raising the highest amount of donations. The total of all money raised is donated evenly to the four organizations. These same organizations participate by sponsoring candidates also.
The Honorary Mayor has no ACTUAL power but does get to be highlighted in the annual Ruritan July 4th Parade and is also celebrated in a Mayors Ball thrown in their honor. Also, the winning candidate gets to donate 10% of total money raised to a charity of their choice!
Explore the pages here for more information on Candidates, Mayors Ball, Rules and events associated with the fun!!!
Candidates
Kevin Larkin aka "Hatchet" - Beaverdam Depot
I'm Kevin Larkin also known as Hatchet, I'm 56 yrs.old, I grew up in Beaverdam until I was about 20 years old. I moved away for awhile but now I’m back to the place I consider home. I am a Boeing employee and work in Springfield VA, a commute huh? l enjoy hunting and fishing and just the great outdoors especially in Da Dam. I am president and founder of an organization I started called Hounds4RHeroes in which we run hounds in competition hunts to raise money for our disabled veterans or just veterans who could use our help, I was never in the service but thought of a way I could help and give back. I have a bunch of friends in the Dam that got involved and we have raised some nice funds for our Vets. I work shift work so can't be in my so called Mayberry as much as I would like but when I’m there I LOVE TO "DO DA DAM" as much as possible. Looking forward to having fun raising money for the Honorary Mayor of Beaverdam and all in which it stands for. LET'S DO DA DAM RIGHT
Bonnie Roe - American Legion Post 90
The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, Post 90, would like to officially announce its candidate for the 2023 Beaverdam Honorary Mayor, Ms. Bonni Roe!
Bonni calls Beaverdam home and is very involved in the community, working as a math teacher at Patrick Henry High School and as the finance officer for the American Legion Auxiliary. You will always find her at the Legion Hall on every second Friday of the month calling out the bingo numbers for our dedicated and wonderful bingo participants.
Bonni supports , or is personally involved, in many programs of the community and the American Legion. She is especially involved with the high school students across the county through her support of the Boys and Girls State programs. You may also see her from time to time working hard on Beaverdam's favorite food truck, Reamers Burger Barn
We would love to have your support and will be setting up campaign sites and ways to donate very soon.
Thank you very much!
Rick Vaden - Beaverdam Heritage Day Foundation
Rick is a 20-year resident of beautiful Beaverdam. Married to Bev Geiger, they have 5 children and 10 grandchildren. Recently retired from IBM, Rick is active in the community, serving as Vice President of Beaverdam Heritage Days Foundation. He is also a long-time member of the Hanover County Emergency Response Team (CERT), where he served as Unit Leader for six years. Rick is also a Hanover County Officer of Elections and can be found at the Beaverdam polling station on every election day.
Rick is a ten-year veteran of the US Marine Corps. Just prior to retiring in December of 2022, Rick worked for 17 years at IBM in several capacities, supporting major financial institutions in the US.
In their spare time, when there is any, Rick and Bev enjoy traveling and family time.
Kelly Waldrop - Beaverdam Ruritan Club
Kelly Waldrop was born and raised near Woodson‘s Mill in Beaverdam Virginia. She grew up going to Beaverdam elementary where her dad, Denny Waldrop, was principal for almost 20 years before going to the school board. As a child, you would often find Kelly on the ballfield, basketball court, or riding her four wheeler around the farm. She was even the mascot for Beaverdam elementary in 3rd grade. She played volleyball, basketball, & softball for Patrick Henry and was involved in many clubs, youth group, and Young Life. She was the first youth at Beaverdam Baptist and helped build that program.
She followed in her father’s footsteps and began teaching at Mechanicsville Elementary School and then moved, with her wife Sara Mallory, to Taiwan to teach for six years. They had quite an adventure living in East Asia and met many friends from all over the world, but were ready to move back home.
When returning home, Kelly & Sara started The Freckled Flower Farm which they’ve been growing since 2016. Their farm has developed into a local florist that does everything from flower subscriptions & flower deliveries to weddings & flower arranging classes. Kelly has also worked for nonprofits since returning - she was the Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations at SPARC (School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community) and served as the Executive Director for The Montpelier Center for Arts & Education and is thrilled to be a part of the Beaverdam Ruritan Club & help raise support for Beaverdam’s nonprofits.
Kelly received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Campbell University, studied Educational Leadership at Golden Gate Seminary & Intercultural Studies at Union University, and received her International MBA from Providence University. While in school, Kelly was an avid supporter of nonprofits and regularly volunteered for underserved communities in Asia, Latin America, and the USA.
When she’s not working, Kelly enjoys exploring new towns, restaurants, & live music, experimenting in the kitchen, and having fun while making memories with her niece, nephews, & family.
ABOUT
The Honorary Mayor of Beaverdam started in 2008 as a means for 3 Beaverdam area Non-Profits to raise funds and have fun while doing so. The "Mayor" has no true authority but can have fun playing candidate to raise money for The Depot, Heritage Days Foundation, American Legion Post 90 and The Beaverdam Ruritan Club. The funds/votes are tallied with the Mayor announced at The Heritage Days Celebration the 2nd Saturday in October. The Mayor is the guest of honor at the Mayor's Ball in March choosing the band and having a say in the details of the food. The Honorary Mayor is also the Grand Marshall for the Ruritan's Independence Day Celebration.
Creative efforts are made to get folks to vote with dollars - $1.00 a vote. Funds are then donated to their campaigns. This year we have seen a Beer, Beard and BBQ event, horseback rides and raffles to raise funds - get votes. Each year the candidates come up with creative fundraising events for all to enjoy.
It creates an opportunity to gather, have fun and raise money for the area. All 4 organizations give it all back to Beaverdam.
Win - Win - Win.
**Donations are tax deductible!
Let your candidate know if you need a donation receipt for tax purposes.
2008
Year Established
14
Mayor Campaigns Completed
13
Mayors Appointed*
(Andy won twice)
CONTACT
Inquiries
Honorary Mayor of Beaverdam
PO. Box 86
Beaverdam, VA 23015
Beaverdam Depot - Mayors Ball
16199 Beaverdam School Road Beaverdam, Virginia 23015