No One Gave Up — And That Made All the Difference

We did it.

This win belongs to every single person who refused to give up on Warren County.

From the first “Save Samuels” sign to the last vote cast, you showed what community really means. You proved that no amount of money, lies, or backroom politics can beat people who stand shoulder to shoulder and fight for what’s right.

To Kelsey Lawrence and Sydney Patton, who sparked this in June 2023 with a simple Facebook event, you lit the match that started it all. Some people stepped back along the way, and others stepped up to keep it going, but every part of that timeline mattered. It’s what brought us here.

To Sydney, now serving as President of Friends of Samuels, and to the Samuels Library Board of Trustees, who never stopped telling the truth, holding town halls, publishing documents, and keeping the people informed, thank you for your courage.

To Melody Hotek, President of the Board of Trustees, whose leadership and professionalism never wavered even in the face of constant lies, you protected the integrity of that library when it mattered most.

To Erin Rooney, the Library Director, who kept her head high through every attack, and to Michelle Ross, the first director who resigned when the stress became too great but never stopped helping behind the scenes, both of you gave more than most people will ever understand.

To the volunteers, the postcard writers, the door knockers, the speakers at those never-ending meetings, the texters, the poll workers, you made this real.

To Preserve Warren County, who stood up when others stayed quiet, and to Cheryl Cullers, who held her ground through months of pressure and lies, your integrity and persistence reminded everyone what public service should look like.

To every person who wore a Save Samuels T-shirt, who donated, who held a fundraiser, who started a conversation with a neighbor, that’s what saved our library.

And to Samantha Good, you are the reason we won. You didn’t just build a PAC, you built a force. You turned frustration into structure and outrage into action. You were there every single day of early voting through both the primary and the general, making sure our side never lost momentum. You delivered postcards, organized volunteers, and made sure no one ever forgot why we were fighting. Your energy, your drive, and your sheer determination lit a fire under all of us. Without you, there would be no victory to celebrate.

To George, Sara, Tony, and Hugh, I know how hard this was. You got attacked, lied about, and pushed to your limits, and you still stood up for what’s right. You didn’t run to be politicians, you ran because you care about this county and the people who call it home. You showed up when it mattered, told the truth even when it cost you, and never backed down. You gave the voters a choice worth showing up for. I’m proud of every one of you. You’ve earned the respect of this community the hard way, and that’s the kind that lasts.

To my husband, Marc, and my son, Spencer, thank you for standing with me through every long night, every meeting, and every storm we walked into headfirst. And to my sister, who was always our cheerleader from afar, your support meant more than you know.

And to my friends, Jessica Reynolds and everyone of you who stayed up late, listened, vented, laughed, and told me to keep going when I was ready to quit, you were the reason I could do this for two and a half years straight. I ran on sheer anger and determination, but I never ran alone. You trusted me to make hard calls, even when they looked crazy, and you kept believing we’d get here. And we did.

Every single person who voted, who stood up, who refused to back down, you did this.

You proved Warren County still belongs to the people.

This victory is more than a headline. It’s a message to every small town that’s been told to sit down and stay quiet: organizing works.

We fought back. We told the truth. And we won.

But this fight isn’t over. We need everyone at the School Board meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. to stand with Angie Robinson and show that we do have her back.

Kris Nelson
Warren County, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or any other form.

We value our readers’ engagement and encourage open and constructive discussions on a wide range of topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violates any legal regulations. Thank you for being part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors.

We look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.