Meet the Candidates
Town Talk: A conversation with Amber Morris, candidate for Front Royal Town Council
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. In this Meet the Candidates session, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Amber Morris. Amber is running for a seat on the Front Royal Town Council.
Amber is a lifelong resident of Warren County. As a mother of three up-and-coming freedom fighters, she also is a conservative, a constitutionalist, a community activist, and a volunteer on many local boards.
For the past four years, she has served as the Warren County Republican Committee’s treasurer. During this time she worked to elect conservatives across the state as well as campaigning for President Trump.
She supports our local government in decreasing taxes, incentivizing businesses, and improving the aesthetics of Front Royal.
Find out more on her Facebook page.
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. All local candidates are invited to participate in this ‘Meet the Candidate’ series.
Local News
Lance Allen announces candidacy for Virginia’s First Senate District
On April 4, 2022, Frederick County resident, Chairman of the Virginia Project, and U.S. Air Force veteran Lance Allen announced that he is running to represent Virginia’s First Senate District compromised of Frederick, Shenandoah, Warren, and Clarke counties as well as the City of Winchester.

Lance Allen
“Virginia voters sent a clear message to Richmond last November that they expect their elected representatives to fight for them,” said Allen. “By soundly rejecting the failed Democrat policies of the past, Virginians demanded a new direction. As Senator, I will stand with parents, support our brave police officers, fight for lower taxes, and defend the right to life for the unborn. Together, we can and will build a better future for our Commonwealth by retaking the Senate and stopping Democrats from blocking Governor Youngkin’s family’s first agenda.”
As a conservative Republican, Lance will protect and support Virginia children. He is staunchly pro-life, supports school choice, and wants to increase access to trade skills development in our education system. Lance will also fight for safer communities by standing with our brave police officers and victims of crime by fully funding law enforcement and fashioning a parole board that puts victims and communities ahead of criminals. Lance will help work for Virginia families by lowering taxes. He supports ending the Commonwealth’s personal property tax.
Lance is a husband, father of three, U.S. Air Force veteran, and fierce advocate for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is running to be SD 1’s voice in Richmond, repair the damage done by radical Democrat policies, and support Governor Glenn Youngkin’s vision for a better future for Virginia.
Meet the Candidates
Meet the Candidates: Robert Hupman announces for Virginia Senate seat in new District 1
Yes, Virginia, the election cycle begins.
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. In this Meet the Candidates session, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Robert Hupman.
The Senate of Virginia consists of 40 members who each represent approximately 215,000 Virginians. Senators serve four-year terms. All 40 seats will be on the ballot in November 2023.
More about Robert Hupman

A farmer, entrepreneur, martial artist, community servant, and outdoorsman, Robert Byron Hupman was born, raised, and educated in Warren County, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
Robert grew up on his family farm, where his family has been farming since the early 1800s. Robert has continued farming his family land (over 500 acres) along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River where he, his wife Margarita, and their beautiful daughter “Shenandoah” continue to reside, growing up to 70,000 turkeys a year, and reporting around 3 million dollars of product annually.
As the owner of Hazard Mill Farms, Robert has helped raise over $50,000.00 for local charities last year, by offering his farm as an event venue, with the Shenandoah River on one side, and the glorious Blue Ridge mountains on the other.
Some of the non-profits Robert regularly helps raise funds for through the use of his property, time, and genuine humanitarian spirit include:
- Warren County Human Society
- Thermal (Homeless) Shelter
- Habitat for Humanity
- House of Hope (Men’s Shelter)
- Reaching Out Now (a weekly program to help feed local families in poverty)
- Area Food Pantries
- The Black American Outdoorsman annual Youth Hunt
When Robert learned that the residents at our local thermal shelter did not have a place to shower, Robert found a trailer, purchased and helped retrofit it. As a result, around 40 of our local homeless neighbors have the dignity of a warm shower at night.
Robert is a 4-H All-Star, as well as a proud Paul Harris Fellow, through the Rotary Club of Warren County, where Robert is an active member, helping with even more local, regional, and global humanitarian work.
Passionate about his community since birth, Robert is ready and prepared to take his love of service to the next level by serving as Virginia State Senator for District One.
Robert looks forward to using his experience as a businessman by working with all Virginia Senators, to put in place programs that will generate streams of tax revenue, create or support infrastructure projects, long-overdue mental health services, education/trade schools, and demand that basic life skills be taught in our public schools.
Robert will take the conservative common sense and firm resolve he has been taught, through the centuries of leadership and ethical business practices he has gleaned from generations of family success here in his beloved Shenandoah Valley to Richmond. Robert Hupman says he is ready to “GET IT DONE!”
Meet the Candidates
Town Talk: A conversation with Bruce Rappaport, candidate for Front Royal Town Council
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. In this Meet the Candidates session, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Bruce Rappaport. Bruce is running for a seat on the Front Royal Town Council.
Bruce says, “I want to help bring leadership, trust, and cooperation back between the Town and the County.”
Bruce says he is for:
- Conservative Politics
- 2nd Amendment Rights
- Controlled Spending
- Low Taxes
- Smart Growth
- Law Enforcement
- Spot Blight Abatement
- Planning for our Present and Future Water Needs
And against:
- Redundant Waste at Tax Payers Expense
- Lack of Transparency
Find out more about Bruce on his Facebook page.
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. All local candidates are invited to participate in this ‘Meet the Candidate’ series.
Meet the Candidates
Town Talk: A conversation with Melanie Salins, candidate for School Board in Warren County, North River District
In this Meet the Candidates session, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Melanie Salins. Melanie is running for the School Board in the North River District in Warren County.
Melanie believes strongly in the following principles relating to leadership and the school board, and she pledges to be an advocate for them on behalf of her constituents:
- Independent critical thought is vital for a school board to be effective
- It can be harmful to follow trends meekly
- School Board members must have the strength to speak up and require accountability
- The school board is a local governing body, not an agent of the state and federal government education establishment (i.e., no rubber-stamp)
- More money does not solve problems in the absence of improved policies
- All property taxpayers have a stake in the public school system
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. All local candidates are invited to participate in this ‘Meet the Candidate’ series.
Meet the Candidates
Town Talk: A conversation with Delmara “Deetzie” Bayliss, candidate for VA House of Delegates, District 29
In this Meet the Candidates session, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Delmara “Deetzie” Bayliss. Bayless is the Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates, District 29 (serves the northern section of Warren County) in the upcoming election on November 2, 2021.
Bayliss has been licensed by the Virginia State Bar since 1987 and practiced as a private attorney, and as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Loudoun County, Virginia. She says, “I have spent most of my career reading, studying, and understanding the Code of Virginia, and know that I am well prepared to draft and discuss legislation from the first day should I be elected.”
She went on to say, “I have lived in Virginia for most of my life, having been born and raised in Winchester and Frederick County. I graduated from Handley, Virginia Tech, and Washington & Lee School of Law. Before law school, I worked as an eligibility worker and social worker trainee, and later as a Realtor licensed in Virginia and West Virginia.”
“I come from many, many generations who were born, raised, worked, and died in Frederick County. My roots run deep, which is why I truly care about our district and know that I understand the values and needs of all who live here. I am pro-police, pro-family, and pro-environment. I respect the military and the constitution of the United States. As a member of the Episcopal faith, I have empathy for the needs and cares of others. I want to continue to move Virginia forward protecting health care, expanding broadband availability to all citizens, and ensuring the highest quality education for our children.”
Find out more about Delmara “Deetzie” Bayliss on her website or Facebook page.
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. All local candidates are invited to participate in this ‘Meet the Candidate’ series.
A reminder that early voting started September 17, 2021, at the Registrar Office located at 465 W. 15th Street, Suite 800, Front Royal. The hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Early voting is also available on Saturday, October 23 and 30, 9 am to 5 pm. The last day of early voting is October 30, 2021.
Meet the Candidates
Town Talk: A conversation with Dale Moxley, a write-in candidate for Supervisor in Warren County, Fork District
In this Meet the Candidates session, our publisher Mike McCool speaks with Dale Moxley, a write-in candidate for Supervisor in Warren County, Fork District.
Dale says, “Fork District citizens deserve a concerned voice, someone who will ask the tough questions and not be part of the status quo. Someone who truly cares and listens to the citizens.”
Find out more about Dale Moxley on his Facebook page.
Meet the Candidates is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will sit down with each candidate in our local election and discuss issues that are important to all of us. All local candidates are invited to participate in this ‘Meet the Candidate’ series.
A reminder that early voting starts September 17, 2021, at the Registrar Office located at 465 W. 15th Street, Suite 800, Front Royal. The hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Early voting is also available on Saturday, October 23 and 30, 9 am to 5 pm. The last day of early voting is October 30, 2021.