John Alexander will become Botetourt’s Commonwealth’s Attorney next Thursday, Feb. 1, the day Joel Branscom officially becomes a 25th District Circuit Court judge.
Alexander, 57, has been the county’s Chief Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney since he was hired by Branscom in 2006, and by state law moves into the top position in that office until there’s an election to fill the job.
That election will be in November. The Botetourt Board of Supervisors was expected to petition the circuit court to set a special election in November when the board met Tuesday. The winner will finish Branscom’s four-year term, which ends December 31, 2019, which also means the position will be on the ballot in November 2019 for a regular term.
Alexander said he will run for the office to finish Branscom’s term, and will seek the Botetourt Republican Party nomination to do that.
Alexander’s experience as a prosecuting attorney dates to 1996 when he was hired by the Roanoke County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney. He then served as Chief Assistant in that office until he was hired by Branscom.
Branscom said he had been impressed by Alexander’s work even before he was hired in Botetourt, but he didn’t have a full-time position for him until 2006.
Alexander holds a law degree from George Mason University where he graduated in 1989.
He worked at Coulter and Coulter in Roanoke before joining the Roanoke County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.
Alexander currently serves as president of the Botetourt County Bar Association.
“I had an interest in (being a prosecutor) since I got out law school,” Alexander said. “I had the very good fortune to work with Philip Coulter and his father Judge Coulter and had a fine start with them in Roanoke.
“I think Joel’s done such a great job and my hope is to continue to do as well as he’s done,” he continued.
Running for office this fall will a new experience, he said, noting though he’s excited about the opportunity.
Alexander said the office has two other attorneys now, Jill Deegan and Lethia Hammond. He will fill his current position with a full-time attorney, although he hadn’t started the search late last week. “Actually, (the General Assembly) just voted the other day, so all this is happening pretty fast so I haven’t started on hiring a new chief deputy,” he said.
Alexander lives in Botetourt with his wife of 25 years, Danielle, “my very favorite person.” She works for Good Samaritan Hospice and they have three children, one in the US Marines on active duty in Japan, one in the US Marines Reserves and one a sophomore at Virginia Tech.
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