Washington County’s Board of County Commissioners welcomes a new member, Randal “Randy” Leatherman, who has been appointed to fill the vacancy created in February by former Commissioner Wayne Keefer’s departure.

After Wayne Keefer’s announcement in January that he would resign his seat on the Washington County Board of County Commissioners in February – citing a job opportunity and wanting to spend more time with family – the county Republican Central Committee began accepting applications for the seat, to make a recommendation to the Governor for the appointment.

Washington County announced today that Randy Leatherman would be joining the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Leatherman brings decades of experience in public service, emergency response, and community leadership to the role, having served nearly 30 years with Fairfax County as a firefighter, rescue technician, and master technician before retiring in 2013. He also held critical roles with Virginia Task Force 1 in search and rescue operations and contributed to disaster response efforts with FEMA and the USAID.

A longtime resident of Washington County and dedicated community member, Mr. Leatherman has served on the Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Committee, Washington County Republican Club, and various fire departments throughout the county. His contributions to public safety and emergency response have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Fairfax County Fire Department Bronze Medal for Lifesaving and the Air National Guard’s Meritorious Service Medal.

In the Washington County press release, John Barr, President of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners (a MACo Past President and current MACo Board Member) commented on Leatherman’s appointment:

Randal Leatherman brings valuable experience in public safety and emergency response to the Board. His background in both leadership and service will be an asset as we continue working toward the best interests of Washington County.