Mitch Van Yahres
| "Mitch" Van Yahres (D) | ||
|---|---|---|
 Van Yahres, ca. 1970 |
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Councilor
Charlottesville City Council |
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| Electoral District | At-large | |
| Term Start | 1968 | |
| Term End | 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Bernard J. Haggerty (D) | |
| Succeeded by | (D) | |
Councilor/Mayor
City of Charlottesville |
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| Term Start | 1970 | |
| Term End | 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Gunther "Dutch" Vogt (R) | |
| Succeeded by | Frances H. Fife (D) | |
Councilor
Charlottesville City Council |
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| Electoral District | At-large | |
| Term Start | 1972 | |
| Term End | 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Mitch Van Yahres (D) | |
| Succeeded by | Laurence Brunton (R) | |
Delegate
Virginia General Assembly |
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| Electoral District | Virginia House 57th district | |
| Term Start | 1981 | |
| Term End | 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas J. Michie, Jr. (D) | |
| Succeeded by | David Toscano (D) | |
Biographical Information
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| Date of birth | October 21, 1926 | |
| Date of death | February 8, 2008 (aged 81
) |
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| Place of birth | Mineola, New York | |
| Place of death | Charlottesville, Virginia | |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Louise Franklin | |
| Children | Michel (Mike), Mark E., Keith A., Laura V. Ganz, and Elizabeth A. Nave |
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| Residence | Charlottesville, Virginia | |
| Alma mater | Cornell University; NY (B.S.); Military Service: USAAF (1944-45) | |
| Profession | Arborist/Consultant | |
| Religion | Catholic | |
Mitchell "Mitch" Van Yahres (1926-2008), a member of Democratic Party, served as Councilor/Mayor of Charlottesville from 1970 to 1972. He represented Charlottesville and parts of Albemarle County in the General Assembly as the Delegate from the 57th House District ( 1981-2005); United Way (board of directors); International Rescue Committee (board member-Charlottesville)
During his campaign for a seat on the city council in the 1968 election, Van Yahres ran on a platform to increase fair housing. [1]
He moved to Charlottesville after graduating from Cornell University to launch the Charlottesville office of the Van Yahres Tree Company. [2]
Van Yahres remembered
Shortly after Van Yahres' death in February 2008, WINA radio host Coy Barefoot dedicated an episode to comments from area residents and officials who worked with Van Yahres[3]. Statements included:
Mitch was a Delegate who at times was known as the patron saint of unpopular causes.—former Charlottesville Daily Progress reporter Bob Gibson
His legacy with me is that I want to grow up and be like him.—long-time aide Connie Jorgenson
Mitch was always about cultivating the next generation of leadership.
Mitch Van Yahres' footprints will be seen forever in Charlottesville.—Eugene Williams, former director of the Dogwood Housing Limited Partnership
1968 election
| Candidates | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph W. Wright Jr. (R) | 2,448 | 42.1% |
| Kenneth E. Davis (R) | 2,359 | 40.6% |
| Mitchell Van Yahres (D) | 2,296 | 39.5% |
| Lois Mothes (R) | 2,160 | 37.1% |
| Henry Floyd Johnson (I) | 2,141 | 36.8% |
| Collett M. Thach (D) | 2,129 | 36.6% |
| Geraldine A. Meyung (D) | 2,069 | 35.6% |
| Source: City of Charlottesville[4] | ||
Each voter could vote for up to three candidates.
External links
References
- ↑ Web. Mayorsville: Here, everybody's a mayor, Lisa Provence, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, August 10, 2006, retrieved July 3, 2020. Print. August 10, 2006 , 0532, .
- ↑ Web. At 100, Van Yahres Tree Co.'s long local roots continue to grow, Bryan McKenzie, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, April 20, 2019, retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ↑ Mitch Van Yahres remembered." Interview. Audio blog post. Charlottesville Podcasting Network. 12 Feb. 2008. 9 June 2009 <http://www.cvillepodcast.com/2008/02/12/mitch-van-yahres-remembered/>.
- ↑ Web. Election Results for June 11, 1968, City of Charlottesville, retrieved September 4, 2022.