New Rural Virginia advocates for the well-being and prosperity of ALL rural Virginians
New Rural Virginia has several core beliefs:
We believe in putting our communities and their betterment first and in shared responsibility for them. Rural communities are at their best when they are welcoming, caring, inclusive, and value ALL of their residents.
We believe in conserving the unique beauty and resources of our rural landscape, and that the way of life of our rural communities must be preserved. Our elected representatives must therefore be careful and prudent in their decisions.
We believe that a level playing field and economic fairness are necessary for rural communities to achieve shared prosperity–with a variety of good jobs and vibrant small businesses and farms–in a globalized world dominated by big corporate interests.
We believe that citizens in our rural communities cannot prosper without having their basic needs met, including accessible and affordable healthcare, supportive social services, strong public schools, and high quality and affordable child and elder care.
We believe that rural communities must prepare for, adapt to, and develop local industries to respond to the impacts of climate change and limitations of fossil fuels.
We believe in fair taxation, that every citizen and entity must pay their fair share for the government services that we all benefit from.
We believe that representative, democratic self governance where all citizens’ safety, rights, and freedoms are protected, while messy, is the best option to achieve the strong, healthy, and vibrant communities we aim for.
The organizers of New Rural Virginia are residents of rural Virginia
Our goal is to promote and advocate for policies that will help our rural communities thrive and prosper.
Larry Wohlers
Larry grew up in a small town in rural Iowa. After a career in the Federal Government working in the U.S. and abroad, including as ambassador to the Central African Republic, he and his wife settled in Rappahannock County, Virginia. He is active here in the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection (RLEP), the Trinity Episcopal Church, and Youth for Understanding, a national non-profit that helps high school students gain valuable experience studying abroad. Larry is the Chair and Secretary of the Board of New Rural Virginia.
Casey Eitner
Casey has had a home in Castleton, Virginia with his wife Patricia since 2000. He retired from a 50-year career in the biomedical industry, working in large international companies and startups. He has brought to market many innovations, including novel virus and cancer tests, and technologies that enabled sequencing the human genome and making drugs and vaccines. He supports many area charities and studies how policies can better help our rural communities. Casey is the Treasurer and a member of the Board of New Rural Virginia.
Nina Gardner
Nina is a lawyer who consults with companies and investors on social responsibility and sustainability. She is an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, teaching business accountability and human rights, and serves on the board of an agricultural startup focused on sustainable food production. A part-time resident of Rappahannock, Virginia, she is interested in finding ways to revitalize the local economy while conserving the natural landscape. Nina is a member of New Rural Virginia’s Board.
Ron Goodman
Ron has been enjoying Virginia’s Rappahannock County since 2001 and built his home in Woodville where he resides with his wife Rosabel. He has had an extensive international legal career, including living in the Netherlands, France, and South Africa where he represented President Nelson Mandela in various projects and negotiations. He supports many local charities and has served on the Boards of the Castleton Festival, Rappahannock Communities, and the Headwaters Foundation. Ron is a member of New Rural Virginia’s Board.
Mary-Sherman Willis
Mary-Sherman is a writer and editor who has lived in Rappahannock County, Virginia since 2004. After a career in publishing in the U.S. and England and publishing several books of poetry, she was a professor of creative writing for ten years at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She has served as the Chair of the Rappahannock County Democratic Committee since 2017 and overseen the committee’s volunteer efforts in support of local, state, and federal Democratic campaigns. Mary-Sherman serves on New Rural Virginia’s Advisory Council.
Caroline Hullman
Caroline Hullman is a lifelong Virginia native and graduated recently from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Government and Spanish Literature and a minor in Public Policy. She concentrated her studies in environmental sustainability and political representation. Charlottesville and the larger Shenandoah Valley region became home through her involvement with various local organizations, communities, music venues, farms, and trails on both sides of the mountains. She is a former member of UVA’s bluegrass band and active member of Charlottesville and Harrisonburg's DIY music scenes. Caroline Hullman is New Rural Virginia's Communications Associate.
Rachel Levy
Rachel is a writer, parent, teacher, and community leader with a PhD in education policy who was a two-time candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates in the largely rural 55th (2021) and 59th (2023) Districts. She has lived in the Town of Ashland in Hanover County, Virginia, with her husband and 3 children since 2009. Rachel has served on the Hanover Democratic Committee (currently as chair), and in leadership roles in multiple local civic groups and municipal committees, including on then Governor-elect Ralph Northam’s PK-12 policy council and as a Hanover Jury and Parks & Rec Commissioner for the Ashland District. Rachel is New Rural Virginia’s Executive Director.
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