Council

Mayor Roy Gladding was born and raised in Tappahannock, graduating from Essex High in 1977. He earned his Bachelor's in Public Administration from Ferrum College in 1981. Mayor Gladding served on Council beginning in 1992 and was first elected as Mayor in 2002. He served as a member of Essex County EDA until 2020.

Mayor Gladding is a Principal of Riverland Insurers Insurance Agency in Tappahannock and is a past board member of the Professional Insurance Agents of VA & DC. He is also active in the community through the Rotary Club, previous member of Tappahannock-Essex Volunteer Fire Department, and Chamber of Commerce.

In his free time, he enjoys flying airplanes, boating on the Rappahannock, and golfing. He is married to the former Brenda Pfister of Weems, Virginia and has two grown children, Mallory and Walker Gladding. 

Vice-Mayor Latane is a native of Essex County and the Town of Tappahannock. She graduated from Essex High School in 1988 and furthered her education at St. Paul's College graduating with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting. She received her Masters in Marketing from Strayer University.

She is a member of First Baptist Church in Tappahannock and serves as a teacher at Essex Intermediate School.  She loves her community and wants to see the Town of Tappahannock continue to grow and prosper. She was the first African American woman to be approved and elected to the council in 2007. She is the first African American and second female to be elected as Vice-Mayor. 

Fleet Dillard practices law at Dillard and Katona, Tappahannock, Virginia. He grew up at Ware's Wharf. After his high school years at Essex High School and Woodberry Forest School,  he graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South. He attended Mississippi College School of Law and returned to Tappahannock in 1997.

Fleet has served on the Essex County Museum and Historical Society Board of Directors and currently serves on the Riverside Tappahannock Hospital Board of Directors.  He is a member of Rappahannock Christian Church in Dunnsville. He is a past president of the Northern Neck Bar Association and the Tappahannock Rotary club.

Fleet began his term on July 1, 2020. When he is not working on Prince Street, he enjoys spending time on the river and the fields and forests of Essex County. 

Troy has served in his role as Councilman since April 2012. Balderson serves and chairs on many committees for the Tappahannock Town Council. He is a graduate of Rappahannock High School and holds an Associate Science Degree in Timber/ Wildlife Management from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College.  

Balderson is a Life Member of Tappahannock/Essex Volunteer Fire Department and past member of Tappahannock Volunteer Rescue Squad. Balderson is a Career Firefighter/Medic for Hanover County and a real estate agent for OakStone Properties. Troy, Holly and son Brant have lived in the Town of Tappahannock since 2004. 

Kay Carlton was born and raised in Tappahannock.  She has lived here most of her life.  She works for Essex County as the Parks and Rec. Director. Kay ran for Council to see the Town develop its park system and increase public access to the Rappahannock.  She is married with one teenage daughter. 

Councilman Gillis is a long time resident of Tappahannock.  He is a Deacon at Macedonia Baptist Church. He was employed with the Town of Tappahannock for 30 years, serving in various public works related roles.  He was elected to the Town Council in 2018. "It has been a great experience working with the Council Members and I look forward to working for the citizens of Tappahannock." 

Carolyn was born and raised in Tappahannock. She spent her career in civil service with the last fifteen as a Magistrate for Virginia, before retiring. Carolyn received her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Accounting from Bluefield College and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from South University.

After retiring, Carolyn was able to concentrate on her passion for writing. She is the proud author of a crime series, a stand alone romance novel and a children's book. Carolyn volunteered years of her life to the children of Essex/Tappahannock in the Little League system. 

"Tappahannock has always been my home and I can't think of anywhere else that is as welcoming and beautiful as my hometown. I see Tappahannock moving towards great things and I want to be part of it."