COURTLAND—Two-term Republican Southampton County Supervisor Anita Felts will face opposition in her re-election bid.

Dr. Alan Edwards, chairman of the county Planning Commission for 11 years, will run as an independent in the Jerusalem District, which includes Sedley and Courtland. If Felts does not have Republican primary opposition this summer, she will face Edwards in the Nov. 8 general election.

“We have a lot of problems,” he said about reasons for seeking the four-year term. “I think most of the people in the community are not satisfied with what’s going on.”

Felts, co-owner of Felts Machine in Suffolk and Sedley, confirmed Wednesday she will seek a third term and plans to announce her bid in about a month.

“I feel like we have a lot of things we have been working on, and we’re seeing some results from the hard work we’ve done,” said the 60-year-old from Sedley.

Edwards, who practices with Internal Medical Associates in Franklin, chose to run as an independent to avoid ties to any political parties.

“I don’t want any allegiance to any political party, just the allegiance to the people I represent,” he said.

The 63-year-old believes his 23 years of experience on the Planning Commission gives him a good idea of what’s going on in the county.

He believes some major issues facing the county include lack of communication between county officials and residents and the high tax structure.

“We are the highest-taxed county around here,” Edwards said. “Our personal property tax at $5 is higher than any other county around us, and we’re all fairly similar as far as agriculture.”

A native of the Harrisonburg area, Edwards earned a bachelor’s degree in general science from Bridgewater College and got his medical degree from Medical College of Virginia. He has been practicing medicine in Franklin since July 1977.

Edwards and his wife, Erin, and their children Hannah, 13, Hunter, 7, and Charlotte, 6, live in Darden Mill Estates outside Courtland.