Who is R.A. Reaves?

"I moved to Stokes County because I've already lost this fight once."

R.A. grew up in a rural community just like Stokes County, until developers arrived with big promises and bigger consequences. He watched as the fields and pastures he played in were covered in concrete, wells run dry, and neighbors forced out by rising property taxes and encroaching commercial development.

Four years ago, he moved to Stokes County to live somewhere that valued heritage over hype. Now, developers are coming here, with the same empty promises.

R.A. is running for County Commissioner because he knows how this story ends, and he won't let it happen again.

R.A. Reaves is Running for Commissioner for Stokes County.

Stokes County Residents were ignored by the current Board of Commissioners. R.A. Reaves is running to ensure that Stokes County citizens are heard and represented.

They Didn't Listen.
We'll Remember.

On January 12, 2026, the Stokes County Board of Commissioners approved Project Delta—a massive data center—despite:

📢 Hundreds of residents showed up to the meeting
🚫 Overflow rooms filled, protests outside
 📝 3,200+ petition signatures opposing
 ❌ Planning Board voted NO in December
 🪦 Sacred Saura tribal burial grounds threatened
 🏛️ Historic Hairston plantation site at risk

The Commissioners Voted "Yes" Anyway.

Project Delta was approved despite massive opposition.

They didn't just ignore US.

They ignored their OWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

Project Delta violates Stokes County’s own 2035 Land Use Plan

They Broke Their Own Rules:

THE PLAN SAYS (Page 81):
This area is designated for:

  • Low-density residential use

  • Rural compatible developments

  • Environmental conservation

It is NOT designated for:

  • Commercial development

  • Large-scale industrial development

  • High-impact land

The Planning Board Said "No":

Before the County Commissioners voted, Project Delta went through the proper channels. The Stokes County Planning Board reviewed the rezoning request in December 2024.

THEIR RECOMMENDATION: DENY

The Planning Board—citizens appointed to carefully evaluate land use decisions—said NO. The Planning Board exists to provide expert, objective review of land use decisions.

Clean Water for NC Issued Warnings:

• Threat to local history and heritage
• Cultural relevance to living tribal members of the Saura Tribe
• Speculative project, no guarantee
• AI Bubble Risk
• Methane generators causing noise and pollution
• The employment reality of a small number of jobs
• Dan River pollution risk
• and more

Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve rezoning DESPITE this conflict and DESPITE not even living in Walnut Cove!

Keith Wood, Sonya Cox, and Rick Morris voted YES.

•No explanation given for how this aligns with the 2035 Plan.
•No amendment to the Plan proposed.
•No acknowledgement of the risks presented by professionals and constituents.

They just... ignored it.

Why Have a Comprehensive Plan if You Ignore It?

The 2035 Land Use Plan was developed through:

  • Community input sessions

  • Public hearings

  • Professional planning consultants

  • Years of work

The Project Delta approval only took:

  • Two months of debate

  • Planning Board voted NO

  • Residents overwhelmingly opposed

  • ONE commission meeting to override everything

"We've been working for 20 years to find revenue like this"

- Commissioner Rick Morris

Translation: "We don't care what the Plan says. We want the money."

"I don't know where the outside noise is coming from, but it's not Stokes County."

- Commissioner Keith Wood

•The Planning Board was "outside noise"?

• 3,200 petition signers were "outside noise"?

•Walnut Cove residents were "outside noise"?

Or were they just INCONVENIENT?

Three Battles. One Campaign.

We may have lost the vote. But this is just beginning.

Accountability

The developer made 20+ specific promises.

We're tracking every single one.

Moratorium

No More Data Centers. Period.

Once Project Delta is built, developers will come for more land.

Replacement

Flip One Seat. Change Everything. The vote was 3-2.

R.A. Reaves will be that vote.

Your Vote is Your Power

Voter Registration for Primary Election Deadline:

Fri, February 6, 2026

Early Voting Begins: Thu, February 12, 2026

Primary Election Day: Tue, March 6, 2026

Election Day: Tue, November 6, 2026

The Truth About Data Centers:

What They Promise

💼 "Hundreds of jobs!"
💰 "Economic growth!"
🌱 "Minimal environmental impact!"

What We Actually Get

• 25-150 permanent jobs (mostly out-of-towners)
• Construction jobs gone in 12 months
• $0 property tax for 10-20 years
• YOUR taxes ↑ 30% to cover shortfall
• Electric bills ↑ 30-50%
• 1-5 million gallons of water/day
• 24/7 industrial noise
• Property values ↓

The Evidence

Virginia: $1B in tax breaks, residents' bills up 50%

Ohio: Meta got $60M tax break for 25 jobs

Arizona: Microsoft using 1.83B gallons/year

The Truth About Data Centers:

I Live Next To Amazon's Largest Data Center. They're Stealing Our Water

Exposing The Dark Side of America's AI Data Center Explosion

🚨AI is Coming for Your LAND, WATER and FREEDOM

I Worked At A Google Data Center: What I Saw Will Shock You.

Small Town SHOCKED by MASSIVE Data Center Takeover

I Live 400 Yards From Mark Zuckerberg’s Massive Data Center

How AI Data Centers Are Driving Up Energy Bills

How AI Uses Our Drinking Water - BBC World Service

Americans Given NDAs from AI Data Center Company

Increasing Demand for Data Putting Energy and Water Supplies at Risk

What's happening to electricity bills in states with the most data centers

Voters Grapple with Data Centers and Rising Electricity Costs

Don't let Stokes County become another cautionary tale.