Bill Cleaveland wins 17th House District

Republican candidate Bill Cleaveland won the open 17th District House of Delegates seat Tuesday night, defeating Democratic Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason by nearly 5,400 votes.

Cleaveland succeed current Delegate, Republican Will Fralin, who announced earlier this year that he was not running for re-election.

In his acceptance speech at the Republican victory party at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke County, Cleaveland said his wife played a big role in his victory, and she was at home battling a “serious illness.“

“Although she’d like to be here, she’s not.  But I can tell you without hesitation, that a lot of the reason for me being here being able to talk to you is because of her commitment to this process, and what she gave to it early on.  And for that I thank her,“ Cleaveland told the crowd of supporters.