10-31-2026 3:07pm

Meet the Candidates: Spotsylvania Commissioner of the Revenue

John Williams Editor

Shellie Marcellous Bowman, left, and Chris J. “Yak” Yakabouski, right, are candidates for Spotsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue.

Photos courtesy of John Williams, The Spotsylvania Gazette and Spotsylvania County Government.

By The Spotsylvania Gazette

Spotsylvania County voters will choose a Commissioner of the Revenue in a special election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Two candidates appear on the ballot: Shellie Marcellous Bowman and Chris J. “Yak” Yakabouski. Voters may select one candidate or write in a name. (spotsylvania.va.us⁠)

The winner will fill the unexpired term ending December 31, 2027. This election covers approximately one remaining year of the existing term. The office normally carries a four-year term. (spotsylvania.va.us⁠, spotsylvania.va.us⁠)

The Spotsylvania Gazette does not endorse political candidates. These biographies are provided for voter information. Candidates appear below in ballot order.

Shellie Marcellous Bowman

Shellie Marcellous Bowman, who campaigns as Dr. Shellie M. Bowman Sr., is a U.S. Navy veteran, small business owner and former Internal Revenue Service revenue officer, according to his campaign biography. His professional background also includes tax-related government relations work at Paylocity and business relationship management at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. (drshelliebowman.com⁠)

His campaign lists a Doctor of Public Administration from Liberty University, a Master of Arts in Law from Regent University, a Master of Science in Management from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Phoenix. It also identifies him as an Enrolled Agent, a federally authorized tax practitioner. (drshelliebowman.com⁠)

His listed community service includes membership on Spotsylvania County’s Minority Affairs Committee and service as vice president of the Lee’s Parke Homeowners Association board. (drshelliebowman.com⁠)

Chris J. “Yak” Yakabouski

Chris J. “Yak” Yakabouski represents the Battlefield District on the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors. The county’s official biography states that he first won election in 2003 and returned to the board for a second term beginning in 2014. (spotsylvania.va.us⁠)

Yakabouski is a small business owner who operates a home remodeling company with his father. According to his county biography, he attended Germanna Community College before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he studied political science. (spotsylvania.va.us⁠)

His campaign biography lists service with the County Finance Committee, transportation and regional planning organizations, and community boards. These include the George Washington Regional Commission, the Rappahannock River Basin Commission, the YMCA board and the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center advisory board. His campaign also describes his work on county transportation, economic development and education matters. (yakabouski.com⁠)

About the Office

The Commissioner of the Revenue is an elected constitutional officer. According to the county, the office’s responsibilities include tax assessments, maintaining the county land book, reviewing assessment adjustments and processing applications for land use and tax relief or exemptions for eligible residents, including older adults, people with disabilities and veterans. (spotsylvania.va.us⁠)

The candidates’ biographies draw from official county information and their publicly available campaign materials. Voters will decide who serves the remainder of the term on November 3.