The Roanoke City Republican Committee held their mass meeting at the Valley View Holiday Inn where they unanimously nominated and elected three candidates to run for Roanoke City Council.
The candidates are running as a unified ticket with the slogan “Responsible Government, Responsible Spending.”
All three men are local conservative businessmen who feel that their combined experience will help make a winnable ticket.
Jim Garrett spent 21 ½ years in the military before building and selling an ISP company to Intelos. He then started a full service technology delivery business that hosts websites and email. He said that his extensive technological experience gives him a leg up on building a workable database for the Republican Party and will help them better connect with the voters on local issues
“I left home at 16 and became a self-made man who has lived the American dream. I don’t want to lose what I have earned. I have supported and defended this country and I don’t want me or anyone else to have to downsize because their taxes are too high,” said Garrett.
Garrett believes the core Republican base will be energized when they realize that this campaign is winnable.
Roger Malouf is a native of Roanoke and his family members were founding parishioners of St. Elias Catholic Church, where he still attends. He is a professional property manager of residential and commercial real estate and currently serves on the Board of Zoning Appeals for Roanoke City. He is the founder of the popular Lebanese festival and is also involved with the Boy Scouts.
“There is a despondency on city council and they simply do not listen to the people, so we have to bring about constructive change,” said Malouf. “I know what it is like to spend a dollar and to squeeze a dollar,” he said in decrying million dollar water fountains, something he sees as wasted tax dollars.
“Roanoke is not business friendly and it is impossible to get help in real estate or planning or zoning the way it is now. When I am elected, your problem will now be my problem.” He plans to incorporate social media into all their issues and events to keep connected to a wide range of city residents.
Hank Benson grew up all over the world as part of a military family before marrying and settling in Roanoke city. He is the manager of an industrial battery company and deals daily with businesses throughout Virginia. He said that his job affords him the opportunity to hear business concerns and will allow him to present ideas that will “bring jobs, lower taxes and expand business in the city.” He said, “The restaurant tax was supposed to be temporary but it’s not. We are going to repeal it. You have to honor your promises and this council hasn’t.”
He also wants to make it easier for businesses to get tax credits and tax incentives. “Government is for the core functions – roads, sewers, schools – so get rid of the pet projects that are costing the taxpayers.”
Running as a unified ticket, the three have a written promise to city residents to:
– represent all of Roanoke’s neighborhoods – end wasteful spending – stop reckless giveaways – repeal the pay raise – hold City Council accountable and restore fiscal responsibility to Roanoke City.
As a group, they emphasized the waste they see in city government including claimed losses to tax payers of $50,000 on the YMCA building, $4 million dollars on Countryside Golf Course and the $7.4 million dollars spent on Elmwood Park.
They also feel that City Council inappropriately rewarded themselves with a 10% pay raise and are now asking residents to pay a new “storm water management fee” which will raise taxes even more.
The Roanoke City Council election is on May 6, 2014. They will face two Democrats and at least three Independents for three council seats. For more information on any of the above candidates visit www.roanokegop.org.
Carla M. Bream
