Not many fireworks were evident when six of the ten Roanoke City Council candidates running for three seats up for grabs on May 6 appeared at a Greater Raleigh Court Civic League forum recently.
Incumbents Ray Ferris and Bill Bestpitch – elected as Democrats four years ago but now running as independents – generally said Roanoke City is on the right track. Democrat Freeda Cathcart, in her third try for public office after twice losing to Chris Head in the race for Delegate (17th district) touted her business savvy in helping to “right the ship of City.”
Democrat Linda Wyatt, a former City Council member looking to regain a seat on the dais, highlighted her background as a public school teacher and her support for education. Wyatt wants to look at “a package of incentives for local businesses,” hoping that will lead in turn to job creation. Being a former council member and an educator “gives me a perspective I don’t think anybody else has,” added Wyatt. She also touted the village concept and the development of something akin to a Grandin Village in every quadrant of the city.
Cathcart spoke of her “Let Teachers Teach” movement, which advocates a move away from rigid adherence to the Standards of Learning tests. “I will be a strong voice on City Council for our teachers and for our children,” vowed Cathcart. She said it’s not only about supplying the school system with money – authorized by City Council – but about the quality of education those funds produce.
Independent Valerie Garner wants to see neighborhoods gain a stronger voice. Garner would also like to see the city and Roanoke public schools combine some of their technology when possible in order to save money. A retired information technology specialist, Garner said she probably hasn’t missed a council meeting in the past 6-7 years as a freelance journalist and blogger. “I know the issues.”
Independent Tuan Reynolds, a housing specialist, talked about the need for all sectors of Roanoke to be included, and about raising all residents out of poverty. Reynolds said he was “a product of Roanoke City schools,” with degrees in economics and public administration. He’s working on a PhD in public policy now.
It bothers Reynolds that a report shows the city’s poverty rate hovers around twenty percent. “Poverty’s a real issue. There’s something wrong. Everyone should have the opportunity to be a productive and positive citizen.”
Bestpitch said City Council has created a “culture of accountability” in making decisions about Roanoke’s future. “That’s why we have made the progress we have over the past few years. I think we should stay on the right track.” His running mate, Ray Ferris, also said Roanoke is “heading in the right direction. Who wouldn’t want to be on Roanoke City Council with the way things are going?”
Ferris touted a “robust” downtown, progress in the city’s public schools and the prospect of job growth coming from the Virginia Tech-Carilion complex on South Jefferson. He said Roanoke was on “great financial footing.”
There was mutual support for public safety, rebuilding libraries, even for the upcoming experiment with parking meters on certain streets downtown, in order to move vehicles in and out of commercial zones more quickly.
The three Republican candidates did not take part; Roanoke City Republican chairman John Brill told Civic League president Jake Gilmer they each had prior commitments. Democratic incumbent David Trinkle was not on hand either, reportedly out of town on business. The GOP candidates – Jim Garrett, Roger Malouf and Hank Benson – did release a position paper a short time later.
Malouf, a former candidate in Roanoke City for Commissioner of the Revenue, spoke of the need to change the makeup on the all-Democrat City Council. Decisions “made to benefit special interests,” and mounting debt are at the top of Malouf’s list of concerns.
Benson said he would like to see City Council spend more time tending to the needs of Roanoke’s neighborhoods and he said the city ignored the wishes of local residents on Huff Lane, where they voted to allow hotel development.
Garrett lamented about what he called “reckless spending” by City Council and said the Republican team, if elected, would go over the budget with a fine tooth comb to see “how each department is spending your money.”
Trinkle, who has served two terms on council, touted his work in voting for downtown revitalization initiatives. In a position statement Trinkle said he would like to see regional cooperation on issues like mass transit; he also addressed the need for “new incentives for retail and commercial growth” downtown.
Voters will have another chance to size up candidates – those who show up – when the Williamson Road Area Business Association holds another forum on April 15.
By Gene Marrano
