To help promote an informed citizenry, The Roanoke Star asked the candidates running to be Roanoke City’s next mayor the following question.
What do you believe are the 3 biggest challenges now facing Roanoke City, and what do you plan to do to remedy these challenges, if you win?
Today’s answers come from Independent Write-In Candidate Merrie Turner:
- The fact that we are a Sanctuary City and that Criminals are being put back on the street by their defense attorney. Recently Mayor Sherman Lea told me the biggest problem is that the young men committing crimes are repeat offenders in the system. What these young men need is a reform program at the end of which time they can be released into society to work and have a church life.
- There is a high rate of student suicides in our public schools due to the lack of classroom instruction during covid 19 lockdowns. They are not ready for the next grade level after two years of chrome tablets at home and are failing which brings hopelessness. This has facilitated drug abuse and crime in the classrooms Our children deserve better and I would put the Bible and prayer back in school.
- The promotion of the Woke agenda in our schools and sex education with a focus on transgender curriculum. I would protect the birthright of babies and promote life.