Salemites will go to the polls on May 6th to elect two City Council candidates. Incumbents Randy Foley and John Givens, both independents, are being challenged by newcomer Maggie Newman. She is running as a Republican – the first time in 20 years any candidate in Salem has run with a party label.
Newman, a 37 year old stay at home mother of 5 children, was endorsed in front of Salem City Hall recently by GOP Congressman Morgan Griffith and State Senator Ralph Smith.
Givens and Foley both gave somewhat-gloomy assessments of where Salem is now, saying the city – like many other localities – has suffered through the recession and slow recovery with reduced tax revenues. Almost 100 positions in Salem and its school system have gone unfilled.
“[But] we’re beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Givens, “and this time I don’t think it’s a train.” The local businessman would like to see “a little more cooperation” from the state and federal governments, saying they make it hard to put a budget together at times.
Newman wants to see raises given to Salem and school employees, saying the city is “continually losing teachers to other areas.” She acknowledged the “tough economic conditions,” and said Council is tasked to “spend the money that we have wisely.” Newman contends Salem is heading “down a dangerous path” on spending and taxes.
She also said she would not be “a puppet” for the Salem Republican Party. “I am a Republican. I will not hide that,” she said when several asked why it was necessary to break with Salem tradition and run with a party label. The Salem Tea Party has also endorsed her candidacy. “They are not controlling what I say or do,” said Newman.
Givens and Foley defended recent meals, hotel and cigarette tax hikes as a good alternative to property tax hikes, saying non-Salemites get to shoulder some of the financial burden in that case. Newman countered by saying, “You have to be careful when you’re raising all of these other taxes,” claiming they could drive people to Roanoke or Roanoke County to do business. “We must change the financial course that we’re on now,” warned Newman.
Foley said the meals tax “was how we built South Salem [elementary school].” All of the meals tax revenue goes to Salem schools, he pointed out. He also said store owners tell him they have not lost significant business because of the cigarette tax hike. Foley, the mayor in Salem as well said, “You have to look at fees and taxes to provide the revenue we need to run the city.” The state is shorting Salem about 10% of the funds that are supposed to be coming back from Richmond for schools, said Foley – and someone has to make up that shortage.
He also countered Newman’s claim that Salem gives 1 million dollars a year from its 70-million dollar budget to “charities” – saying the bulk of those funds go to vital “non-profits” like Blue Ridge Behavioral Health Care, Valley Metro and Virginia Western Community College.
The incumbents said regional cooperation might be the best it’s ever been; Givens admitted that in the past, “I didn’t want any part of Roanoke. [But regional cooperation] is “going to make a better place for us in the future.”
Newman would like to see municipal elections moved to November, when voter turnout is much higher; she also said it might save Salem $10,000 or more to avoid the separate May municipal election.
Newman added that while both Foley and Givens were fine gentlemen, she offered “a fresh face” for Salem City Council. “I’m targeting a mindset … I’m not targeting a man. I do feel like a change needs to be made.”
Foley said Salem was “not headed down a dangerous path.” Givens again spoke of not having a party label: “I am independent in my thinking.”
Two of the three candidates will find out on May 6 if they will have a seat on City Council.
By Gene Marrano
