After some indecision about whether or not to seek a term, primarily due to family reasons, Charlotte Moore will run for a third time – the second as an independent candidate – on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors for the Cave Spring District. Moore’s opponent in November will be Republican George Assaid, who bested Brian Velkoff in a GOP primary last month.
Moore made her announcement during the last week in May outside the new South County library, and said there was some intention there: “The greenway, the [adjacent] wetlands, a green library that is LEED-certified, it’s all significant. We do need to invest in projects like [the library], and I think Roanoke County has done a really good job of investing, but we all need to work together.”
Moore also called on the county to think regionally when it comes to projects like installing fiber optic broadband – which she supports despite the hesitation of some other board members. “I’ve done a lot of research on it and will continue to look into how we can give broadband to our citizens and businesses.”
Moore, once the biggest proponent of the now-defunct RC Clear – the citizen-lead environmental committee associated with ICLEI – talked about protecting the valley’s environment while announcing her candidacy. She also called for a way to monitor pollution levels, and for more sidewalks and bike lanes as a way to promote cleaner, alternative modes of transportation.
“We really need to be concerned about [quality of life], along with economics and schools – a good place to live, a healthy environment. That’s included in what’s going to draw [young people] to stay here.”
In a district that tilts Republican, Moore thinks she can attract a wide range of voters who are “concerned about pollution, about the economy, about a livable lifestyle that we can all be accustomed to. We want what we’ve enjoyed for our children and grandchildren.”
Gene Marrano
