Roanoke City Democrats lost their absolute stranglehold on City Council after the May 3 municipal election but still walked away with the Mayor’s and Vice Mayor’s seats, while two newcomers who ran as independents will join council on July 1.
Sherman Lea Sr. gave up his secure City Council seat to run for Mayor, succeeding David Bowers, and easily captured that post with more than 82 percent of the vote against write-in candidate Martin Jeffrey. The challenger had failed to get enough valid signatures collected in time to appear on the printed ballot. Lea becomes only the second black mayor ever in Roanoke City after the late Noel Taylor.
“What a great night it is,” said Lea afterwards, who also thanked his son Sherman Lea Jr. for helping to direct his campaign. Lea Sr. also said his win sends a message to young black men in the city: that they too can become the mayor of Roanoke if they work hard and stay in school. Democrats gathered at the Taaza Indian restaurant in Grandin Village to watch the election numbers roll in on their phones and to celebrate their wins.
Meanwhile, two-term incumbent Anita Price was also reelected and by garnering the most votes in the election the former public school educator and counselor also becomes vice mayor-the first African American female to earn that position in city history. Lea has also been vice mayor in the past. “This is a victory not just for us but it’s a testimony to what a wonderful, caring, giving community our Star City is,” said a relieved Price afterwards.
Hard on Price’s heels as the top vote getter was independent Michelle Dykstra, the 33 year old former City Market manager who had picked up numerous endorsements along the way. “It’s a big deal to be the youngest person on Council,” said Dykstra, who lives in the Mountain View neighborhood.
Dykstra ran on sort of a ticket with fellow independent John Garland, the retired president of Spectrum Design and a redeveloper of downtown properties in recent years. Garland squeaked out a close win over Democrat Trish White-Boyd by about 50 votes after being down to her at several points as the votes rolled in. Garland held his watch party at 16 West Marketplace on Church Avenue, one of the buildings he has redeveloped over the past few years as a retail-residential mixed-use space.
“Five minutes ago I thought I was going to have to give a concession speech,” Garland said. White-Boyd said afterwards she was “okay” with the final results that showed her losing to Garland after it looked like she had squeaked out the win. “We ran a great campaign,” she added. She also was not sure about asking for a recount, which she can request if the vote total difference is less than one percent.
Both Dykstra and Garland vowed to spend more time listening to what Roanoke residents have to say on the issues. “Communication and collaboration,” said Price afterwards, “we can’t get anything done by ourselves. Price also said she looked forward to the new mix on City Council that will now include a “Millennial” (Dykstra) and a business person in Garland.
By Gene Marrano
