Retired Marine Corps colonel and long-time citizen watchdog over Roanoke City Council, Robert (Bob) Craig has organized an exploratory committee to look into a potential run for city council in May. Craig says he is concerned about the precarious position of the city’s finances after 10 years of what he considers ill-conceived spending that has compromised the ability of the city to fund its core government functions.
Craig recently released a list of three areas of primary concern about Roanoke:
Financial responsibility – Craig claims that Roanoke city government does not prioritize its spending and accordingly ends up buying luxury items (an amphitheater, civic center expansions, etc.), then has little left to fund its core functions, such as storm water drains and schools. He says that taxpayers should not be hit with more taxes or face service cuts every time the budget comes up short.
Stopping the proposed new storm water utility fees – Craig believes they will further burden citizens and businesses already strapped by a tough economy. “This excessive tax will kill more jobs in Roanoke than the recession, and unlike the recession, it will return year after year to exact its toll.”
Better financial support for the school system – Craig says that city schools have improved their performance and efficiency during the last few years. Yet, when the schools run efficiently and save money, the city penalizes them by counting that savings against them in the following year’s budgeting process, rather than allowing them to use that extra money to improve programs.
The exploratory committee will look into the level of support for a Craig candidacy, and is comprised of Roanokers who agree with Craig that city hall is in a financial mess: Stuart Barbour, retired business owner; John Kepley, minister, business owner, and long-time Republican activist; Kathryn Debnar, community volunteer; and Frank Cotter, M.D.
Craig’s entire working career has been in leadership and financial management. He commanded four artillery units in Vietnam, and spent his last 17 years on active duty as a financial manager, including serving as the chief financial officer of two Marine Corps bases with budgets the size of Roanoke’s.
Following his military career, Craig was a senior financial executive with the U.S. Treasury Department and an adjunct faculty member in financial management and organizational management at several colleges and universities in Hawaii, Mississippi, and Maryland.
By Brian Gottstein [email protected]
