About 100 people were in attendance at the Roanoke City “candidate forum” held in the Fellowship Hall of Christ Lutheran Church last Thursday night. The Greater Raleigh Court Civic League, the Greater Deyerle Neighborhood Association, the Southeast Action Forum and the Grandin Court Neighborhood Association sponsored the forum. John Carlin served as the moderator.
The three Republican candidates waffled on tax increases, admitting during some of the questioning that it would be the last resort.
Republican Candidate Mike Powell advocated for smaller government, saying the city’s budget is “terribly managed…we don’t need to raise taxes…[we need to] cut the fat.” Powell has lived in the city for 14 years and owns several businesses, which he says “are all profitable and I know how to make them grow,” expertise he feels would aid council in managing the budget.
Republican, Tony Walker advocated for proactive fiscal management and reducing waste, Walker lives in northwest city and is currently a Regional Coordinator for Special Education with Roanoke County. Walker said “I have a doctorate from VT and we need to be proactive in fiscal management, have more economic development and support our schools. The graduation rate is 60% and it needs to get better.” He supports Chris Morrill, saying “the new city manager has good ideas.”
The third Republican candidate, Retired Marine Colonel Robert Craig, said his military experience demonstrates his ability to work collegially with his potential council colleagues. Craig also gave some of the more humorous quips of the evening. Answering a question regarding consultant studies, he said that “members of council spend their time saying to each other ‘what do you think?’” The audience murmured in agreement. He called the $1.2 million in bonds for 2012, earmarked for the architectural and engineering plans for the Elmwood Park amphitheater, “financial idiocy.”
Independent Carl Cooper said he keeps hearing the same thing from constituents: “Quit spending money like a drunken sailor on shore leave and fix the schools.” Cooper agreed with Council member Court Rosen’s increase of 2% on the meal tax dedicated to school funding. However, he said “the problem is not going away in two years with declining revenue…we have to grow our economy with new business.”
Cooper admitted that it might be necessary to raise fees and taxes. He brought some chuckles when talking about council decisions, saying “what we have seen in many instances is like a merry-go-round; after they make a decision and before the ink is dry they’re back again revisiting the decision.”
The only incumbent, Democrat Dave Trinkle, was put in the position of defending his record, especially concerning the hiring of consultants for studies and school support. He said “studies are plans used to make Roanoke more competitive but the budget has placed everything on hold.” Trinkle, a doctor of geriatric psychiatry at Carilion, was not opposed to a ward system, saying “we’ve got to be responsive to all parts of the city.” He admitted the city needs to do a better job of addressing code enforcement concerns of the neighborhoods. He feels tourism should receive increased funding and organizational efforts to increase tourism should be consolidated.
Attorney Ray Ferris is the only Democrat running who has not previously served on council. He took a wait-and-see stance on the 2% meals tax increase for schools, preferring to wait until the budget is thoroughly combed through. He also wants to see what Richmond will contribute before committing.
In response to studies waiting the shelf, he said we will “dust them off and prioritize” in better times. Ferris was optimistic, saying “things are going to get better … believe me we have been through tough times before and things are going to get better.” Ferris said he expected to spend 18-20 hours a week as a council member, adding that his law practice takes 60 hours a week of his time, and said “I am a native Roanoker and I want to give back to the community that has given me so much.”
Former council member Bill Bestpitch said, “Being on council is like being at a square dance; every two years you get a couple of new partners to swing with.” He believes more citizen involvement and public input is needed prior to a consultant study. Bestpitch wants to get back to basics, and reduce the size of government, saying “We need to make decisions and stick to them and not be wishy-washy. Roanoke does not need to be fixed but made better.”
The Democrats held on the possibility of increasing taxes and fees, and chastised Richmond, as Ferris emphatically stated, for “passing the buck to localities.”
By Valerie Garner [email protected]