Local Politics
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
Voting is a right, privilege and responsibility which is not enjoyed by the citizens of every country in the world. When an individual has the opportunity to vote, they ought to. Specifically for students in Lynchburg, their votes have a direct effect on their way of life in the short term while they live here and for the long term if they plan to stay.
What separates you from other candidates?
My education, life experiences and skillset separates me from the other candidate in my race. Over the years that I have spent helping others, I have learned many great lessons. I will bring information to situations which will guide in the decision-making process on what and how to do things as well as what should be avoided.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
Yes, absolutely. I think the meals tax is too high. I wish it didn’t exist. Unfortunately it does exist, and the funds generated from this tax are incorporated into the funding of the general operations of Lynchburg. Thanks to our meals tax, we are the third highest taxed locality in the entire state. At this point the outright elimination of this tax would be difficult because the revenue would need to be made up from another source. However, proper management of the existing tax revenue and critical thinking about efficiencies and inefficiencies could allow us to rein in our expenditures and reduce the tax rate. There is no doubt that the high meals tax is the reason some businesses open up just outside the city, costing city economic development and jobs.
Why should a college student vote for you?
Having been raised in poverty and on public assistance, I needed to fund my years in college. This means at that time having to find and process the available funding through grants and loans, as well at times working three jobs in order to complete my degrees. I understand intimately the stresses and difficulties associated with all aspects of college life and can relate to the struggle. I also understand the types of policies needed in local government to help reduce the financial burden on college students via easing tax rates on one hand and helping businesses flourish on the other so that our college students can have those jobs that they need to help pay their way through college and gain the job skills and experience they need to be competitive in the marketplace once they graduate.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support Planned Parenthood?
Lynchburg has been quick to adopt public/private partnerships over the past decade — sometimes, too quick. When a local government agrees to spend money on infrastructure that attracts business, everyone benefits. When we start using public funds to renovate boutique hotels, we have gone too far. These expenditures need to be examined on a case-by-case bases to determine (1) who benefits, (2) how great is the benefit to the community at-large, (3) is this a core function of government, and (4) can our taxpayers afford it? As a financial planner with 25 years of experience, I’m prepared to make these kind of judgements. And, no, I do not believe Planned Parenthood would pass my test.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
I don’t have three. I have several, all of which need to be addressed simultaneously. I do find that the schools and our education system would be the best place to begin. Other issues I would address, and not in this specific order, are local poverty, public safety, property rights, business and economic development, fiscal responsibility and tax management.
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
The biggest plan is to help to reduce or eliminate the performance gap by taking an “under the hood” approach to what makes the school system tick.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?
My position is a “wait and see” stance.
MaryJane Dolan/ Answers to Questions submitted by Sarah Rodriguez for the Liberty Chronicle – lol
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
Students who live here or look to remain here in Lynchburg after graduation have a vested interest in local decisions that will ultimately affect them. Those students who will return to their hometown area might prefer to maintain their “home” ties in order to have an impact on the quality of life where they would return to.
What separates you from the other candidates?
I have in excess of 40 years of business expertise building a business from the ground up, hiring some 75 plus employees over those years, managing deadlines, payroll, budgets, health insurance, making sound fiscal decisions, collaborative team building and have an extensive knowledge of what it takes for a business to operate, be profitable and contribute to the welfare of the families of the employees and contribute to the health of the community. My leadership skills are extraordinarily strong as reflected by my serving on numerous non-profit boards including chairing the board of The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, past chair of the United Way of Central Virginia, and chair of the grants committee for the Centra Health Foundation. I also have served as trustee for Lynchburg College for 20 years and currently chair the enrollment management committee. Those are just the current boards that I serve on. In addition, I have served on a National Board of the industry that I represented. I have spent my entire adult life serving the community either as a mentor to young girls, working with non-profits, opening doors on social justice issues and helping those who cannot help themselves. These experiences and my passion to serve this community help me stand apart as a candidate.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
As you know the meals tax is essentially a “user” tax that is assessed on people who want to dine out or eat prepared foods at the site where it is purchased. It is not compulsory. It does not apply to students who eat in the on-campus dining facilities nor to residents who buy from grocery stores and do not eat those foods on premises. Tourists pay these taxes also, so these out-of-town visitors help local taxpayers finance services that the city provides to its residents. This is a good thing. This does fall in the “discretionary” tax area and can be measured by the willingness of those who pay it (i.e., those willing to eat out). The important thing to note here is that meals tax revenues are increasing (another good thing for our city), suggesting that it does not discourage people from eating out. As a practical matter, the meals tax helps finance essential services that the city provides to both residents and visitors, including the costs to ensure that restaurants maintain safety standards for those who patronize them. This protects the public and reduces the tax burden on local tax payers who do not choose to eat out.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support planned parenthood?
This decision is not determined on the local level, so it is difficult to see how the question fits into this discussion. I do know that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the services offered to women through Planned Parenthood, such as mammography and other medical services for women who cannot afford them. Regardless, though, how it is supported is not a matter for city council members to determine.
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
I support early childhood education by reducing the education gap through preparing children so that they are ready for school, addressing the achievement gap as children go through school, and ensuring they are job — or college — ready when they graduate in order to fuel their — and our — future. I support public-private partnerships to ensure the future for our children. I support the hiring and maintaining of talented teachers who can facilitate successful college and or career development for our students.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?
I think as a society we lack respect for one another.
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
I feel that students should have the right to vote where they live, work and play. Voting is a critical personal right that everyone should have and use for their voice.
What separates you from other candidates?
My extensive background in accounting, developing a non-profit and my nine years served on the Lynchburg City School Board separates me from other candidates.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
The local meals tax is a tax that you only pay if you go out to eat. It has been used to add monies to our city’s general fund that is used to help cover local government expenses such as road repairs, buildings and other worthwhile projects. Not only do our citizens pay the tax but also visitors. I feel that the meals tax rate is set at an acceptable rate currently.
Why should a college student vote for you?
I am the most qualified candidate for the Ward II City Council seat because of my nine years serviced on the Lynchburg City School Board, and my 10 years of internal auditing with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. I work with college students on a daily basis, and I listen to their concerns and needs from the city.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support Planned Parenthood?
I would like to research more on Planned Parenthood before I offer an opinion.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
1. Education empowerment
2. Economic empowerment
3. Safe communities
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
As a past Lynchburg City School Board member, I have a deep appreciation for the work they do and the hours spent in improving our school system. I plan to continue to support our school board and provide input as a citizen.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?
I am still undecided on the candidates for 2016, and I am seeking direction in prayer and reading more about each candidate’s agenda.
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
They should vote here to give Liberty University a greater voice in city matters such as tax rates, campus expansion options and job opportunities in the area.
What separates you from other candidates?
Of the three candidates for my seat on council, I am the only one with three degrees in finance, the only one who opposed $100 million in recent city debt, and I’m the only one with a proven conservative record.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
Lynchburg’s meals tax is definitely too high. It would be great to get rid of it altogether, but since I’m the only Republican on city council, my motions to reduce that dreaded tax have failed to garner a second vote, much less a majority. I was shocked when someone recently suggested raising the meals tax again. I asked, “That tax rate is already one of the highest in the nation. What are we shooting for — the highest in the galaxy?” I got a few laughs, but more importantly, the proposal was dropped.
Why should a college student vote for you?
First, Liberty students should vote for me because my work cutting red tape on city council has resulted in making it much easier and more affordable for Liberty to expand its campus.
Second, Liberty students should vote for me because I will continue to fight against wasteful spending and higher taxes in Lynchburg.
Third, Liberty students should vote for me because as a Liberty graduate and an ongoing supporter of Liberty, I often serve as a bridge between the university and the City of Lynchburg.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support Planned Parenthood?
I’m 100 percent pro-life without exception, so I’m opposed to the existence of abortion providers altogether. Therefore, I oppose any source of funding for “planned barren-hood” including the government. I personally support pro-life ministries like the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center and the Liberty Godparent Home.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
Public safety is always government’s top priority, and it’s mine. We must ensure the police, fire and rescue personnel have competitive pay and up-to-date equipment. Likewise, we must protect the constitutional rights of citizens to protect themselves.
Fiscal responsibility is critical to keeping businesses and homeowners thriving, which keeps them from moving to other localities. Whenever you have higher spending, taxes soon follow, which creates an incentive for our most productive citizens and businesses to go elsewhere. This negative dynamic creates an undesirable cycle of government dependence and poverty that can be hard to break. Lastly, I want to make it easier for institutions like Liberty and other businesses to grow by cutting regulations and taxes, thereby creating further academic and vocational opportunities to improve the lives of our citizens.
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
Improving education is a priority for me, although the school board primarily has that responsibility, which limits what we can do as members of city council.
For me, I’m constantly promoting public accountability by asking why our test scores are low and why our dropout rates are among the highest in all of Virginia. I press publicly for measurable results, rather than allowing school officials to tell feel-good stories while entire schools in our city continue to fail Adequate Yearly Progress standards, which are set by the state. Perhaps most importantly, I support qualified leadership by voting to appoint school board members with the most business and educational experience.
Unfortunately, most local officials believe spending more and more money will somehow magically improve education, but that’s not the case. I often cast the only vote against budgets that include wildly bloated school spending — including unnecessary construction costs that have recently put the city $100 million further in debt. Even without those construction costs, Lynchburg already spends more than twice as much annually as the liberals in the Virginia Department of Education say we should. Yet we have some of the worst education statistics in the state.
In summary, I am known for being that guy who asks the tough questions. I fill that role because I believe the students matter and because I know the future of our city will be no better than the lives of those students in the next phases of their lives.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?
One thing is clear, and that is the American people are completely fed-up with the political establishment in both major parties. Three of the remaining four major candidates for president are backed by people who wholeheartedly reject the status quo. Amid all the nasty rhetoric and mudslinging, that’s the one silver lining I see in this presidential campaign season. Hopefully, it will result in real change in Washington, and we’ll have a conservative Republican who follows the Constitution in the White House next year!
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
The Virginia General Assembly has determined that because students live in a particular locality for the majority of the year, they should have the basic right to vote in the locality in which they attend college. I strongly believe that students should be permitted to vote because the aforementioned law is not discriminatory and gives students the opportunity to participate in the electoral process while they are in school.Liberty University students, I encourage you to vote! In fact, I ask and encourage you to vote for me!
What separates you from other candidates?
One of the concerns I have is that citizens of Ward III do not participate on boards, commissions, the citizens academy, the police academy and other areas of volunteerism that the city provides. I believe that Ward III citizens are just as important as citizens from Ward I, II and IV. As your Ward III representative, I will do my best to ensure that Ward III citizens are included in every level of public service. I will make it my business to be available to the students of Liberty University as often as needed. My strong desire to be accessible will make me incredibly effective on council.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it to high?
Every business in the City of Lynchburg is required to levy a 6.5 percent tax on all prepared edible refreshments, nourishments, and liquids to include
alcoholic beverages. Realizing that the meals tax is amongst the highest in the state,I would certainly take a look at the current tax and support a rollback if
that were possible. I will also look at other taxes and make responsible determinations as to whether they can also be reduced without compromising the city’s effective day-to-day operations and services.
Why should college students vote for you?
I will bring a fresh approach to city council. I will encourage young people to be involved across our community with innovative ideas and cutting-edge interventions to develop our city’s youth and young adults. I will listen and work hard to include the views of our college students at Liberty and others around the city. Liberty University students, for example, bring a wealth of knowledge to our area. I would hope that many of our graduates will stay in our community, find gainful employment, raise families and retire in Lynchburg. I will work hard on council to incentivize reasons for college students to remain in this community.
What are your views on tax dollars at any level of government being spent to support planned parenthood?
While supporting planned parenthood is not a local issue per se, I believe that dollars spent on behalf of private organizations should remain in the private domain. Therefore, I do not support tax dollars at any level of government to support Planned Parenthood.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
1. Education
2. Public Safety
3. Infrastructure that supports a thriving community with the inclusion of
input from citizens of Ward III
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
As an educator, I understand the need for improved reading skills for our children, particularly at an early age. I believe that proximity is power. This means I will continue to foster the support of college students to get involved in our schools and help all of our children to increase their reading skills. STEM education is also very important. I will fight for viable partnerships that will help our kids in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Daily, I will seek to encourage creative ways to engage parents and local mentors to get involved wherever possible to make sure that we reach every child by name and need to graduation! Our students are reachable, teachable, lovable and savable. With your help, we can make this happen and have a world class school division in Lynchburg.
What is your stance on the current state of the 2016 presidential election?
Clearly, Americans are expressing a need to be heard and want to elect a candidate that will hear them. Most Americans want a president with values and principles that reflect honesty and integrity that are consistently inherent in the American Dream. That is why Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Bernie Sanders are appealing to a broad segment of voters. You can be sure that as your local representative on council, I hold strong Christian values and will serve you with distinction! Since all politics is local, I ask for your vote on May 3! Thank you in advance Liberty University for your support!
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
If you live here, you need to vote here. It is our civic responsibility.
What separates you from other candidates?
I believe in practical solutions that benefit our community. As an engineer, I focus on solving problems, which, on city council, translates to: talk less and do more. I am tired of hearing about discussion groups and round tables to debate issues while nothing happens. From a broader perspective, Christian DePaul (Ward I), Jeff Helgeson (Ward III), Brian Triplett (Treasurer), and I have a similar worldview that sets us apart from the other candidates. We believe in working together to build a strong financial foundation for our city’s future. This is in stark contrast to the other candidates who either have no financial qualifications or believe money is the answer to everything. We believe in finding solutions that protect taxpayers, maintain accountability, and restrict the growth of government.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
The local meals tax is too high, but it is necessary. As an independent city, we provide central services for a region of 250,000 citizens while being supported by a tax base of just 67,000 actual residents. The meals tax allows us to draw revenue from nonresidents who travel from the surrounding counties to take advantage of city resources. It’s worth noting that more than 20 percent of the real estate in our city is nontaxable. We can’t provide core resources without revenue. The meals tax is a discretionary tax. You choose, by deciding to eat out, whether you pay it or not.
Why should a college student vote for you?
I am a councilman with proven experience and a demonstrated commitment to fiscal responsibility, public safety, and real solutions for bridging the educational achievement gap. If college students want a doer rather than a talker, solutions rather than problems, and practicality over political demagoguery, they should vote for me.
I am a proud father of three, and my wife and I attend St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Lynchburg. I work hard in my profession as a civil engineer, and I am committed to public service through numerous volunteer positions. I believe in the free enterprise system, equal rights, fiscal responsibility, peace through strength and faith in God. If these points resonate with college students, as they do with many in Ward IV, then I respectfully request your vote May 3.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support Planned Parenthood?
No.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
My top three priorities include (1) educational attainment for all young people, (2) economic development, and (3) public infrastructure (utilities, roads, etc.). I deal with each of these priorities under the umbrella of fiscal responsibility. Our city must live within its means and look for solutions that prioritize the core functions of government while protecting taxpayers. By focusing on these priorities in a fiscally responsible manner, we can make our city a better place to work, live and play without raising taxes.
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
School funding, at $41.7 million, is our city’s largest expense. We need to get our money’s worth.
Last fall, the school board and city council were presented statistics detailing the racial achievement gap in our schools. The numbers are appalling and unacceptable. We know the challenges of an urban school system are real, but we can’t use them as a crutch to lower expectations. These problems require passion and innovation — not excuses.
Since that meeting, I have worked with city staff on a pilot program that reconnects inner-city students with the community. Better schools mean a stronger economy and a lower crime rate. We get there by owning the problem, demanding accountability in our neighborhoods, and extending positive contact time between our kids and their mentors.
My program teams the Boys & Girls Club with an existing neighborhood center to engage each child at the ground level. The club is a private organization with resources and capabilities beyond anything our city is offering, and we’re getting them in a revenue neutral plan. It’s a model for success that I hope to expand.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?
I am disgusted by the state of the 2016 presidential election process. The tone of debate lacks substance and, too often, has become nothing more than name-calling. Of the remaining candidates, I like the policies promoted by John Kasich, who apparently has no chance of receiving the nomination. Earlier, I stated that I believe in the free enterprise system, equal rights, fiscal responsibility, peace through strength, and faith in God. I plan to vote for the candidate who holds most true to those values.
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
State law permits college students to vote in their college locality, allowing students the opportunity to vote for government officials who will work for them as part of our collective community. As a college student, you have chosen Lynchburg as your home for at least the next few years. You continue to impact our community through your studies, work, volunteer efforts and your voice. I value that voice and want to be an elected official that works for everyone in our great community.
What separates you from other candidates?
I am the only candidate for treasurer with over 30 years of related accounting and tax experience. I have helped the many individuals and businesses in my private practice navigate the often complex maze of tax codes and situations. Additionally, as a small business owner I know what it means to be accountable. Whether securing the confidentiality of my clients’ personal information or making timely payroll, I value the importance of accountability and take that responsibility seriously. My experience enables me to effectively start working on day one for all Lynchburg citizens.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
The local meals tax is implemented by city council and handled through the commissioner of the Revenue’s Office; therefore, the treasurer position does not provide the opportunity to legislate policy on the meals tax issue.
Why should a college student vote for you?
As students, you study here, live here, work here, and hopefully in seeing Lynchburg for the great community that it is, you may choose to make a home here. Your choice for Lynchburg treasurer will have an immediate impact on our community. If elected, I will use my 30 plus years of accounting and tax experience to provide strong, effective leadership to the treasurer’s office.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support Planned Parenthood?
This is an ongoing debate in Richmond, which does not relate to the responsibilities of the Lynchburg treasurer. I encourage you to reach out to Delegate Kathy Byron, Delegate Scott Garrett, and Senator Steve Newman with these concerns.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
As it relates to the duties of treasurer, my top priorities are: 1) effective leadership, 2) ensuring confidentiality and security, and 3) increasing the value of the treasurer’s office to the citizens.
Effective leadership is needed to ensure efficient government spending. My tax experience and my years as a business owner provide me with the necessary skills to manage the office in an efficient manner.
With private financial information stored and transmitted on a daily basis, the treasurer is in a position of great trust with our community, and it is crucial that the treasurer maintain absolute confidentiality regarding this information. In my private practice, the security and privacy of my client’s private financial information has been a primary responsibility that I take extremely seriously.
In growing the responsibilities of the treasurer’s office, I want to increase its value to the citizens. Presently, the office is in a position to take on more responsibilities to operate efficiently for our city. If elected, I will work with the necessary departments to ensure that the treasurer’s office is working at the highest level for our citizens.
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
As myself, my wife, and my two sons have all attended and graduated from Lynchburg City Public Schools, I know how vitally important education is to our community. However, the position of treasurer does not provide the opportunity to legislate education policy. With my years of relevant experience, I have the ability to run the treasurer’s office efficiently on the first day, which will allow the policy-makers to focus on these important community issues.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 Presidential election?
This presidential election cycle has seen significant debate within both the Republican and Democratic Parties due to candidates tapping into a public dissatisfaction with career politicians and the status quo of government. In the election for Lynchburg Treasurer, I am the only candidate who is not a career politician or part of a political party’s leadership. I’m a local business owner with over 30 years of accounting and tax experience, and I want to offer my years of related skills to be a treasurer who will work for all citizens of Lynchburg.
Why should students vote here in Lynchburg?
Students can have a tremendous impact on local elections. The concentrated vote of thousands of students in this area can have a great influence over public policy in Lynchburg.
What separates you from other candidates?
I believe I am correct in saying that I am the only graduate of Liberty University running for the office of treasurer in this election. As a student at Liberty, I remember how passionate we were (20+ years ago) about being salt and light to the culture around us. Jerry Falwell Sr. encouraged political involvement, and many graduates from that time are now entering the political arena.
What is your position on the local meals tax? Is it too high?
The office of treasurer does not have any direct influence on the meals tax. That is set by the city council. However, being a Republican I default to lower taxes and limited government as my core political philosophy.
Why should a college student vote for you?
As a graduate of Liberty University, I share common heritage and values with other students and alumni from Liberty. I am also well qualified for this position, having been the treasurer of my homeowners association and now chairman of the Lynchburg Republican Party. I want to make a positive impact on our community through public service and volunteer work.
What are your views on tax dollars, at any level of government, being spent to support Planned Parenthood?
As you know, the treasurer’s office would have no direct impact on this issue. However, I am pro-life, and I oppose using taxpayer money to support Planned Parenthood.
What are your top three priorities concerning the Lynchburg community?
The top three things I would advocate for in Lynchburg would be economic growth, public safety and community involvement. We all need to work together to make Lynchburg the best it can be.
What are your plans for improving education in Lynchburg?
I am currently a teacher in Lynchburg City Schools, so I see the challenges as well as the good work that is being done. School administration has done an impressive job facing the challenges with relentless optimism and innovative solutions. I would encourage school administration to continue to be positive and solution oriented. There are plans already in the works to continue to move public schools in the right direction, and I trust the school board to make the right choices.
What is your stance on the current state on the 2016 presidential election?
As the chairman of the local Republican Party, I will support the eventual nominee. I am not taking sides or making an endorsement at this time. I prefer to let the voters decide who the Republican nominee will be. Any Republican would be better than Hillary. Big government and socialism are not the solutions to the problems we face as a country.