If elected, what will be your top priorities?

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Scott Baxter: Technology: I have 3 technology related goals: 1) to ensure that our children are using contemporary technology in ways that keeps them engaged in learning ; 2) To invest in professional development so our teachers can effectively use current and emerging technology for instruction; and 3) to increase communication with parents to keep them more engaged in their child’s education.

College Collaboration: We have world-class colleges and universities here in Harrisonburg. I will use my experience in working with higher education to build a new relationships and strengthen the existing collaborative efforts between our city schools and local colleges.

21st Century Skills: While I hope to increase the number of students that continue their education beyond high school, we must be certain that HHS graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to be functional members of our community. I plan to use my experience in the business market to work with others in the school system to help our children graduate with teamwork skills, a strong sense of work ethics and punctuality required to be an effective employee, and an understanding of personal finance and fiscal responsibility. In short, I want our students to be self supportive once they have graduated from high school.

Performance Based Compensation: I plan to work with the community and local businesses to explore options for a performance-based compensation reward package for both students and teachers. In my professional experience, I have observed that those who are positively rewarded will put in the extra effort needed to excel.

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Polly Fravel: Having a desire to provide the best education for all students, the following priorities were developed from my knowledge as a former educator, conversations with parents, members of the community, and a review of the goals of the current board:

• Foreign language instruction in elementary and middle school

The high school has had foreign language instruction for many years, but it is difficult for students to become literate with four years of instruction. Research indicates that learning an additional language, whether it be English or another language, is easier for younger children.

• Purposeful and effective use of technology in curricular content

I support the integration of technology into the educational process to improve student learning across the curriculum. Harrisonburg has a good technology plan and has purchased smart boards, document cameras, and computers to serve as resources for instruction. It is important that these and other purchases continue to be used in the most effective way.

The school system provides in-service training for teachers to keep them updated on emerging technology.

• A discipline plan that is system-wide and consistent

As students move from elementary school to middle school to high school, expectations for appropriate behavior should be clear to students and parents. Consistency in implementing expectations involves a combined effort of parents, teachers, administrators, the superintendent and the school board.

• Attraction and Retention of highly effective teachers, administrators and staff

Looking at comparable school systems in the area and offering competitive salaries and benefits will aid in attracting new employees and retaining the excellent employees currently in the system.

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Scott Baxter and Polly Fravel are running against each other for one open seat in the Harrisonburg City School Board West District.

Sallie Strickler and Stephen Barranco, Jr. are running for two open seats in the East District. Regardless of where you vote in the city, you will see all four candidates on the ballot.

hburgnews.com reader Josh asks: “How do you plan to engage your constituency if you are elected?”

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Carolyn Frank: I have been a big supporter of the Mayor’s Summits and will continue to participate in future summits. I am very involved in the community serving at the local soup kitchen and volunteering for HARTS. As a council person you are invited to almost every community function and I attend quite a few, but cannot do all. Council members contact information is available on the web. Our public hearings are publicized on C-span and in the local paper. When I am contacted by a citizen, I respond. My first election was May 2000. I ran on open and responsive government. Citizens are welcomed at City Hall and are always invited to be a part of the process. Public comment used to be at the end of the meetings. Sometimes citizens would have to wait hours to be heard. I was on council when we changed citizen comments to the beginning of the meetings to better accommodate those who want to bring their concerns to Council. Of course, I am always open for suggestions on ways that I may serve the public better.

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Greg Coffman: The same way I have during my 17 year service on the City School Board, by listening to people from all corners of the city in all types of settings. Being elected doesn’t make me more intelligent than the people I represent, but it does give me the responsibility to act according to the wishes of the majority.

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Joe Fitzgerald: I have a blog, I have a listed phone number, and I have two email addresses that can be easily found. That’s the receiving part. The outreach part is going to public meetings and gatherings to listen and learn. During my first term I also periodically sent out emails seeking opinion of important issues (such as the new high school, and the sale of the old one).

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Charlie Chenault: The same way I always have, by going after them in person if at all possible. I try to involve myself in every type of activity that goes on in Harrisonburg which includes neighborhood meetings. Constituencies become engaged when they feel like you have a genuine interest in what is going on in their lives and are available to try to help them. You need to establish a reputation as being accessible which I think I have done. The northeast neighborhood is an example of a constituency that is engaged. It is critical to identify people in the neighborhood who will help sustain the engagement. Old Town is engaging on a different level after experiencing traffic safety issues. It seems that engagement results after a crystallizing event. I plan to keep my web site and make it more accessible for my messages and to receive comments from the community.

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Ted Byrd: I will continue to be open and responsive to the citizens of Harrisonburg. Through my involvement in the schools, civic organizations, and as a sitting council member, I have tried to be as accessible as possible. I try to attend the many events that I get invited to while balancing my family and work life. I encourage residents to phone, email, or just stop by the house to share their concerns or thoughts on the many issues that the City faces. I pledge to continue to listen to you carefully, do my homework, and make decisions that will balance the needs of all citizens.

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We have not yet received a response to this question from Sal Romero.

hburgnews.com reader Dany asks, “Do you view our city school budget as “in trouble” or needing help? If so, do you view it primarily as a spending/management issue or a revenue issue? Please provide some explanation and/or examples.”

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Scott Baxter Relatively speaking, our city school budget is in better shape than many municipalities across Virginia. Through the work of the existing board and fund managers, difficult decisions have already been made through establishing clear educational priorities. Enrollment is above expectations and the new Educational Jobs bill will provide $1.1M in additional revenue over the next 2 years. The schools have been well supported by the City Council and the community. With some modest economy recovery, the revenue picture should improve through these various factors.

The top challenges I see with the budget are: 1) providing cost of living increases for our teachers and staff – with no raises in the past 3 years, it’s imperative that we retain teachers in the profession and not lose them to other careers; 2) optimizing the balance between buying more hard cover textbooks and investing in personal computing tools with e-books for our students; and 3) addressing the potential financial sanctions placed on HCPS if No Child Left Behind is not modified. I will lobby our elected officials in Washington, DC and Richmond to adopt a more realistic approach to measuring student achievement while maintaining accountability for the large investments made in education.

One example I would explore in the area of cost reduction/avoidance is select investments in newer, green technology. I’d like to see an energy audit done of our schools to understand where we might reduce energy consumption and cut utility costs. Those funds can be redirected from lighting classrooms to lighting passion in our students.

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Polly Fravel: During the current weakened economy, school systems throughout the country are experiencing difficulty funding their budgets. Harrisonburg has also felt the effects of this financial situation. Budget revenues come from federal, state and local sources and these revenues have been cut or level funded for the last couple of years.

The duty of the school board is to utilize the money appropriated from these funding sources and submit a budget to the City Council that demonstrates fiscal responsibility while keeping in mind the needs of all students. Collaborating with the superintendent and fund managers in the school system is important to attain this goal. Although past school boards have followed this objective, the weakened economy has required the current board to work even more diligently to find cost savings and prioritize programs and services by line item.

An example is the Energy Conservation program that was implemented. Combining the help of students, teachers and staff, the system has saved $267,000 in utility costs in the last two years. Continuing this program should result in additional savings.

As the economy struggles to recover, the future board will need to closely examine and prioritize programs and services to provide the best education possible with the allocated funding.

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Scott Baxter and Polly Fravel are running against each other for one open seat in the Harrisonburg City School Board West District.

Sallie Strickler and Stephen Barranco, Jr. are running for two open seats in the East District. Regardless of where you vote in the city, you will see all four candidates on the ballot.

The current council unanimously supported a resolution in favor of the DREAM Act. When are such resolutions on national issues appropriate? Do you support that specific legislation?

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Carolyn Frank: When a large group of supporters fill council chambers in support of the resolution and ask council to adopt it! The voters will decide if it was appropriate. All council members met with the local champion of the Dream Act, Isabel and friend Nicole. My support is based on the belief that these exemplary young people should have a reasonable pathway to residency. The Dream Act provides that pathway. As a community we have invested in their education. The Federal Law says we must educate all students and cannot ask about legal status. Isabel was arrested in Washington, went to trail and was released. She was not deported. What I hear most from citizens concerning immigration is; they need to assimilate and learn English. Well, these young people know English, are well-respected in their school and community. Exactly, the kind of citizens we want in America. The dispute comes with how they entered the country which was illegally. A decision they did not make, they obeyed their parents and followed. America is about dreams and hope. I want to see these young people have an opportunity to use their education and abilities to serve their community.

[Read the Wikipedia entry about the DREAM Act]

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Charlie Chenault: I support the general tenor of the resolution, but passing resolutions on national issues that Council probably does not even have indirect control over can become a slippery slope. I will not punt the ball however. I feel that the Dream Act could become a better piece of legislation. The Act provides shelter for only those attending college and entering the military. I am concerned that it does not address the remaining high school graduates who have done well academically and have conducted themselves honorably. They should be able to afford themselves of this same opportunity when they enter the job market after graduation. Also, the act is too cumbersome. If a high school graduate has been here long enough to demonstrate a graduating academic record and honorable conduct track record which includes a record of appropriate public service, he or she should be able to take the citizenship test just after graduation or within an appropriate period of time thereafter if time is need to establish a sustainable record. I know of local small business employers who follow the law and have tried to keep their young deportable alien employees here because they are good workers and good people, but hit a brick wall because their charges time has run out. In my various capacities in the community, I have occasion to review various scholarship applications each year. More and more applications are being submitted by immigrants and the quality of the applications tells me that we should want these young men and women in our country.

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Ted Byrd: During my term on council, we have taken positions on national and state issues. We have registered our comments with the National Forest Service in regard to their Long Range Plan, passed resolutions encouraging federal investment in pilot rail transportation projects that would remove some of the tractor trailers from Interstate 81 and piggy back them through the valley on the back of trains, and most recently, passed a resolution encouraging our General Assembly to cap pay day loans at 36% interest (we did this twice). There are times when it is important to let higher branches of government know what we think. I did support the Dream Act.

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Joe Fitzgerald: Resolutions such as this one are appropriate when the issue has a major impact on the Harrisonburg community, or when a legitimate citizens group asks the council to take a stand. I do strongly support the DREAM Act. It’s a path to citizenship for the innocent bystanders of the immigration battle.

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UPDATED:

Greg Coffman: When you realize that this legislation has been defeated in Congress several times over the years, it is apparent that there are serious legal questions that go beyond the scope of our locality. I think City Council has enough local issues to resolve and needs to stay focused on those items over which it has control.

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Sal Romero: Although City Council has no legal authority over any federal legislation, I believe it has the freedom to voice its stand on any specify piece of legislation that is directly impacting the residents of Harrisonburg. This particular legislation would allow a great number of talented individual’s pursuit their careers goals and service our community and country. We as a community are investing in these children throughout their elementary and secondary education and should support them as they meet their higher education goals or service our arm forces. I support the DREAM Act one hundred percent because it is would recognized the outstanding work of our DREAMERS and provide an opportunity for them as they have the willingness and desire to better themselves and our country.

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Election day is Tuesday, November 2. Voters may select no more than two candidates from a field of six.

Sallie Strickler and Stephen Barranco, Jr. are running for two open seats on the Harrisonburg City School Board in the East District. In other words, that race is non-competitive.

However, in the West District, Scott Baxter is running against Polly Fravel for one open seat. Regardless of where you vote in the city, these races and candidates will be on the ballot.

hburgnews.com asked Baxter and Fravel, “What qualifies you to serve on the Harrisonburg City School Board?”

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Polly Fravel I have experience as a teacher in the school system and knowledge of education issues and duties of the school board. I was president of the Harrisonburg Education Association for 8 years and during that time attended school board meetings regularly. This gave me the opportunity to observe the budget process and development of school policies. I also served as a teacher representative on the board and worked collaboratively on several personnel policies. Since retiring in 2008, I have continued to watch the meetings on City Span and have been attending the meetings since announcing my candidacy. I am a member of the Valley Association of Retired Educators which has allowed me to stay informed on current state and national issues affecting schools around the country.

I have a passion for student learning and providing the best education for all children. This includes making thoughtful and reflective decisions by listening to all sides of an issue. As a retiree, I will be able to invest the time needed for this position.

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Scott Baxter My Primary Motivation – Children in the School System: I have 2 great sons who are actively involved in sports and other school activities at Harrisonburg High School. It is my belief that elected officials make better decisions when they have a vested interest in the outcome.

Experience Managing large budgets: I have been a Sr. Project Manager for Nielsen Builders, Inc for the past 4 years. The most recent projects I have lead include James Madison University’s new $90 million Forbes Center for the Performing Arts and their $27 million East Campus Library. From my experience managing the budget of these large projects and many other projects, I believe I am better equipped to understand revenue and expense streams which will lead to finding ways to save the school district and taxpayers money without compromising the quality of education we deliver .

Knowledge of School Facilities: With my 20 yrs experience in constructing numerous educational facilities throughout Virginia, Delaware and Maryland, I can work with the school district’s Facility Management personnel to ensure that the facilities are operating at peak performance . HCPS spends several million dollars per year on utilities, maintenance and equipment. I believe I can assist the division in making wise investments that will save money over the long term.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Certified professional by the US Green Building Council: My goal is to apply my knowledge as a Certified LEED professional to work with the school district on ways to save energy, the environment, and cost. In addition, I would like to work with the faculty on how we can develop our young minds to flourish in a Green Economy and Environment.

City of Harrisonburg Board of Zoning experience: I plan to combine my experience on the zoning board with city and school leadership to develop better ways to accurately track the growth of our city so that we can be better prepared to meet the the short term and long term needs of our school system.

Leadership: My career and community experience has afforded me opportunities to lead diverse groups and build consensus through teamwork. These skills are needed to tackle the challenging and difficult tasks that lie ahead. I will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the board along with an established track record of getting results.

What (if anything) should be done to address the Heritage Oaks Golf Course operating deficit?

Photo by Flickr user chispita_666 via Creative Commons.

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Joe Fitzgerald: Councilman Wiens has initiated a citizens’ committee to study the future of Heritage Oaks, and I think we need to respect that effort, just as I asked others to respect the efforts of the Heath Commission that I initiated in 2000.

Some of the issues they should consider are whether to sell beer, how to better market the course, whether to try establishing a restaurant there, and whether to outsource marketing or management. Some of those issues are discussed here, along with some history of the course. The text for the video is here for those who’d rather read than watch.

The video includes this reminder about 2000. “The city had signed a contract. The trees had been cut. The money had been borrowed. Closing down the project was just not possible. If we’d shut it down, we couldn’t have opened three new schools. The commission we appointed told us the questions wasn’t whether we should have built a golf course, but whether we had to continue the project.”

I told people before the 2000 election that regardless of who won, we’d be stuck with a golf course. Ten years later, we need to put the arguments of 2000 behind us and figure out how to make it pay more. Reiterating, the main options are beer sales, a restaurant, and outsourcing the marketing.

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Carolyn Frank: Below is a excerpt from the Golf Course Commission of 2000, presented at the July 1 meeting. I also asked several people including a banker about the bond issue. It was a general obligation bond and would not have impacted the credit rating of the city. The tax payers have always paid the debt service on the bond. The golf course has never generated enough revenue to pay the operational cost at the course.

Bob Heath, former Mayor Harrisonburg, and Chairman of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which the three new members of Council had created to advise them on the golf course presented a preliminary report to City Council. Mr. Heath said that including himself the committee consisted of Mike Layman, Julius Roberston, Dean Elders, Eric Gordon, John Sellers, Kathy Whitten, Rudy Propst, Warren Dillenbeck, and Wayne Alley. The committee met ten times to discuss this issue, walked over the golf course and discussed the finances of the proposed golf course. Mr. Heath said that all ten of the committee members agreed with the conclusion. Mr. Heath read the following conclusion: The issue is not whether the golf course should have been built but whether it should be completed. The situation today is entirely different from what it was before construction begin. Mr. Heath said that if the City should decide to complete the golf course based on the above analysis, there are compelling reasons to do so and he named those reasons. The “compelling reasons” are that the Golf Course may have a reasonable chance of success if carefully managed, the amount of money already spent and the additional cost required to stop construction would be a major reason to move forward. The fact that the bond issue has been sold with a 10-year non-callable feature that will add to the complication and the cost of stopping construction. He said that although this is not a recommendation, it is a conclusion, but it simply says if you decide to move forward these are the things that would be important in that decision.

Now, we are at $6.4 million borrowed, spent and owed(the amount of the bond), plus additional millions spent. Today, we are more limited than we were in 2000. The bond would have to be paid off before we could sell or lease the course. Because, the bond is tax exempt, we are limited in our options in operating the course( ex. leasing to private enterprise for profit a restaurant on site). We need to wait on the committee’s report and look at implementing any reasonable and cost effective suggestions to close the operating deficit. I would never vote to sell the course to private enterprise. I believe the land is a valuable asset to the city and must stay under city control. FYI the town of Buena Vista borrowed $7.4 M to build a golf course, shortly after Harrisonburg did. They have become the first municipality in Virginia’s history to default on their bond payments. A reminder that things could be worst.

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Charlie Chenault: The deficit is worth addressing. First, Councilman Wiens’ advisory committee approach is well thought out and very reasonable. I believe it will produce some results. It is my opinion that the operating deficit for Heritage Oaks Golf Course will not decrease until the number of rounds played increase. You can sell alcohol and put in more elaborate food service, but the resulting increase in revenue will be disproportionate to the investment. It may not even cover the costs of the improvements required to sell beer and food. Increased rounds are generated by intense and focused marketing which probably has not been done for Heritage Oaks. It may be that a marketing guru is on the radar to market the course to every group that will listen which includes civic organizations, hotel chains and large employers as a benefit for their employees, etc.. In this week’s DNR, an article recounted how Lakeview was accepted into the Virginia Trails golf program which should help increase its play and will probably help Heritage Oaks (those who travel to a locality to play a course generally play the other courses in the area). I checked to see why Heritage Oaks did not make the cut and was told it was because we lacked food service and lounge facilities. Also, I believe the budget for the operations end of the course could probably be trimmed and the clubhouse merchandising cut back. I know that these are solutions that the advisory committee is looking at.

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Ted Byrd: The operating deficit of Heritage Oaks Golf Course is a major concern of both City management and of the City Council. We have appointed a citizen advisory committee to review our current operations and make recommendations to improve Heritage Oaks’ current and future fiscal operations. Currently, under the bond provisions that were used to finance the construction of the course, the City needs to operate this course as long as we have outstanding indebtedness. The City has partnered with the First Tee Program to introduce this lifelong sport to our youth, and Parks and Recreation have provided instructional programs for City Adults as part of our total Recreation Program that we provide to our residents. Bottom line, we have a wonderful asset that needs to be packaged and marketed to area residents and visitors that will increase the number of rounds played thus lowering the operational deficit.

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Sal Romero: The golf course is certainly the most frequent issue that has been brought up time and time again for quite some time now and must be addressed. I believe the initiative taken by council member Dave Wiens and the support of city council to sponsor a committee that will study in depth the various options that would allow the golf course to stop the current operating deficit is a great start. I trust the committee is taking this issue very seriously since it is affecting the taxpayers of our city. I am confident the committee’s recommendations will allow the golf course to start a new and positive operating record.

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Greg Coffman: All of the facts and figures on all the Parks and Recreation Department’s programs should be presented to the taxpayers so that an accurate comparison can be made. Some of those facts need to be costs, number of citizens each program serves, future prospects for each program, operating budgets, etc. Then provide for one or more public meetings that will allow for open discussion between the Council and the taxpayers. Give the residents the opportunity to interact directly with Council rather than just giving their comments one after the other. Have either Council or a committee draft all of the options that would apply to the golf course. Once the options are published, let the taxpayers vote on them. It could be done via referendum, internet survey, or any other legitimate and secure way. We live in the state’s capital for technology; if Council decides it doesn’t want to have an actual referendum there are many ways to get the public’s preference using available technology. The problem with the golf course is that the public has always felt left out of the process that approved it. It isn’t about whether or not we have a golf course; it’s about how we make important budgetary decisions that indebt future residents. I trust the voters and am prepared to act as the majority directs. On the golf course, I have no preference. We need to put this matter to rest, and, in my opinion, the only way to give Council proper direction is to address it in this open manner. Not every decision requires such an extraordinary step, but this one has continued for too long. Let the voters vote so we can move forward.

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Election day is Tuesday, November 2. Voters may select up no more than two candidates from a field of six.

hburgnews.com reader hhsparent writes, “I would like to know what issue or position they feel most strongly about and how they would seek to advance that position as a councilperson. Is it jobs? Is it education? If they could advance only one issue or concern, what would it be? And why?”

Photo by lramiro520 via the hburgnews Flickr group.

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Joe Fitzgerald: The most important issue facing the city, and the one where the council has the most control, is future development. There is little enough open land in the city that every change may be permanent. We’ve run out of room for mistakes. Development issues going forward should be decided not on a case-by-case basis, but in accordance with long-range policies tied to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The policies should include a moratorium on new student housing and a greater dependence on the private sector. The city has put too much money in the past into speculative land purchases.

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Ted Byrd: For the last four years, the one issue that I have tried to advance is to Enhance Our Quality of Life. Every issue that has come before me, whether it is Education Funding, Transportation Infrastructure, Public Safety, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Economic Development, or Taxes, has been held to the standard of how it will affect Our Quality of life. I have tried to balance the needs and wants of various constituencies, and base my decisions on what would be best for the whole community. If re-elected by you, I will continue to strive to Enhance Our Quality of Life.

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Greg Coffman: I have no personal agenda; I’m ready to pursue whatever priorities the majority of the taxpayers desire. However, over the past few years, a common complaint I’ve heard from all segments of the city has been the constant reassessments on property and the increasing tax bills that follow. Several years ago, the Council adopted a policy of yearly reassessments on residential and commercial property. This permits the city to increase your taxes without any formal action on the part of City Council. To put it another way, your taxes will increase yearly with no accountability by City Council because they never have to vote on the increase. In most localities, the governing bodies acknowledge their responsibility to be held accountable for tax increases, but the method we currently use lets our elected officials avoid this responsibility. I’ve had some home owners tell me that, when they tried to refinance their homes, the banks would decline the loan because the house was assessed at more than the current market value would dictate. I’ve had realtors tell me that an assessment every five years would allow for the actual value of a home to average between the highs and lows of the marketplace. Therefore, it would be a more realistic and fair evaluation of your property’s worth.

The rest of the country is seeing home values declining, but in Harrisonburg we’re told every year that our home values are increasing. Consequently, our taxes continue to increase while the Council deflects the responsibility to city employees who have to perform the reassessments.

With the economy in a serious recession, we need to make the maximum use of every tax dollar. Our core services (education, fire, police, transportation, water, sewer) should receive priority funding. This may require our City Council to make some difficult budget choices , but our taxpayers deserve their dollars being utilized appropriately. I’m open to a better and more equitable system for determining property values, and I think we could get many ideas from the taxpayers if we provided the proper forum. The last thing we should do now is to facilitate increased taxes on our taxpayers. Our taxpayers are not a bank.

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Charlie Chenault: It is difficult to advance only one issue that I feel strongly about; however, one issue that will surely rear its head next budget year is the school budget. At one time this year, our school system was facing the loss of approximately 38 full time positions until the state came through with additional funding. It was recently announced that Harrisonburg would receive $1.3 million from the federal education jobs fund. I believe the school board is now considering how to spend the money which is dedicated to compensation and benefits by the feds. Next budget year will be the true test. I am not sure anyone knows how much aid will be coming from the state and federal government. This brings into play the relationship between the school board and city council. I have always taken the positions that the school board runs the school system with a budget that is funded by city council. Unless completely out of line, the school budget presented to the city by the school board represents their expertise and the system’s expertise as to what it takes to run the best school system possible. It is council’s job to attempt to fund this request based on the reasonableness of the request and the available funds. It is my belief that it is imperative that both bodies and staffs be able to work together in a collegial manner to satisfy these needs. The coming budget year will mostly likely be a lean one unless the feds release more stimulus money. I trust the school board to present a budget based on realistic funding possibilities, and I embrace having the best school system that we can afford. I stand ready to work collegially in this process, but will also protect the interests of the taxpayers of our community as well. Very little is as important as the best education we can provide our children – they deserve it. If we do not watch it, we are going to spend their heritage out from under them. Let’s at least give them the tools to deal with it.

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Carolyn Frank: As a City Council member you seldom get to deal with just one issue. You are constantly balancing a plate that is full or overflowing. Education decisions are handled by our elected schoolboard. Our job on city council is to fund the schoolboard’s budget, since they have no taxing power. They decide how to spend the money. We were able to fund them at the same level for their 2010/2011 budget as the previous year, when all other departments experienced cuts from the city. I believe instead of advancing a personal agenda, it is more important to give citizens an avenue to have their issues and concerns heard and addressed. I have been involved in several council retreats were we evaluated our city and its needs, set priorities as a team and dream as if we had all the money in the world. We have had conversations with businessmen and visionaries on projects that they would like to see happen in our city. We, also, have a City Council liaison committee that meets with our County leaders to discuss concerns and develop ways to partner together to deliver services to our citizens. I believe the future of government is partnerships with other localities, JMU, EMU, faith-based organizations, civil groups and public-private ventures. Our best planning will be done with many voices at the table. Our city belongs to all the citizens. I do keep my eyes and ears open at all times looking for opportunities for our city. I hope you will find ways to become involved.

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Sal Romero: Education is definitely an issue that concerns me greatly both as an educator and resident of Harrisonburg. I must say that I believe education is one of the greatest resources we can provide to our children. There is no doubt our children are the future of Harrisonburg. Our schools are providing a great education service to our students and the talented educators are a big part of that. Over the last few years our school division has undergone some budget cuts. Very recently schools were close to reducing teaching personnel, but luckily that did not happen as a result of additional funding awarded by the state. As a city council member, I will support the school board in providing them the necessary budget that will allow our schools to continue to provide the best possible educational experience to our students.

One difference that separates me from my fellow city council candidates is that I have not being on council before; therefore, I bring a fresh outlook and new approach to local issues. I will do the job differently because I don’t know how it always been done. Another characteristic that makes my candidacy unique is that I bring equal representation to an important segment of our population. My personal experiences and diverse background allow me to understand and address the needs of our underrepresented city residents. Finally, as a city council member I will be accessible to every group and individuals in the community and make sure their voices are heard. My office will be the neighborhoods of Harrisonburg.

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A note about these answers: hhsparent originally asked, “How do you distinguish your positions from those of your fellow candidates?”

That was the original question sent to all the candidates. hhsparent then clarified that question with, “what issue or position they feel most strongly about?” I emailed all candidates the clarified question. In other words, there were two different questions that were sent to all candidates. Most answered the clarified question.

hburgnews.com reader Ross asks, “What’s one thing that’s changed about Harrisonburg that you wish hadn’t?”

Photo of Liberty Street before construction of the jail. Uploaded by Flickr user Marj1223.

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Joe Fitzgerald: The biggest change for the city that I wish hadn’t happened is the purchase of the local poultry companies by firms in the upper Midwest. That much change in control of the local economy is rarely for the good. But it’s a sign of how much and how quickly the city has grown. The change moved a lot of middle-level jobs to the Midwest. And now decisions about the Valley’s employment, industry and water supply are being made elsewhere. Plus there’s no longer a poultry parade. The changes affect the entire Valley, but are centered here because Harrisonburg is the capital of the Shenandoah Valley. Mostly, they affect the big picture of the Valley. Our heritage is in agriculture, but our future won’t be.

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Charlie Chenault: The long term, but temporary demise of downtown. In the late seventies and early eighties, downtown began its retreat with the construction of Valley Mall and the out properties that followed. Fortunately, downtown is coming back and will be better than ever. It certainly is from a restaurant and entertainment standpoint. Also, many more people live downtown now than before. We need to continue to recruit more retail and incubator types of businesses to make downtown full service and complete phases II and III of streetscape. Congratulations to the merchants, the City, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and those who live and shop downtown for making this happen. This has been a true collaboration.

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Carolyn Frank: By the time you reach my age you have experienced a lot of change. I’ve lived in Harrisonburg 30 years in 3 different parts of town. Change came to each area. Change comes, we love some of it, and we adjust to the rest. I’ve enjoyed my city in the good old days, and I’m really enjoying it now. I love my walks though the city, dining at local restaurants, shopping our many thrift store and buying good food at the Farmer’s Market. I did hate to see our high school move to the west edge of town, but JMU has done a splendid job with the facilities and Memorial Stadium. It was nice living close to RMH, especially when I had family members there; but the new hospital is wonderful and they now have room to grow. The old hospital is the perfect site for JMU to expand. Probably the one thing that most people would complain about is the stoplights and traffic. But, come May we even get a break from the traffic, until around August 20.

I really want to be a council person who plans for the future, while addressing the needs of today. I am thankful for the forward thinking leadership that we have had in the past. Long before we needed it, they planned and developed Switzer Dam for a water supply; same with our park system. They purchased land long before it was needed with the anticipation of growth. That planning gave us land to develop soccer fields on Smithland Road. I could name many more instances were long-range planning has given us opportunities for today.

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Ted Byrd: The one thing that has changed in Harrisonburg that I wish had not, would be the evolution of Downtown Harrisonburg. Growing up, Downtown was where you went to shop, eat, and take a date to see a movie. With the opening of the Valley Mall, which was originally in Rockingham County, economic forces began to change the landscape of Downtown. I am committed to making Downtown a destination stop for Valley residents. Currently, we have encouraged projects that allow for more people to work and live Downtown, as well as projects that bring people to shop and visit (Farmers Market Pavilion, Phase I Streetscape, The Arts Council of the Valley, and The Children’s Museum). The City’s partnership with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance has paid amazing dividends and I look forward to continuing to partner on projects that bring back the Main Street sense of community that we once had.

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Greg Coffman: Harrisonburg used to be known as “The City With The Planned Future.” This motto was dropped in the 80’s as I recall. Unfortunately, the lack of emphasis on planning has led to neighborhood security issues, negative impacts on property values, traffic concerns, and urban sprawl. With the city approaching build-out, there will be more pressure in the near future to rezone existing properties that may or may not be compatible to the surrounding neighborhoods. I’ve pledged to protect neighborhoods from unwanted rezoning that will negatively impact property values and lifestyles.

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Sal Romero: I am very content with the changes Harrisonburg has undergone in last twenty years since I came to the city both culturally and structurally. There is not one thing that has changed that I wish it hadn’t. I have seen how residential and commercial areas have developed across the city. The changes in demographics over the last two decades have also changed the appearance of Harrisonburg. I believe our city has a lot to offer to its citizens for its relative size. As city council member, I will support smart growth to our city that best fit the needs of the residents.

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All responses are listed unedited, in the order we received them.

hburgnews.com reader Kristen asks:

“What do you intend to do to increase pedestrian safety downtown?” and “What are your plans for increasing cyclist safety?”

Photo by Thanh from the hburgnews Flickr group.

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Carolyn Frank: I would advise any citizens that has a particular concern or known issue pertaining to pedestrian or cyclist safety to present it to our Transportation Safety and Advisory Board. I have listed the information below.

Transportation Safety & Advisory Commission

As described in City Code Section 13-4-2, the purpose of the Harrisonburg Transportation Safety & Advisory Commission is to act as an advisory commission to the City Council in matters concerning traffic and transportation safety; and to improve and promote traffic safety by making recommendations to the City Council on any dangerous situation, condition or location within the city’s street system, travel routes or parking areas.

Transportation Safety & Advisory Commission meetings are generally held the first Thursday of each month at 9am, at the City Municipal Building, Room 205, 345 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg. They are open to the public.

Citizens with transportation safety concerns or issues may contact Mr. William Blessing, Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Brad Reed, Public Works Department, or any member of the commission. More info.

For information regarding the Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee of this Commission, please visit the Bicycle & Pedestrian Subcommittee site.

We have recently adopted a bicycle plan for the city. We listened to citizen’s concerns and fixed two dangerous railroad crossings for cyclist at Country Club Road and S. Main Street. We are currently working with the Old Town Neighborhood to address traffic calming in their neighborhood.

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Joe Fitzgerald: The principle behind bike and pedestrian issues should be simple: A person should be able to safely walk or bike safely between any two points in the city. That’s in the first sentence of the 2001 Pedestrian Safety report. As a council member I founded and chaired the committee that wrote the report. About that same time, I broke a tie to make sure the land between Dogwood Avenue and Hillandale Park remained parkland. The Rocktown Trails are there now. Obviously I’m bragging, but a track record is better than a promise if you want to know what someone will do. There are three good reasons for supporting and advancing non-motored transportation. First, it’s healthier. Second, it’s greener. And third, it’s cheaper.

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Greg Coffman: I would support more signs designating crosswalks and allowing more time to cross streets at stoplights by lengthening the cycling of the stoplights when activated by crosswalk buttons. Better lighting during the evening hours is needed as well as increased visibility of police officers downtown at night. The adopted bicycle and pedestrian plan will help by incorporating bike lanes and more sidewalks. An overall safety program on bike and pedestrian laws and practices could be conducted via a joint effort of Harrisonburg and JMU.

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Charlie Chenault: I would like to refer all to the Adopted City Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan on the City website for the best answer I can give to this question. I was a member of the commission that developed this plan, and I endorse its concepts for pedestrian safety and cyclist safety. Costs of implementation are always an issue, but we have made significant progress over the last six years with much left to do. We actually have a line item in the annual budget for bicycle improvements. The new railroad crossings on South Main Street and Country Club Road were partially paid for from these funds. The biggest issue regarding cyclist safety is the failure of many adult cyclists to wear helmets and to obey the traffic laws (especially downtown). If state law would allow it, I would support an ordinance requiring all cyclists to wear helmets and imposing significant fines on those who do not. Eliminating non-delivery trucks passing through downtown would significantly aid pedestrian safety as well as replacing some of the downtown sidewalks which are very dangerous (outside of streetscape improvement area).

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Ted Byrd: This current year, I was happy to help create and support the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee of the City’s Transportation and Safety Advisory Commission. This created a formalized relationship between the City of Harrisonburg and citizen advocates, which will allow better communication and advocacy for bicycle and pedestrian issues. The goals of this committee are:

1. To advise the city staff and the Safety Commission on bicycle and pedestrian related matters.

2. To assist in implementation and achieving the goals of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.

3. To work with the city to achieve safe bicycle and pedestrian connectivity for all citizens.

4. To serve as the body through which the update of the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan takes place.

In addition, I supported the adoption of the 2010 Update of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. I look forward to working in partnership with this group to promote a livable, walkable, and bike friendly community.

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Sal Romero: I am convinced that the most effective method to solving a problem is first obviously studying it. I am honestly not aware of how pedestrian and cyclist safety compare in the downtown area at this time. Just last week I attended a meeting with an organization in Harrisonburg and the topic of pedestrian safety in downtown came up. Several people in attendance were very concerned about the lack of crosswalk lights at several intersections in our downtown part of the city. They were questioning why the city is not addressing this very important issue, yet they are trying to encourage people to visit downtown. The way I would deal with this concern would be by gathering information from the transportation department about the current safety plan implemented, interviewing downtown businesses about their position with pedestrian/cyclist safety, and holding several meetings to seek public input about the safety for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, I would find ways to educate our city residents through newspaper, TV, and street signs about our responsibility when sharing our streets and roadways. As a city council member, I will be devoted to working for Harrisonburg and its residents and to help solve any of the problems that come about. I am determined to meets the needs of the taxpayers by interacting with them in a positive manner, always making myself available and advocating for the issues that people really care about.

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hburgnews.com will be emailing candidates questions and posting answers periodically throughout the remainder of October. All responses are listed unedited, in the order we received them.