DANVILLE, Va. (WDBJ) – Nine candidates are vying for the five vacant seats on the Danville City Council this election year.

These include Shakeva Frazier, Petrina Carter, Maureen BelkoAnd Felice McWilliamsand five holders, Barry Mayo, Lee Vogler, Madison Whittle, Sherman SaundersAnd LG Campbell, Jr..

All nine present themselves as independents.

WDBJ7 asked each candidate the same four questions. Here’s a breakdown of four of the candidates up for your vote in November. We are awaiting responses from the other five.

Why should people vote for you?

“People should vote for me if they want the city to spend less on tourism and water features, and focus on improving our infrastructure and things that affect our daily lives,” said Maureen Belko.

“For 12 years, I have been a consistent voice for positive change in Danville. Today, there is a health clinic for city employees and their families that I proposed several years ago and which has a 100% satisfaction rate. It also saved Danville taxpayers more than $180,000. The bike share program, which has benefited thousands of people over the years, was an idea I brought back to the Council after a trip to Chattanooga. I worked with Dr. Miller and other board members to put this in place. The Moulin Blanc is currently undergoing a radical transformation that will forever change the landscape of our banks. This process was started by a tweet I sent to the Alexander Company encouraging them to come view the property. Fortunately, they said yes. Public safety is the most fundamental responsibility of local government and I have led the charge for years to implement the community policing model that has now led to a 30-year low in crime. I also fought for better pay for our police officers, firefighters and first responders. Supporting small businesses has always been a cornerstone of my work on City Council, as I believe they are the backbone of our economy. I proposed and the Council adopted the elimination of licensing fees for small businesses earning $100,000 or less in revenue. I also currently serve on the Virginia Small Business Commission after being appointed by Governor Youngkin. Reducing taxes was another of my priorities. Last year, I led efforts to reduce personal property taxes, commonly known as auto taxes, which will take effect in January 2025. Additionally, I successfully fought for tax relief for seniors for three consecutive years. I will continue to push for new tax relief for all citizens if I am re-elected in November. Over the years, I have voted against utility increases and other fee increases. This year I voted against the City Council salary increase. I believe Danville’s new prosperity needs to be seen and felt by our citizens. That means looking out for the people of Danville first and foremost,” Lee Vogler said.

“People should choose me as their candidate because I am deeply committed to serving and empowering our community. My personal experiences spark a strong compassion for those who are often overlooked. With a strong background in community advocacy, along with my academic achievements and professional experience, I have a clear understanding of the needs and aspirations of our residents. I strongly believe in equality of opportunity and fair distribution of resources, ensuring prosperity for all,” said Shakeva Fraizer.

“With 36 years of business experience in Danville, I understand what it takes to make our city prosper. My business experience means I will bring strong financial management skills to the City Council, treating our city’s resources with the same care I have applied to my business for decades,” said Madison Whittle.

Would you like to make any changes to how the city spends casino revenue?

“Casino revenue should go toward upgrading our utility, animal shelter and roads,” said Maureen Belko.

“I believe we should continue to make strategic investments with our casino revenues that will set Danville up for success in the years to come. That being said, I believe we can use a percentage of casino revenue to expand programs that will help Danville residents reduce their utility bills. I have suggested a few specific programs that might help achieve this. I am not, however, in favor of sending casino money from the City of Danville to outside locations, as a recent campaign proposal from another candidate would have done. I also think we should consider more tax relief for all of our citizens. As we become a more tourism-oriented city, we should continue to shift the tax burden from our citizens to those who come to our city, use our amenities and then leave. I will continue to look out for the people of Danville first and foremost,” said Lee Vogler.

“I appreciate the initiatives already funded by Casino revenues, but I am considering a more efficient use of these funds. I propose to allocate more resources to reduce taxes for our citizens and increase investments in education and workforce training programs for our youth and young adults,” said Shakeva Fraizer .

“Yes, I would like to see 40% of the Casino tax revenue invested in Danville Utilities and used to help reduce tax bills, which is what I made a motion for, and it failed 8-1! » said Madison Whittle.

How do you plan to combat homelessness in the city?

“We need to improve our housing so that there are more affordable options for all citizens, which will reduce the number of people displaced,” said Maureen Belko.

“One of the unintended consequences of Danville’s rapid growth is that many of our citizens are now being evicted from their homes. This, combined with the severe housing shortage, has led to some members of our community becoming homeless. That’s why it’s imperative that we continue to work with developers to build a wide range of new housing in our city to increase supply. Currently, demand far exceeds supply, causing prices to skyrocket. By treating housing development like economic development, we can quickly increase supply, which will stabilize prices. This will allow many of our citizens to find affordable housing. Beyond that, we should work with community partners and local churches to provide resources to those who need them. Many groups do good things, but they often work in isolation and don’t talk to each other. By combining these resources, we can solve the problem more effectively,” said Lee Vogler.

“As the executive director of a homelessness prevention organization, I am dedicated to defending the interests of homeless people. I plan to work closely with community members and agencies to proactively provide critical resources, such as rental assistance, legal aid, and financial literacy classes. Additionally, I will actively pursue grants and partner with landlords and housing organizations to address the critical need for affordable housing. I will tirelessly advocate for the needs of our local homeless shelters and other organizations supporting people without stable housing,” said Shakeva Fraizer.

“Homelessness is a community problem, not a government problem. So I am asking all churches to join me in solving this problem by pledging $500 per month to reduce the number of homeless people in the City of Danville. Personally, I have already donated resources to the Redemption Center and God’s Finally Calling, both are outreach ministries that are currently focused on a solution,” said Madison Whittle.

Additional comments?

“As a compliance auditor, I have experience reading complex contracts, analyzing large data sets and reviewing budgets – all skills that will be desperately needed to audit future projects that our city will adopt as it grows,” said Maureen Belko.

“Being able to serve the people of Danville on the City Council has been one of the great honors of my life. It’s something I don’t take for granted. I have to earn it. This is why I am running FOR re-election. I’m not running against anyone. I’m running for the people of Danville and the future of our city. My name is Lee Vogler and I would appreciate being considered for one of the five votes people have for City Council,” said Lee Vogler.

“As the first name on the City Council ballot, I would greatly appreciate your vote. For more details about my positions and background, please visit my website at frazierforcouncil.com“, said Shakeva Fraizer.

“If re-elected, I will continue to fight for lower taxes, thereby reducing the city’s utility bills. I will also donate my 30% pay raise to Danville Police, Fire and Rescue and the remaining 70% will be split among 7 local charities,” said Madison Whittle.

Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.