Ward II Councilman Ceasor Johnson makes reelection bid official

Ward II City Councilman Ceasor Johnson made his official reelection announcement this morning.

The one-term incumbent gathered supporters at the ballroom above the Ninth Street Parlor, a minority-owned down-town business.

He pointed to the success of the place, which underwent a major renovation before opening, as an example of what the community should strive for.

“This is what I’d like to see happen throughout the city,” he said. “Not just in downtown, but midtown, uptown and in the outskirts of town.”

Johnson, whose ward includes downtown, is running against challenger David Johnston, a server/manager at Charley’s Restaurant. Johnston has called for a more business-minded approach to city governance.

Johnson, a Baptist minister, said he would work to continue progress on school construction projects, and promote de-velopment of “smart growth.”

He also said he make a priority issues related to race and racism in the community.

“That’s critical,” he said. “We want to make Lynchburg a community that’s open to different races, different religions, and different backgrounds.”

Click here for more 2008 Lynchburg City Council elections coverage