Turnout in today’s City Council election is expected to be better than usual for a local ward race, according to Lynchburg registrar Pat Bower.

Contrary to an earlier report, City Council candidate Tom Shahady has put some money into his pursuit of public office.

Explain one new idea or initiative you plan to pursue if elected to City Council.

City Council candidates running as independents say they truly consider themselves to be independent when it comes to local issues — even if they might lean slightly left or right on matters of national politics.

Of the nine people vying for a spot on City Council this year, one did not vote in the last council elections.

Liberty University is seeking approval of a new master plan that would allow the school to develop hundreds of acres of Candlers Mountain over a period of several years.

City Council challenger Nat Marshall said Thursday the voters of Ward III need a representative who can build partnerships within government. Incumbent Jeff Helgeson said what they needed was someone who can stand up to a “bully.”

Explain whether you do or do not feel the city has taken sufficient steps to protect local streams and rivers. If you do, explain why you feel current measures are adequate and further action is unnecessary. If you do not, explain why you feel city policies are insufficient and specify what additional action should be taken.

A majority of City Council candidates say they favor some kind of open appointment process for future school board members.

A proposal during this month’s city budget talks would have supplied funding for five new police officers and one new firefighter by making a corresponding reduction in funding to city schools, which have also been planning to add six new positions in the next fiscal year.

Lynchburg firefighters are endorsing City Council candidates Mike Gillette (Ward I), Ceasor Johnson (Ward II), Jeff Helgeson (Ward III) and Turner Perrow (Ward IV).

Ward III incumbent Jeff Helgeson faced some tough questions during Wednesday night’s election forum.

A fourth charge has been filed against City Council candidate David Johnston in his ongoing clash with city building inspectors.

The event, organized by the League of Women Voters of Lynchburg, started out with three questions given to all candidates and then moved to audience-submitted questions, most of which were directed to a particular voting ward.

Today’s question: Do you agree or disagree with City Council’s decision to support the Bluffwalk loan? If you agree, explain what you feel the advantage to the community has been and how you would handle future defaults. If you disagree, specify whether you would have offered any form of assistance and explain whether you do or do not support the city’s downtown revitalization efforts as a whole.