Lynchburg First endorses city council candidates

A new political group formally announced its presence in Lynchburg and endorsed three City Council candidates Thursday.

Lynchburg First said its members are united by a core belief that the city is best served when it has a non-partisan council that seeks to represent all citizens.

“Lynchburg First has chosen to support candidates that have differing views on some issues, but who have chosen to run and serve as independents because that is what they believe is best for local governance,” said Julie Doyle, immediate past chairwoman of the school board and a member of Lynchburg First’s steering committee.

Doyle, who served as emcee and spokeswoman for Thursday night’s event, went on to announce that the group was endorsing Joan Foster, Randy Nelson and J.P. Vaughan. All three candidates were on hand and spoke to the audience of more than 150 gathered for the event in The Parlor Ballroom on Main Street.

Lynchburg First, which listed its other priorities as quality public education, fiscally sound government, fair planning and economic development, plans to support its candidates with both volunteer labor and financial contributions.

The group says its members come from a cross-section of the community. The steering committee includes several former government leaders: Leighton Dodd, Joan Jones, Elliot Schewel, Rodney Taylor, Shannon Valentine and Pete Warren.

Doyle said Lynchburg First was formed in the weeks following last fall’s House of Delegates election, which she described as a “wake-up call.”

Valentine, a Democratic incumbent, lost to Scott Garrett, a Republican, in November. Her defeat was jarring to her supporters, many of who feel the outcome would have been different had voter turnout been higher.

“People started thinking maybe we need to get more people involved and interested in politics,” Doyle said. “That’s part of our message. Everyone needs to be involved.”

Lynchburg First subsequently formed as people began looking ahead to this year’s City Council race, during which all three at-large seats will be up for election. “Three seats have a big impact on City Council,” Doyle noted. “It’s going to be an important election.”

Asked whether the organization was a reaction to the new Liberty University student voters, Doyle said the group acknowledged that students had the right to vote locally but hoped all voters would educate themselves about the candidates and issues.

“As a group, I don’t think we’re about a backlash against LU,” she said. “I think we’re about engaging everybody. We believe it’s important for everyone to have a voice … But that voice can get lost if you’re not engaged in the process.”

All those who spoke Thursday emphasized the need for independent and non-partisan leadership.

Nelson, who had not previously made any public comment on his bid for office, said the city was entering a new era of “smaller budgets, reduced public services and perhaps some polarizing forces.”

“In this era, we cannot afford leaders who make decisions based on campaign sound bites and trite party slogans,” he said. “What we need are leaders who can demonstrate prudent thoughtfulness and some analytical skills.”

“Our problems won’t be solved by those who put labels on other people and groups and blame them for our community’s problems,” he added. “The solutions will best be reached by leaders who are sensitive to the needs and concerns of each and all segments of our community … who strive to construct solutions that are inclusive of everyone’s needs; not a select few.”

Nelson also said city leaders must be able to promote economic development and employ sound fiscal management without compromising education, public safety or infrastructure.

Lynchburg First borrowed its name from a successful 1998 council campaign conducted by a bipartisan mix of candidates who ran together as independents under the same moniker. It has been rumored for several weeks that Foster, Nelson and Vaughan planned to run together as a second incarnation of that earlier slate.

On Thursday, the candidates all spoke highly of each other and said they were honored by Lynchburg First’s endorsement, but maintained they were not running as a slate. They said they each planned to manage their own campaigns and would not seek to promote one common agenda.

Lynchburg First also said that while it was issuing endorsements and offering support, it was not attempting to assemble a slate and did not expect the candidates to have identical views or speak with one voice.