Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
As Salem residents head to the Salem Civic Center Tuesday, Nov. 8 to cast their ballots, they will be selecting candidates for the Salem City Council and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Four candidates—Hunter Holliday, John Saunders, Randy Foley and Anne Marie Green—are running for two seats on the Salem City Council. Foley and Saunders are both incumbents, while Holliday and Green are challengers.
During an Oct. 13 forum, the candidates had the following to say:
“I think I still have a lot to provide the city. We’re in dire times now in that we have a lot of capital projects to accomplish, and I think that rational, seasoned experience is what is needed to make these big decisions. They’re going to be the biggest decisions fiscally the city has ever taken on,” Foley said.
“As I looked at the financial documents of the city, it occurred to me in the last 20 years of the three local governments that are here—the two cities and the county—Salem is the only jurisdiction that has raised its property tax,” Green said.
“During my 36 years in the Army, I lived by these core values: loyalty, respect, selfless service, honest, integrity and courage. Always lead from the front. I believe that I can bring a much needed outside perspective to Salem City Council. Public service is a privilege and a trust,” Holliday said.
“The future infrastructure, to me, is key. We took care of the two immediate problems. The civic center is next. I don’t know anyone else up here that is as qualified as I am to work on that project. I will make sure our schools have the funding they need,” Saunders said.
Vying to represent Virginia’s 6th District in Congress are incumbent Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, and challenger Jennifer Lewis, a Democrat.
For those who want to vote prior to Election Day, no excuse voting can be done at the Salem Registrar’s Office from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 5.