The Christiansburg Depot made history again on April 5, hosting a candidate forum sponsored by the Historic Cambria & Downtown Christiansburg Partnership, a local business and citizens group.
To their credit, all current town council candidates participated in the forum. That is certainly historic, demonstrating that organized citizens can be heard.
(l-r: Jim Vanhoozier, Henry Showalter, Steve Huppert, Bill Chafin, Sam Bishop, Mike Barber)
Twenty-six citizens attended the forum, and listened to candidates' answers to questions ranging from the importance of public participation in planning future growth in Christiansburg, to the appropriateness of the Town Manager form of government. The candidates demonstrated varying levels of preparedness for the event -- questions had been provided in advance.
Candidates can be logically grouped into two categories: insiders and outsiders.
Incumbents Steve Huppert and Mike Barber are clearly insiders, as is Planning Commission member Jim Vanhoozier. Bill Chafin is an insider by virtue of his previous tenure on Town Council.
Sam Bishop and Henry Showalter are outsiders, with no current or prior terms on the Town Council or Planning Commission.
Insiders' answers were, for the most part, predictable. Barber and Huppert expressed remorse that ongoing violations of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by the Town had been uncovered. Mr. Barber came closest of the three insiders to accepting any responsibility.
Mr. Chafin indicated that he was reasonably sure two Council members didn’t constitute a quorum, seeming to indicate that no notification was necessary for two member meetings. This demonstrates a lack of understanding between what a quorum represents and what the law requires. Mr. Vanhoozier stated his support for the Mayor’s action’s at the last Council meeting, and appeared to defer further comment because the Town’s attorney was looking into the matter.
Overheard before the event started: "We could get another one of us here and have an illegal meeting (chuckle)."
The outsiders were more indignant on this subject. Mr. Showalter wondered why anyone should have to explain this law, confident that 99% of the time there should be public notification of meetings where town business is being discussed by town officials. He indicated notification should have been done all along.
Mr. Bishop pointed out his own experience with FOIA as a Blacksburg police officer, which appears to be the most FOIA experience of the group. Bishop also reminded us of the simple ways, available now, the Town could have been using for public notification, indicating the Town has staff available for this task.
The insiders talked about the apathy of citizens and voters, and the lack of public participation in Town affairs. No insiders saw the corollary between "lack of notice and openness"and "low participation."
More information was presented, and more interesting exchanges happened, than we can fit in this space. EverythingNRV covered the event and had photos and some video of the event posted Saturday. A News Messenger reporter arrived after the conclusion of the forum.
Come to future forums yourself so you can hear the candidates' answers, pick up on who borrows phrases, and observe the interactions. It's very informative. Citizens going to the Christiansburg Armory to vote on May 6th will find attendance at these events to be time well spent.
The next Christiansburg Town Council Candidate forum will be held Thursday, April 10th beginning at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. That forum is being sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Montgomery County NAACP, and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.
It would be nice to think the late Jim and Helen Dorsett, who saved the historic train depot from demolition in the '80s, would be pleased with this new activity.