Election 2024: Candidates weigh in on communicating investments, career and technical education
(Editor’s note: In a partnership with the Danville Register & Bee, the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce asked questions of candidates for Danville City Council and Danville School Board. Those responses will be published in newspaper editions through Nov. 2. The responses are unedited and appear exactly as submitted.)
- CITY COUNCIL: The city is experiencing revenue growth from economic development projects, especially from the future Caesars casino. Danville officials have recognized that this revenue growth may not last forever and created the Investing in Danville Committee to help address and prioritize the most impactful projects for this revenue. What strategy would you employ to communicate these strategic investments when residents may have a shorter-term view on spending?
BARRY MAYO
One of my strategies is to draw those much needed industries to our mega sites which will help bring in the revenue for our city to grow.
People are also reading…
FELICE MCWILLIAMS
I would advise citizens that are concerned with revenue growth and economic development, to get involved. It’s what I do. I stay involved. Be present at City Council meetings. Join the Investing in Danville Committee. Let your voice and opinions be heard. Don’t wait on us to make all decisions for you when you too can be an active force for the city.
LARRY CAMPBELL
Along with have the investing in Danville committee, we have already increased our reserve mandate from 20% to 25%, but I think we should additionally invest in creating a foundation/trust for Danville to grant and gift citizens in the future.
LEE VOGLER
For me, communication is always key in everything we do as elected officials. That is why for twelve years, I have been out and about in the community. I’ve held town halls in different neighborhoods (and not just during election time). I regularly engage with the community on social media. I’ve given out my personal cell phone number to the entire city. I always want to do all I can to keep the citizens informed, engaged and involved in what we are doing.
I would apply that philosophy to our investments of the casino funds. We need an up to date city website and social media pages solely dedicated to the use of the casino funds and the Investing In Danville initiative. Show people exactly where the money is going and what that means for them, and our community as a whole. Fear of the unknown is a powerful thing and when you don’t effectively communicate what you’re doing, it leads to confusion and distrust.
MADISON WHITTLE
My strategy is to continue advocating for the casino revenue to be invested in the Utility Department, as I’ve said from the start. This will directly lower utility bills, providing a tangible benefit to ALL residents.
MAUREEN BELKO
The vast majority of Danville does not know that there is an Investing in Danville Committee discussing how to spend millions of city dollars that will shape our community forever. The committee has published yearly comprehensive summaries about every project they are considering. Some projects are for additional city staffing, refurbishing old structures, scholarship funds, and even programs to address housing. I believe residents view the latest city spending as short-term because they have not yet felt the effects of the investments from casino funding in their everyday lives, but news about every latest ribbon cutting is front page news. The issue is partially because a ribbon cutting makes for a flashier headline, but I also think the committee needs to recognize that the investments in infrastructure are not meeting our community’s needs enough to grab attention. Further marketing from the committee and tracked metrics to document the changes achieved by the various investments would allow the community to be more a part of these exciting and historic moments.
PETRINA CARTER
To effectively communicate the city’s strategic investments while addressing residents’ desire for more immediate benefits, I would focus on a two-part approach.
It is essential to provide short-term wins that directly impact residents’ daily lives. This could include measures like reduced utility bills, expanded senior tax relief, and improvements to community services such as parks, roads, and infrastructure. By prioritizing projects that deliver visible and practical changes, we can ensure that citizens experience tangible benefits from the city’s economic growth, helping them feel more connected to Danville’s progress.
At the same time, transparent and ongoing communication is crucial. The city must regularly provide updates on both short- and long-term projects, using various platforms like town halls, social media, newsletters, and public forums. This transparency would demonstrate how revenue from economic development, such as the Caesar’s casino, is being allocated to projects that benefit the entire community. Additionally, engaging residents in the process through community forums or surveys will give them a voice in how funds are spent, helping to align their short-term expectations with the city’s long-term vision.
It’s important to clearly explain the long-term vision for Danville. By showing how investments in infrastructure, workforce development, and education will secure the city’s future beyond the casino revenue, residents will better understand the importance of balancing immediate needs with sustainable growth. This approach ensures that citizens not only feel the benefits of the city’s current economic boom but also trust that the city is planning wisely for the future.
SHAKEVA FRAZIER
Communication to Danville residents is why Frazier is running for City Council. In order for our citizens to better understand why the City Council is investing in certain projects, there needs to be education. To best do this, Frazier will attend Community Council meetings, with resources such as Plan Danville, in different Danville communities to explain what City Council is doing with their tax dollars.
SHERMAN SAUNDERS
It is imperative that we understand that Danville is an older City. Infrastructure to initially build this City has gotten old, which is cause for spending more money for Replacement and Safety. Underground Gas lines, water lines, and other dangerous infrastructure must receive high priority for safety purposes. “Safety is always First”.
- SCHOOL BOARD: How will you support career and technical education in our schools since this is a growing trend of importance and high wage opportunities in our region, state, and nation?
CHARLES MCWILLIAMS
CTE helps them gain the skills needed to enter the work force with higher wages in their near futures. These are jobs that are here in Danville and throughout the country. Many academic and college related jobs will not pay as well and as soon those who go through CTE with less debt. CTE students can start making a living right out of school, while their high schoolmates are still paying to go to school. Additionally their jobs can be local and they cannot be outsourced, which gives them greater security and our community more resources.
COREY WILLIAMS
We need to expose children our children to the ample opportunities that we have right here in our community, many of which are free or little-to-no cost. We have resources such as the GEARUP program that can help with. We need to allocate more funds and time for field trips to these institutions. We need to ensure that ALL of our pathways that students can choose from in high school have an instructor and that the coursework needed to complete the pathway is fully staffed. We need to lean on our partners, such as Averett, DCC and the Institute of Advanced Learning and Research to provide career and technical education plans for our students, particularly with trades programs. Our students need to be exposed to these pathways prior to middle school which is why we need to bring back field trips to expose students to opportunities after graduation.
KACEY CUNNINGHAM
To support Career and Technical Education (CTE) in our schools, I will advocate for programs that provide students with the skills and certifications necessary to succeed in today’s workforce, especially as demand for skilled labor and technical expertise grows both regionally and nationally.
Our CTE pathways future plans include high-demand fields such as healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and skilled trades. This will involve partnering with local industries to ensure that CTE programs align with current job market needs, giving students hands-on training that directly translates to high-wage job opportunities after graduation.
Additionally, I will support apprenticeships and internship programs that allow students to gain real-world experience while still in high school. These partnerships with local businesses can provide on-the-job training, mentorship, and the possibility of employment upon graduation. Such opportunities bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness.
I also believe in integrating CTE programs with academic learning, ensuring that students can pursue technical education without sacrificing core academic skills. This balance prepares students for both immediate employment and further education if they choose to pursue college or additional certifications.
Finally, I will advocate for increased funding for CTE programs to ensure that schools have the necessary resources—modern equipment, facilities, and qualified instructors—to offer high-quality training. By promoting and investing in CTE, we can provide students with diverse career options and create a skilled workforce that supports economic growth in our region and beyond.
TAKESSA WALKER
I would fully support Career and Technical Education because I believe it is an alternative career path for students trying to acquire industry credentials or state licenses while pursuing a high school diploma. I am passionate about CTE credentialing because I obtained a cosmetology license from GWHS in 1994 and was a successful salon owner for 28 years. I am excited about the numerous CTE course paths that are offered through Danville Public Schools.
TYRELL PAYNE
As Vice Chair of the DPS Board and member through the 1% sales tax, our renovated GW and Langston will do the following for us…
- Skilled Trades and Welding -both high paying
- Cybersecurity Programs- high paying
- Culinary Arts, Tourism- high paying
- Nursing — Numbers will double — high paying
- Cosmetology — Business Owners-high paying
We will begin our cybersecurity program in the middle school with new lab space at Langston — high paying!
‘);
var s = document.createElement(‘script’);
s.setAttribute(‘src’, ‘https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js’);
document.body.appendChild(s);
window.removeEventListener(‘scroll’, throttledRevContent);
__tnt.log(‘Load Rev Content’);
}
}
}, 100);
window.addEventListener(‘scroll’, throttledRevContent);
}