The New River Voice sent questions via e-mail to all candidates for Mayor and Town Council in Christiansburg. Not all candidates replied. Through election day on May 4, however, we will be offering the answers of the candidates who did reply to our questions.

New River Voice: What would be your first priority if elected to office this May 4?

R. Cord Hall: Balancing the budget without need for borrowing against our reserves. The budget must be heavily scrutinized for ways to trim the fat, ensuring that the town has eliminated areas of waste and ensured citizens that taxes will not be increased. We need to end fiscal irresponsibility. A case in point would be the immense size of the aquatic center and the accompanying massive expenses for construction and operation. The tax payers of this town should not be made to bail out a Council that has moved away from being fiscally responsible.

NRV: What is your specific plan to attract local businesses to downtown Christiansburg and to make sure those businesses stay in town?

R.C.H.: In fairness, the town of Christiansburg has done a lot to attract businesses to downtown. Beautification through planting trees and flowers, accessibility through sidewalk construction (although 12-foot sidewalks are excessive), and ensuring that essential public services are available. I would not support a proposition that would fund private business owners in the downtown area if that meant a tax increase for the citizens of this town.

What the town can do to aid this process would be to fund and construct signage off Interstate 81 (VDOT) to direct people toward the downtown area. There are also grants that businesses could apply for and the town, through its resources, could aid property owners in completing the requisite forms and/or locating available “free” money.

NRV: Christiansburg has experienced considerable growth in recent years, what would be your plan to continue with that growth but in a healthy and sustainable way?

R.C.H.: Growth is only appropriate when it is completed with a mind toward public necessity and public safety. Council must factor in whether existing infrastructure can support the proposed growth, a practice woefully lacking in recent years.

Furthermore, as our population increases, Council must ensure that essential services, such as utility and police/fire/rescue are appropriately provided: if increased funding is needed then Council should oblige.

As an aside, it is inappropriate for our citizens to have a portion of their rescue services provided by neighboring areas; a commitment should always be to ensure that vital services are at the fingertips of our town residents.

Sustainability and maintaining a healthy town require that a priority be placed on interconnectivity. Ensuring that jobs are available with an eye toward maintaining a low unemployment rate; meanwhile ensuring that taxes remain relatively low are vital to this ideal.

NRV: What can be done in Christiansburg—and how much time and money should be spent—to increase the recreational and cultural opportunities in the City? 

R.C.H.: The town must be committed to ensuring that recreational and cultural opportunities for seniors, youth, and those in-between continue. We have a thriving recreational and athletics department in Christiansburg that should be commended. While many of our neighbors have moved toward more club-sponsored sports, Christiansburg has maintained accessibility for citizens of all ages to participate in recreational events.

Furthermore, we are blessed with a remarkable recreation center, Harkrader Sports Complex—and someday a new aquatic center. As in life, however, we must strive for balance. The fact is the aquatic center is much larger than our town requires. Its costs are over budget and the town will be forced to supplement the very high operational expenses for the lifetime of this facility.

The key is ensuring the Harkrader Sports Complex and the Recreation Center are properly funded; senior trips and outings remain available; recreational sports are low cost so all residents can participate; and cultural funding, for such entities as the Montgomery Museum are preserved, all within the shadow of the aquatic center and its massive debt.

Citizens should question why Blacksburg did not construct this facility if it was to be such a revenue generator; moreover, why a business plan was not drafted until 2009 to detail the costs of operation. Such inadequate planning is what threatens to derail our otherwise prosperous town.

Working with others for the good of the community is essential in a position such as the one you are seeking. How would you describe your ability to build consensus that will benefit the Town as a whole?

As an attorney focusing on children, I have the honor of accepting numerous Guardian ad litem (children’s attorney) appointments. Through this practice, I have truly learned how to bring “warring” parties together by orienting their focus on what is truly important: in my cases, the child.

This approach will serve me well when building consensus or when I am involved with a situation having many differing view points. As Council members, we must remember that consensus should not be viewed primarily as that built within the Council chambers, but rather by talking to members of the public who will be impacted by our decisions. It is a public consensus that is the true concern.

For example, if a proposal is brought before Council, whereby members of our town will be directly affected, we owe it to our Council position and to our town to go out and inquire.  Frankly, the only time you see us knocking on your doors should not be a month before a Council race. Why not expect us to get out and talk to affected citizens while we are sitting members of the Council, in a position to positively impact your lives? More should be expected of our Council if they truly are concerned with building a proper consensus, representative of the viewpoints of our town citizens.