Click to Enlarge

Unlike the two previous forums, where the candidates pushed their cause and answer questions in a moderator-type setting, Sunday’s forum was more laid back as citizens and the candidates were able to talk one-on-one.

With the town elections just a week away (May 6), all six candidates took the final chance to meet-and-greet.

While many voters asked various questions to the individual candidates, the two biggest questions raised dealt with the building of the new aquatic center and the spending of $40,000 for the town’s website.

The concern with the aquatic center centered on its cost and what kind of burden it will place on the town’s citizens.

Many feel that the new aquatic center was just a “pet project” for Christiansburg Town Manager Lance Terpenny.

“He’s building this aquatic center to make himself look good because he use to be big swimmer in school and the fact that his son and other family and friends are big in swimming,” said one lady. “We [town residents] will be booting the bill for his new playhouse.”

Questions also arose about its delay, the fact that one plant there was no building plans, and the different price tags that have been put on the project.

Another concern dealt with the town’s website, which has been sitting idle for the past several months.

A lot of the people at Sunday’s event said the town is wasting money by investing money into the site that hasn’t been updated in months.

“We need to clean house here in Christiansburg,” said one man, who asked not to be identified. “We need a new town manager and new council members. Everything has always been so secret when it came to town affairs, its time for that to change.

When asked what he is hearing from the public in his door-to-door campaigning, challenger Henry Showalter said, “A lot of questions have been asked about the aquatic center. He also said a lot of the town residents just really don’t know what’s been taking place in town government because the public is not being kept in the know.

Incumbent Steve Huppert  was also asked the same question as to what he’s hearing in his door-to-door campaigning and he replied, “People are complaining about people speeding through their neighborhoods.”

Six candidates are running for the three open seats on Christiansburg Town Council. They include, incumbents D. Michael Barber and Steve Huppert, along with challenger’s Samuel McCoy “Sam” Bishop, B.O. “Bill” Chafin, Henry D. Showalter and James W. “Jim” VanHoozier.

Christiansburg Town Elections will take place on Tuesday, May 6. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Click here to see more photos from the Candidates Forum in our Photo Gallery.

Photos by David Grimes

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by citizen, April 28, 2008

I hope the voters in Christiansburg will turn out in large numbers next Tuesday. It's time for a change and the only way we can do it is by voting in three new candidates who will better represent us.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment