Jim Vanhoozier serves food that his wife Gerry (left) prepared for them and their son, Chris, in their Christiansburg home. Jim Vanhoozier says family remains the No. 1 priority in his life.

Jim Vanhoozier says he "did an awful lot of walking" to meet as many residents as possible while campaigning for town council.

CHRISTIANSBURG -- Any evidence of Jim Vanhoozier's path to winning a seat on the town council can probably be seen on the bottom of his shoes.

"I did an awful lot of walking," Vanhoozier said.

Vanhoozier said he walked up to seven hours a day last spring, four to five days a week for about six weeks garnering support for the election.

He said he wanted to reach people and let them know he was serious about serving them.

"I tried to tell people that I wanted to be a voice for them in the community. I felt that was very important and something that I'd try to adhere to," he said.

Leaving an impression

Vanhoozier said he got a feel for how town government works by serving on the Christiansburg Planning Commission for three years.

After retiring from Northrop Grumman Corp. in 2002, Vanhoozier decided to take a position on the commission to find a way to give back to his community, he said.

Once Vanhoozier was used to the way the town operates, the idea of running for a seat on the council hit him. He first reached out to those he knew on the council and asked whether they thought he'd have a chance at winning.

After being encouraged to throw his hat in the race, Vanhoozier gathered a group of acquaintances to help advise him on his campaign. The main thing they told him was to "get out and meet people and let them meet you" to ensure them that you will represent them properly, Vanhoozier said.

On the day of election, May 6, Vanhoozier found out that his strategy had worked. Many residents approached him and said that they remembered him stopping by their house to speak with them, which helped set him apart from the other candidates. Six candidates were vying for three seats on the council: himself, Henry Showalter, Steve Huppert, Michael Barber, Bill Chafin and Sam Bishop. Barber and Showalter also won.

In fact, Vanhoozier said it was a resident who broke the news that he had won at the council meeting that night.

Sharing his insight

Having been on the council for several months now, Vanhoozier said he hasn't had much trouble acclimating to his new role.

"I don't think it's been a significantly steep adjustment," he said.

Vanhoozier was looking forward to not having to check his e-mail every day after retirement, but realized he had no such luck soon after joining the council. He said that it takes a "certain amount of discipline" to remain in tune with everything going on with government throughout the week.

Vanhoozier said he was able to travel and see much of the country during his working years. Seeing how other areas and governments operate provides him some insight on how to continuously mold Christiansburg into a better place to live and work, he said.

He's no stranger to leadership positions, having served as lieutenant governor of the regional Kiwanis and president of the Christiansburg chapter. Also active in his church, Vanhoozier said it's easier to juggle these activities and give more of himself to them now that he's retired.

When taking a break from his responsibilities, Vanhoozier likes to spend time and energy in his workshop, where he has made a number of objects from wood, including 30 pieces of furniture, some of which are prevalent throughout his house.

Family support

His wife, Gerry Vanhoozier, said the two have entered into a new phase in their lives, and they will live it together as they did much of their previous life.

"We retired on the same day," six years ago, Gerry Vanhoozier said.

She said they both worked for Northrop Grumman, which is how they met. They would drive to work together every day, and even though they worked in different departments, Gerry Vanhoozier said, she enjoyed knowing that he was nearby if she needed him.

When her husband told her that he planned to run for the town council, not only did he have her moral support, but she also contributed physically by accompanying him on those walking trips.

"I always try to back him up," Gerry Vanhoozier said, "That's what he wanted to do so I wanted to make sure he had my support."

She describes her husband as her "best friend" and said that his drive to help people however he can reminds her a lot of her father, whom she lost at the age of 19.

'I'm very blessed'

Jim Vanhoozier said both he and his wife come from large households, so family remains No. 1 in his life.

"We had our Christmas dinner here in December, and there were 45 people in the house," he said.

He said his family is very loving, which he is grateful for and said it helps keep him on track to continue the things he does, be it in the community or on the council.

"All I can say is I'm very blessed," he said.