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Before the May 6 Election Day, candidates will respond to readers who submitted questions on the upcoming election for Roanoke City Council. The candidates' replies appear below in alphabetical order. To see a specific candidate's response, click on the name below.

Candidates for mayor: David Bowers | Nelson Harris | Anita Powell | George Sgouros

Candidates for city council: Dale Edmonston | Valerie Garner | Sherman Lea | Anita Price | Court Rosen | Brian Wishneff

Topic: Moving municipal elections to November

Would you support moving Roanoke’s municipal elections to November?

—Barbara Duerk

Candidates for mayor

David Bowers

David Bowers (I): Yes, It is a great idea to move municipal elections from May to November. The turnout for May elections has been atrocious the last several times, and I think more people would follow the race and vote if it is connected with a November voting date. My preference would be to coincide the municipal elections with the state November elections, not national elections. This would help to increase voter participation in municipal elections.

Nelson Harris

Nelson Harris (D): Yes, if they are conducted in odd-numbered years to coincide with state elections as there are often interrelated issues between municipal and state levels of government. This would be less expensive by having only one election as opposed to two. Further, this would probably increase voter participation.

Anita Powell

Anita Powell (I):Yes, I support moving Roanoke’s municipal elections to November because most citizens associate voting with the month of November due to presidential elections. I believe changing the election to November would have the added benefit of improved voter turn out for local elections.

George Sgouros

George Sgouros (I): “Yes!” I feel that moving Roanoke’s municipal elections to November would align it with the national norm, and create a “more responsive attitude for citizen involvement in voting,” if it coincided with the more important November presidential and state government elections. It would eliminate a double effort on the part of the voter and the registrar’s office. Current local voting figures sadly display “an apathy of involvement on the part of the citizen” to evoke his privilege to vote in May elections. Voting at a time different time as the national elections causes “an attitude of diminished purpose and importance” of one’s civil consciousness of duty to implement change, and ratify one’s opinion on the social conduct of our local leaders and their policies. It places a tone of less importance on the local venue of government that is unwarranted in the operation of society, since “sadly at times, the decisions of local government and local economics affects the citizen, and their wallet more” than that of the broad scope of state and federal decisions.

“Having municipal elections in November would eliminate confusion” on the part of the public, and save money in the coffers of government and citizens alike, since the double election set-up costs on ballot creation, advertising, travel to the polls, voting arrangements, and absentee ballot mailings and collections will be reduced by half.

“Voting, and elective office are a marriage of privileges and duties;’ and like a marriage, not to be entered into lightly.

Candidates for council

Dale Edmonston

Dale Edmonston (I):Yes. To save money.

Valerie Garner

Valerie Garner (I): I would support an ordinance as provided under state law to move the May elections to November to coincide with state and national elections. Election costs are borne by the taxpayers so moving the elections from May to November would result in a substantial taxpayer savings. Turnout for May elections is abysmal as citizens have difficulty remembering the date of the May election. Alternatively the registered voters of Roanoke can petition the Circuit Court to move the May elections to November with a petition of 10 percent of the registered voters. The question would then be placed on the ballot.

Sherman Lea

Sherman Lea (D): Yes, I would support moving the municipal elections to November. I first suggested such an action in my declaration of candidacy speech for Roanoke City Council on December 6, 2007, at the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium. The reason I would support such a move would be that I feel it would increase citizen participation. At the time I suggested this, Blacksburg was considering a similar option. Citizens appear to be more accustomed to voting in November in Virginia. We hold General Assembly, gubernatorial and, of course, presidential elections in November. It seems that in Roanoke even with hot-button issues there is a lack of voter participation in May.

Anita Price

Anita Price (D): I would be in favor of doing this if for no other reason than to cut down and eliminate the confusion and expense of running two elections. I think it would also improve voter turnout.

Court Rosen

Court Rosen (D):The more people that participate in the electoral process, the better off we are as a community. People are able to voice their opinions through their vote. City council and local government often have more impact on the everyday lives of folks than do other levels of government. The greater the participation of people in local elections, the more influence citizens have on the direction of their city. If, in fact, a municipal election in November would increase voter turnout, I am in favor of making this change.

If our municipal elections are moved to November, we should also consider holding such elections during odd numbered years. First, this would allow municipal elections to be held at the same time that other state office elections are held, and thus keep the focus on issues within the commonwealth. Second, by holding the elections in November of odd years, we don’t run the risk of our municipal elections being overshadowed by presidential elections. Again, my opinion of moving the elections to November and odd numbered years is conditioned on having evidence that such moves would increase voter participation.

Brian Wishneff

Brian Wishneff (I):Yes. It is a great idea. Voter turnout at local elections in May is very low. Moving our elections to November when we already have other statewide elections will significantly increase voter turnout. In addition, it will minimize the amount of money needed for a successful campaign as voters will already be going to the polls to vote in another election. Now with the election in May it takes a significant amount of money and effort to get the vote out.