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BLACKSBURG Town Mayor

The Blacksburg mayor and members of town council serve four-year staggered terms.

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    Peter Macedo
    (Ind)

  • Candidate picture

    Michael D. Sutphin
    (Ind)

Biographical Information

Why are you running for mayor?

What experience and skills make you the best candidate for mayor?

How to you see the role of mayor in this community?

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Locality Blacksburg
Campaign Web Site http://www.michaelsutphin.com
Campaign Email michael.sutphin@gmail.com
Facebook Page www.facebook.com/sutphinforblacksburg
I’m running for mayor because I believe Blacksburg’s best days are ahead of us. For more than 13 years on Town Council, I’ve worked to balance growth with preserving what makes our town special. We face complex challenges—housing affordability, transportation, sustainability, and town-gown relations—that require experienced leadership from day one. As vice mayor, I’ve built regional partnerships, advanced policies to expand housing choices, and supported investments in infrastructure and public transit. As mayor, I’ll continue bringing people together to expand opportunities, strengthen our community, and build a sustainable future for all of Blacksburg.
I bring more than 13 years of service in local government and am now in my fourth term on Town Council and second term as vice mayor. I also previously served on the Blacksburg Planning Commission. I represent the town on the New River Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Virginia Tech–Blacksburg Liaison Committee, and the Greater Montgomery Liaison Group, where I’ve worked on regional planning and collaboration. These roles have given me deep knowledge of housing, transportation, and sustainability issues. My work with community and civic groups, along with a record of consensus-building and public engagement, has prepared me to serve effectively as mayor.
The mayor serves as both a leader and a bridge-builder, representing all Blacksburg residents while ensuring local government remains transparent and accountable. The role is about setting a tone of civility and inclusiveness, presiding over council meetings, and working with Virginia Tech and regional partners on shared challenges. Town leadership requires balancing growth with sustainability and economic development with environmental protection. By listening to residents and focusing on our shared values, the mayor can help preserve what makes Blacksburg special while planning for our future.