Since 1952, the Town of Blacksburg has been organized under the Council-Manager form of government. Blacksburg Town Council is the legislative body responsible for adopting all ordinances and resolutions, approving the annual operating and capital budgets, setting all tax rates, approving the five year Capital Improvement Program, setting all user fees, making land use and zoning decisions, and establishing long range plans and policies.Blacksburg Town Council has six members elected for four-year staggered terms. Three members will be elected this year. Town Council elections are held on the first Tuesday in November in odd numbered years.
Locality
Town of Blacksburg
Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/SusanAndersonforCouncil/
Housing is Blacksburg’s biggest challenge. We need more diverse and affordable housing. Council has accomplished much, but much work remains.
We allocated over $2.5 million in ARPA funds to create the Blacksburg Affordable Housing Fund, used for 3 projects under construction. We created a community land trust; the land is owned by a nonprofit, so it is not included in the home purchase price, protecting affordability long-term. We created small lot zoning districts for more modest homes. We can waive water and sewer availability fees. We allow attached and detached units, increasing housing stock and aiding affordability. We joined the NRV Housing Trust Fund to support regional affordability. I welcome new ideas and housing best practices.
I’m running for re-election to Town Council on a platform of shared community values: diverse, affordable housing, a high quality of life for our residents, smart growth, abundant recreational opportunities, openness in government with active citizen participation. My priorities include creating workforce, young professional, and senior housing options; managing sustainable growth and development via our Comprehensive Plan; enhancing public and alternative transportation; preserving green space and natural areas; revitalizing Downtown; enhancing relationships with other NRV localities; and restoring faith in government.
I strive to live up to my family’s motto, “Leave the wood pile higher,” as I work to build a better Blacksburg.
I’m running on my record of service and accomplishments. I have been elected to Town Council five times, serving four terms as vice mayor. I have gained great leadership experience on Council, serve on the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board, am the Downtown Revitalization Committee chair, am the NRV Regional Commission vice chair, and am on the Our Bodies Our Choice leadership team.
I understand the complexity and processes of town government. I am active in Downtown revitalization work and efforts to bring more affordable and diverse housing options to Blacksburg. I’m a good listener and understand compromise. I believe in civility and diplomacy, am organized and responsible, and have enormous energy and a strong work ethic.
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Locality
Montgomery County
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575252310743
Housing is one of the biggest challenges right now, which is especially felt by anyone who didn't purchase a home recently. But there are some common sense reforms we can make quickly to help:
1. Allow Single-Family Home Conversions – Let people turn their homes into duplexes or triplexes.
2. Permit Backyard Cottages – Legalize small additional homes (ADUs) in every residential area.
3. Legalize Starter Homes – Make it possible to build smaller, more affordable homes.
4. Eliminate Minimum Lot Sizes – Allow more housing in existing neighborhoods without artificial barriers.
5. End Parking Mandates for Housing – Stop requiring costly, unnecessary parking that makes housing more expensive.
6. Streamline the Approval Process
As a dad with a young family, there are three things that I want to focus on if I am elected to town council. Those three things are Connection, Resilience, and Livability.
There are layers to each of those priorities, but practical examples include: investing in allowing our kids to use our transportation network safely, so they can be active participants in their community and be with their friends in-person instead of through a screen. We could create a financial dashboard of town finances to ensure the town’s infrastructure and services can endure the effects of forces such as growth or climate change.
If I can do a good job improving those three things in our town then I will consider my time on town council a successful endeavor.
For the past several years, I’ve had a persistent interest in town government and how the decisions we make as a community impacts our lives in tangible ways. I completed the town’s Citizens Institute in 2024, and have since joined our Housing Committee to get a direct perspective on some of the challenges and issues that we have with regard to housing and affordability in Blacksburg. I currently serve as the treasurer for the NRVBA, and I'm actively engaged in our public school system as an educator, PTA member, and Bike Bus Coordinator.
In short, I'm passionate about work that revolves around supporting people in active, intentional ways, and I see Town Council as another opportunity to continue serving my community in that way.
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