Freeda Cathcart: “People need to stop struggling and start connecting!”
A small group of supporters gathered at Market Square Walkway (glass overpass between Downtown and Hotel Roanoke) as Democrat Freeda Cathcart announced her bid for Roanoke City Council.
With major emphasis on “connecting citizens to work, cooperate, connect and collaborate together, Cathcart hopes to “make Roanoke even better considering the great potential that it has.”
Cathcart, now 55, came to the area to attend Roanoke College. After graduation she relocated to London, England only to be drawn back to the “wonderful quality of life… and cultural diversity in Roanoke,” she said.
Her first job, upon returning, was as waitress at Hotel Roanoke. She also worked at Miller and Rhodes, a department store in Roanoke at one time. Cathcart also worked as a teller-marketer prior to becoming a teacher in the local public school system.
She finally secured a position in insurance–a field she was most passionate about and was hired at Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. where she rose to an executive position and was chosen to automate the reinsurance department.
“We need to stop struggling and start connecting,” Cathcart said with a certain confidence. It was a statement that resonated with her focus on jobs in the area. “Our children don’t have the same career opportunities that once existed,” she commented. “I want to work with the city to make sure that our children are prepared for jobs in the future and those jobs are located right here in the city and are good paying jobs.”
She also stressed a need for those in power to “connect with the under employed and unemployed to make sure that everybody has job growth opportunities that benefit our city.”
Furthermore she expressed her intentions to work with local public schools, Virginia Western Community College, the Higher Education Center and local industries to “prepare our children to enter the workforce.”
Through her extensive list of convictions she also vowed to protect “neighborhood amenities” as public parks, libraries etc.
She referred to Roanoke as the “Magic City” and mentioned several of the area’s future enhancements as the return of passenger rail service (Amtrak) and upgraded broadband internet telecommunications which is reportedly 20 times faster than present service.
“I want to make sure this service is offered in every region of Roanoke City–bringing opportunity to all,” she stated.
Responding to one questions from the audience regarding growth of businesses downtown vs neighborhood stimulation, Cathcart pointed out that “neighborhoods deserve the investment so they can thrive,” and said it makes since for the economy of the future that “small businesses are in neighborhoods where people live… they are the engine for any economy.”
Cathcart, who is no stranger to the local political scene ran for Roanoke City Council in 2013 and also ran twice for House of Delegates–all to no avail.
Nonetheless she was appointed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy and founded the group Mothers Against Uranium Mining.
She is also president of the Grandin Court Neighborhood Association and chairs the Public Policy for the Blue Ridge District General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Virginia.
Cathcart is seeking to win one of 3 seats up for grabs in the upcoming City Council race.
Official voting begins at the Democratic Primary on February 13 from noon-7:00 p.m. at the Berglund Center.
