by Shawn Nowlin
Daniel Hale has accomplished a lot throughout his 71 years. According to his bio he started and ran his own small janitorial business for many years, participated as an active member in various community groups, became the first African American to manage a restaurant in western Virginia and was a former president of the local NAACP.
Now he wants to add Roanoke City Council member to his resume. On Tuesday, Jan. 12 the longtime Roanoke native joined Anita Price (two-term incumbent) Freeda Cathcart and newcomer Marcus Huffman as the fourth candidate seeking a Democratic nomination for a city council seat.
Characteristics most residents want from their elected officials are: better communication with local government, a more balanced and fair system and/or having their collective opinions taken into consideration when decisions are made. Aware of this, Hale said, “I have the desire for council to consider all options before certain decisions are made that affect citizens.”
Hale passionately spoke on a variety of pressing issues during his speech. “I want to continue to support the Police Department, Fire Department and the EMS Department”, he said when discussing the safety for public workers.
Friends, family members and community supporters who gathered for the announcement cheered throughout his speech. A former president of the Miller Court Neighborhood Alliance, Hale knows that the road to Roanoke City Council will not be easy. It will be especially hard as Hale recently lost his wife Barbara Ann Jackson Hale of fifty years.
Over the years Hale has participated in many notable organizations: Northwest Recreation Club, Roanoke City Futures Planning Committee, Resource Distribution Administration Review Board for the United Way, Roanoke Valley Breakfast Lion Club, Past treasure of the PTA for Round Hill Elementary School and Roanoke City High School Communication Committee among others.
Hales formal announcement happened inside the newly reopened original lobby of Roanoke’s municipal building and afterwards he shook hands, chatted with supporters and hugged family members. “Just think of the things we could do as a whole valley, working together on the same projects,” Hale commented.
“We’ve never been really tight with all our surrounding communities but I think we can become tight.” On February 13, a firehouse primary will take place inside the Berglund Center followed by the general election a few weeks later on March 3.
