by Shawn Nowlin
When one announces they are seeking local office, vital to how successful they become will be galvanizing a coalition of support in the community.
At the start of the year, the Roanoke City Council voted to drop the local revenue percentage available to schools from potentially 40 percent to 34 percent annually. That decision, in large part, motivated Kathy Cohen to run for a city council seat.
Historically, Roanoke elects Democrats to local offices. Only one Republican has served on the council in more than two decades and that’s current member Nick Hagen.
There are three open council seats. Cohen, an Independent, is the second candidate to announce a run after Democrat Peter Volosin, an incumbent, did the same last year. Independent Evelyn Powers, who was appointed in 2025 to fill an empty seat, has said she does not plan to run.
Since leaving office in 2016, former Roanoke Mayor Dave Bowers has since been on practically every council election ballot. Two years ago, the Democrat turned Independent turned Republican lost to Joe Cobb in the mayoral race by 29 votes.
Cohen held a kickoff event on March 1 at Fishburn Park with supporters, including NAACP local Chapter President Dr. Brenda Hale, the Rev. David Jones of Williams Memorial Baptist Church, retired educator John McKay and high school student Theodore Hartman.
“Across the years, Kathy has been one of the people that I’ve turned to more often than others. We share many of the same goals for this community,” Jones said. “Kathy has been a steadfast ally. She is a deep well of intelligence and has already proven what she can do when given the opportunity.”
“It’s good to be out here today. Kathy Cohen is an agent of change. She has broken major glass ceilings. And when you break such a ceiling, you must destroy it so they can’t bring it back again,” Hale said. “She was the first female rabbi at Temple Emmanuel. She is also the chairperson of the Roanoke City Gun Violence Prevention Commission. And folks, that is no easy task.”
Running for local office can be a costly endeavor, something that Cohen is all too familiar with.
“As a proud resident and retired professional, I am committed to putting people over politics. As someone who has spent countless hours volunteering in our schools, coaching our youth sports and participating in many local initiatives, I know our city’s strengths and challenges.”
She added, “My platform is built around three core priorities that I believe are essential to our city’s success – investing in our schools, community safety and economic development.”
In the coming weeks, additional candidates are expected to announce their campaigns. As the filing deadline for city council primary challengers is April 2, independent candidates have until June 16. The general election will be Nov. 3.
For more information, visit www.kathy-cohen.com.
