First African American mayor and vice-mayor team in Roanoke history
by S. Rotan Hale
“Jobs, jobs, jobs,” was one of several resounding points that highlighted newly elected Roanoke City Mayor Sherman Lea’s comments during a victory party held at Taaza restaurant in Roanoke’s Grandin Village.
“Creating jobs that’s important and finding jobs for those who cannot get transportation is most important as well,” he added. “We want to keep our workforce working in the area. First and foremost we have got to find jobs! That enhances the quality of life.”
Lea was one of two democratic candidates to win big as incumbent Anita Price now holds her seat on council as vice-mayor.
Congratulating and thanking the new mayor, Price told the crowd that it was Lea who encouraged her to run for council 8 years ago. “Who would have thought that we would be standing here today as mayor and vice-mayor,” she said pleasantly dazed by it all.
“This campaign is a testimony to how our wonderful and giving community works together,” said Price who won her third term with 21.6% of the vote. “Communication and collaboration can get anything done… here’s to 4 more years!”
As the 2 top winners, both Mayor Lea and Vice-Mayor Price make history as the first African American team to lead Roanoke City Council.
“We want to continue to go as we have. I’m please that we as a city have established ourselves as a mecca of economic development for the last few months and our regional relationship will pay off,” said the new mayor.
“I think we’ve got a lot of great things going with this council and I want to continue to bring in some new perspectives and that’s exciting,” he said in closing comments that triggered several in the crowd to chant “Mayor Lea, Mayor Lea!”
Lea is the city’s first African American mayor since Rev. Noel C. Taylor, a Republican who served from 1975 to 1992. With 82% of the vote Lea trounced neighborhood activist Martin Jeffrey (a write-in candidate).
Lea has dominated the mayoral race since defeating Dave Trinkle in the Democratic primary February (2015). With no Republican opposition on the ballot Lea’s victory was all but sealed. “I’m glad it’s all over,” he said with a triumphant sigh of relief.
By late afternoon most precincts in the area were reporting low voter turnout at around 14% with Eureka checking in at 12%.
“That’s pretty pitiful,” said local Democratic Chairman Steven Niamke who monitored the voters that trickled through the precinct in the gym at Roanoke Academy for Math and Science (RAMS) in northwest.
Independent Michelle Dykstra, a virtual newcomer to local politics entered the race late but amazingly came in strong behind Price with 21.3% of the vote.
Due to conflicting early reports in what first appeared to be a nail-bitter, Independent John Garland a local businessman and developer, won out over Democrat Trish White-Boyd by 49 votes. White-Boyd a neighborhood activist and health care business owner currently has no plans to contest the results.
As part of the Democratic ticket, Freeda Cathcart ran a strong race through the primary but came up short against stiff competition from the other candidates who obviously registered well with voters.
Lea and Price as Democrats are now in the minority as the 2 newcomers joining Independents Bill Bestpitch and Ray Ferris on council.
Whether low voter turnout was a factor in this election or not continues to be a mystery. Nonetheless 2 incumbents–with new positions and 2 new faces–with fresh perspectives will start their Roanoke City Council terms on July 1.
