Background: Born: May 5, 1948 and moved to Danville in 1976 (32 years ago). Married to Charlette J. Bridgeforth. One son — Cecil Bridgeforth. Education: Associate’s degree in business management, Bachelor’s degree in business administration and Master’s degrees in divinity and education. I work as a special education inclusion instructor at E.A. Gibson Middle School and pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church.

1). Why are you running for a seat on Danville City Council?

I am running for Danville City Council because of the “ Big High”: High unemployment, High STD, High Crime, High Utilities, High Drop-out rate, High fees accessed to the citizens of Danville, High illiteracy, and High drug problem.

2). What would you like to accomplish during your first year on Danville City Council?

Within the first year of being on Council, I, along with others, would have a plan of attack in place and would have begun to bring down all these highs.

3). What would you do about the cost of utilities in Danville? Do you support utility rate relief for the elderly poor and disabled? Do you favor more across-the-board rate cuts for utility customers?

When a citizen gets their utilities bill, there are several items that affect the total bill. Water, Gas, Electric, Sewage, different fees and taxes. We need to look at each item and access each one.

We cannot just look at relief for the elderly, poor and disabled. We must look at the total picture of need. I would consider an across the board rate relief, and again looking at the total make up of the entire utility bill.

4). Do you support the city’s plan to join with
AMP-Ohio to build a new electric power plant? Is that our best chance to stabilize electric rates?

Yes, I would support the city’s plan to join with AMP-Ohio to build a new electric power plant; however, the cost factor has to be looked at first. Much has to be considered when talking about stabilizing our electric rates.

5). Does Danville Public Schools receive enough money from Danville City Council? Would you support more local dollars going toward the public schools?

What is enough? The greatest assets we have are our children. They will one day sit where we are and if we fail to do what we can while we can and how we can, we will be the ones to suffer. Dr. Davis and her staff are doing a great job with what they have.

Do they receive enough? Right now, with out seeing the budget, I don’t know. Would I support more local dollars going toward the public schools? Yes.

6). Do you support the city’s cooperative economic development efforts with Pittsylvania County? Would you like to see more joint city-county projects in the future?

Yes, I support this concept. I look forward to the continuous cooperative economic development efforts with Pittsylvania County. I would like to see more joint city-county projects in the future; however, I would like to see a broader based effort. Danville and Pittsylvania County are not the only ones who are hurting in the areas of “HIGHS”. Martinsville, Henry County, South Boston, Halifax and I would go further to say Nottoway and Lunenburg Counties. Northern Virginia has a greater tax base and has more going for them than we do.

Therefore, I believe we can join forces with those around us and see what we have in common. We can establish something that we can market that will cause major industry to look at us. With the idea of being a retail hub, Danville would be sitting on a gold mine.

7). How would you grade Danville City Manager Jerry Gwaltney on his job performance? What is his strongest asset? What should he do differently?

City Manager Jerry Gwaltney is doing his job. He may not do everything that pleases us, but he is on the firing line everyday. His strongest asset would be his continuous vision for this city.

8). How would you address the issue of population loss in Danville? Is this now the time to try to recruit former city residents “back home”? How would you do this?

To address the issue of population loss would require the cooperation of the entire council. I must refer to the reason I am running for Danville City Council. There must be a reduction in the Highs in this city. We do this by being more aggressive in continuing economic development. This will require preparing and equipping a work force that is literate, and drug free. This will attract industry. Industry means more jobs; more jobs mean more people coming to Danville looking for a place to settle down.

9). Do you support Danville’s retail hub strategy (to attract retail stores here as part of the overall economic development plan)? Do you think it will work?

I support Danville’s retail hub strategy; however, the hub can only be as successful as those around us and if we are to depend on our neighbors, then they have to be in a better shape. Retail brings jobs, but most of them are only part time without any benefits. Part time jobs attract high school student and retirees.

10). How should the city help prepare local residents for the jobs that are coming to the community? What role should City Council have in the development of an effective work force development system?

The city as a whole has many opportunities for the unlearned to learn. It takes the residents who are hungry enough to take full advantage of these opportunities. The city council can continue to keep before the residents the jobs that will be coming and what the requirements will be. Once that’s done, it’s up to the residents to come forward and take advantage of the educational programs that are available.

11). How important is tourism to Danville? Are Danville’s historic sites attractive to outside visitors? Should the city spend more or less on tourism?

Right now we need to promote Industry that will pay decent wages and job security. It’s a good time to put a freeze on spending on tourism and focus on reducing Utilities and bring down the other highs this city is experiencing.

12). How would you attract people to the city/retain those that are already here and make it a place that is attractive to people of all ages?

Get rid of the Highs. What attracts people to an area? Job opportunities, jobs with a future, low unemployment, low STD, low Crime, low Utilities, low Drop-out rates, low fees accessed to its citizens, low illiteracy, and low drug problems. Not only must there be jobs, but recreation as well.

13). What is your proposal for revitalizing downtown?

It is evident that new retail and new businesses are not being redirected to the down town area; therefore, with the new businesses and industries coming into the area, the city can revitalize this area for executive offices.

14). Is the city’s landscaping program worth the money that has been spent on it?

The city’s landscaping program has beautified the city; however I do not know the cost so I cannot say if it’s worth the money spent on it.

15). How should City Council attack the problems of crime in general, and gangs in particular?

The City Council should support Chief Broadfoot and the police department in whatever way it can. I would be interested in the areas in which the police are called the most. Do these areas consist of home ownership or are they high rental areas? If it is high in rental property there are some things city council can do.