Background: Saunders is 60 years old and married. He attended DCC, Averett College,
Winston Salem State University, and the University of Virginia. He is the executive director of Pittsylvania County Community Action Inc. serving Pittsylvania and Henry counties and the cities of Martinsville and Danville. He has been a Danville resident for 34 years and has spent his entire life in the community.

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

I am running for a seat on Danville City Council because I truly care about our city. As a lifelong resident of the region, I believe my years of experience in community service (local, state , and national) business and involvement in business organizations, have prepared me to address the various needs of our city and Danville citizens. Some examples include:
President — Pittsylvania County Chamber Of Commerce
President — Center For Business, Industry & Government
President —Virginia Community Action Partnership
Chairman — Board Of Directors, Dan River Business Development Center
Vice Chairman — Danville/Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facilities Authority
Board Member — Pittsylvania Economic Development
Board Member — West Piedmont Private Industry Council
Board Member — Danville Chamber Of Commerce and others.

In addition, serving as a member of Danville City Council for more than 10 years has given me insight and a working knowledge of how government works and should work. I believe my 35 years of helping to bringing people and communities together, is evidence of my commitment to this city and our region.

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

There are several key issues that require immediate and ongoing attention. I would like to see a dramatic “reduction” in the city’s crime rate. I know that our police department is working very hard to keep our community safe, and is constantly looking for ways to adapt to more frequent arrests and crime prevention techniques. I would like to see more citizens enrolled in “workforce training”. This will result in better jobs being secured, attract more “high paying jobs” to our city, enhance family development, lead to home ownership, crime reduction, decrease the population slide, an overall better economy for Danville, and much, much more.

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?

I would continue to look for more ways to reduce the city’s utilities rate. One such effort has already taken place. The city’s signed an agreement with AMP-Ohio is expected to save Danville residents $277 million, thus avoiding many possible future rate increases. While energy conservation measures are encouraged and taught by the city, we must continue the aggressive pursuit of other money and resources to help low-income, disabled, and senior citizens. I know that churches and other groups are helping many of our residents. My place of employment spends over $40,000 each year, helping many of our city residents with their utility bills. Even with all of the above help, it is still not enough.

Presently, I do not see utility rate relief for the elderly and poor as a “yes” or “no” issue. In my view, this issue needs more discussion. I am open to such a debate along with a cost-benefit analysis. The analysis must include factors such as: taxpayers willingness for their money to be used for such purposes; projected annual cost for such relief; specific guidelines for such expenditures; how such relief would have a lasting/long term benefit for relief recipients; the projected number of recipients who may never have their service interrupted after receiving such relief, and other factors.

For me, favoring more across the board rate cuts for utility customers would depend on the outcome of the above debate and the cost-benefit analysis.

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. Prior to reaching this decision to join AMP-Ohio, much, much study was conducted by many experts in the area of energy conservation, utilities, and accounting. The city’s management team benchmarked national solutions and sought the most efficient and effective solution available - I believe this was our best chance at the time. Still – the city will continue to look for other cost savings during the duration of this contract.

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

Danville Public schools receive more money than the state recommends for a locality with Danville’s demographics. I believe the more than $22 million the city contributes to Danville Public Schools is well deserved, and I am extremely proud of our school system and all of the board members and employees! I would support more dollars going toward the public schools if the need is justified and money is available because it is a good return on investment for preparing our students to become the area’s future workforce.

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 absolutely support this regional economic development effort with Pittsylvania County! I lived in Pittsylvania County for the first half of my life. The second half finds me as a city of Danville resident. Our economy is no longer controlled locally, but is more and more global in nature. Once we competed with neighboring towns and cities, today we compete with locations around the world. Cooperative ventures enhance our ability to successfully compete in this global arena.

Yes. I would love to see more joint city/county projects in the future! I am extremely proud to have been a Danville City Council member in 1996, to help implement this new initiative. It has been proven that it was the right thing to do, and continues to pay dividends. A large proportion of the job creation in this region has been from the city/county regional initiatives. As we work together, we will continue to benefit from recognition as a region that puts the needs of the businesses first – accomplishing solutions that extend beyond the capabilities of one locality by partnering for the betterment of our citizens.

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

Danville City Manager Jerry Gwaltney is doing the job he was hired to do for Danville. I was a member of Danville City Council when Jerry Gwaltney was interviewed and subsequently hired. Of the many expectations set for him, economic development was the top priority – “bring new jobs to Danville.” He has done, and continues to do this task for our city. I believe this to be among his strongest assets. Building a strong financial base for the city was another area of expectations, this continues to be accomplished, and the city now has an excellent bond rating demonstrating the fiscal oversight of his administration. Simultaneously he has sought resources to address the city’s beautification and quality of life, expanding on existing efforts to identify opportunities to link private support with state and federal incentives. This is demonstrated in the downtown revitalization projects like the train station and science museum, the downtown façade program, in the Cyberpark and Institute for Advanced Learning And Research, the Riverwalk and biking trails and many other initiatives across the region.

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?

The issue of population loss in Danville can be addressed by bringing in more diverse jobs and opportunities. This will help keep our residents here, retrieve or bring back those who left for other employment, and cause others to move to Danville to work, live, and raise their families. This diversity in jobs must also include “high tech” jobs. Yes. This is the time to recruit former city residents back home. Far too many of the city’s high school and college graduates leave and do not return home after graduation. “high tech” and other jobs will help keep our young people home, bring others back, and they will raise and grow their families here in Danville. Like many cities, Danville has experienced a loss of population to suburban developments in the surrounding area. Over recent years, there is a renewed vigor and enthusiasm for the growth of the emerging revitalization of downtown and historical sections of Danville. Many people crave the amenities of the down town area, and the city is responding to the diversity of this demand. Walking and bike trails, loft apartments, restoration of historical homes and buildings are among the initiatives that are starting to reinvigorate the downtown area.

While the economy seems to be in a down turn everywhere around the country, Danville’s future is brighter than most. This is one of our most attractive marketing tools. Jobs, cost of living (affordable housing, other goods and services, etc.)

Positions Danville for population expansion. Reducing our crime rate, low/reasonable taxes, recreation, and overall quality of life should be marketed as reasons to consider living in Danville. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

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?

Yes - I wholeheartedly support Danville’s retail strategy. Yes - I think it will work. While some retail jobs do not pay as much as some other employment, these jobs are a major resource for many of your young people, as well as adults seeking management and part-time positions. Many of our young people in high school and college need work. While there expenses may not be as extensive as some other adults and families, they still need work.

These new retail stores will produce much needed revenue for our city, in the form of sales tax. The strategy will increase Danville’s “daytime population” through visitors throughout the region, thereby enabling other businesses throughout the city, to increase their sales and profit margins. The retail hub strategy is a win-win for everyone.

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 must escalate its education and awareness campaign, for employment preparedness. In the words of William H. Pritchett, member of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors: “All people 60 years old or younger should go back to school”. Work skills must be learned, upgraded, and maintained. Danville has lost many manufacturing and tobacco related jobs. Danville in partnership with Pittsylvania County, has announced over 7,000 new jobs coming to our region. Many of those jobs are here, and employers are hiring daily. It is imperative that we develop innovative ways to build a “database” inclusive of a labor pool of available and interested workers.

To develop an effective workforce development system, all agencies and organizations that work with job seekers must pool their resources in training, transportation, childcare, and other services, to insure there are no excuses for job training and job re-training. All must be certain of the needs of all job seekers, and tailor the training to meet the specified needs.

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?

Tourism is very important to the city of Danville. There are many historic land marks, and other attractions for visitors to enjoy. I support the current level of spending at this time. The city markets itself in various ways, to include economic development, trade shows, internet (world wide web), trade magazines, state department of tourism, etc. And should continue to do so.

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?

A diverse offering of jobs, shopping, healthcare, recreation, entertainment, and competitive cost of living are just a few of the elements that will attract people to our city and retain those that are already here, and make it a place that is attractive to people of all ages.

I believe it would be helpful to talk with many of the people who have located within our city from places all over the world. Understanding why they chose Danville as a place to live, will give insight as to what is working, and what opportunities exist.

13). What is your proposal for revitalizing downtown?

The effort to revitalize downtown should continue, with proper incentives for businesses and organizations to invest in downtown Danville. Real or imagined, I believe a more centralized parking lot will enhance this effort. The idea of more living quarters (apartments/condominiums) will continue to create a more robust sense of community; that will attract more providers of goods and services for these added consumers.

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

Yes. The landscaping program or “digs” (Danville interchange gardens) is a successful public/private partnership. In addition to beautifying our city, it also instills a sense of pride among our citizens, and serves as an incentive for many of them to improve and maintain their property. The private sector should be appreciated for investing their dollars into this successful project. This is a model of government and the private sector championing a solution that is cost effective and maximizes outcomes without undue costs to the taxpayers of the city.

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

Bringing new jobs to our city, awareness and education are some crime prevention measures. Crime, in general, can be addressed through citizen cooperation with law enforcement. Police officers cannot be everywhere at the same time; those who commit crime know this best. Crime is reduced by more arrests; more arrests are made possible due to better and increased levels of communication and information.

The issue of gangs can best be addressed by parents, neighbors, and the general community working together. More focus on education, and organized/supervised afternoon and evening activities, should also serve as a deterrent to gangs. Our youth must be kept busy in constructive and productive ways.