David Bowers - Roanoke City Candidate for Mayor
Campground Reopening: Are you committed to working with the National Park Service to reopen the Roanoke Mountain Campground for overnight access?
Yes….This campground has been closed too long.
Greenway Completion: Will you use your best efforts to secure the right of way and commit to the necessary funding to complete the Roanoke River Greenway from Explore Park to Green Hill Park?
Yes….However, it’s my understanding that the river greenway will be completed at both ends in the city, so I’m guessing this is largely a county expense….The city needs to complete the Tinker Creek greenway northward towards Hollins University.
Budget Prioritization: How do you envision balancing budget priorities between greenway development and other infrastructure projects? Will you advocate allocating a dedicated percentage of the annual budget to greenway expansion, maintenance, and improvement?
I was a (young) mayor when the greenways were started in the 1990’s….I supported it financially with public funds then, as I do now….I’d like to know if the city has set a deadline for fully completing the routes in the city….Also, my guess is that once fully implemented, the city will have to direct funds to maintenance, upkeep , lighting and security of our greenway system, and not just expansion.
Economic Benefits: What are the long-term economic benefits of investing in our greenway system and reopening the campground, and how would you communicate these benefits to constituents who may be skeptical of the costs?
As stated above, I helped to advance our city greenways 25 years ago with the idea of extending our park system, protecting the quality of our river for boating, fishing and, hopefully soon, more swimming…The greenways provide an environmentally friendly route for walking, running and biking which allows our citizens to get out and exercise more and enjoy our “urban outdoors.”…It also connects our park system and the top of Mill Mountain…Likewise, all these activities coincide with Virginia’s Blue Ridge eco-tourism friendly initiatives.
Community Engagement: How do you plan to engage with environmental groups and local residents to address concerns about expanding the greenway and reopening the Roanoke Mountain Campground? What strategies will you use to ensure transparency and public involvement in the decision-making process?
Unlike the current City Council, which has rushed through a 90% pay raise, removal of the city manager and a citywide rezoning without concern for transparency and public input, I honestly don’t remember any issue or time in my years as mayor when those concerns were expressed. The public might not have always liked our decision, but the process of decision making was always open and deliberate….That would be how I would govern if elected again!
Resource Allocation: How would you work with adjoining localities to secure additional resources for the region's outdoor recreation initiatives, including the greenway and campground projects? Can you support increasing the recreation budget to a specific target (e.g., from 2% to 3%)?
I think this is a good proposal, but I’d like to if elected, weigh all the demands of the budget before I respond…My main priorities are to return to the 40% city/school budget formula, fully fund a fully staffed police department, and repeal the proposed citywide rezoning ordinance.