Buchanan mayoral candidate shares goals for town
I am running for mayor of the Town of Buchanan in the 2024 election. Because many residents may not recognize my name, I’ve been asked to share information about myself and my campaign.
I have so many happy memories growing up in and around Buchanan. Even after my parents decided to move to Roanoke County, we were in Buchanan almost every weekend visiting family. Longtime residents will remember my family – Butch and Eunice Barger; Dot, Stull, Johnny, and David Carson; Walter and Jeanne Barger, along with many other aunts, uncles, and cousins. Sixteen years ago, when I decided to move back to Virginia, I could have moved anywhere in the state, but I missed the Blue Ridge Mountains so much and the only place I wanted to live in was Buchanan. Buchanan, no matter where else I lived, has always had a special place in my heart, and I am thrilled that I was able to find a job nearby and move back.
While I have never held public office before, I do feel that I have the knowledge, experience and skills to be a good mayor and to serve the citizens of Buchanan. Early in my professional life I was a Senior Commercial Claims rep investigating accidents and insurance claims. I developed a valuable skill doing that work: listen to all sides of the story, research the facts, and review the applicable laws before making a decision or taking action. I have continued to hone that skill throughout my professional life as a Litigation Paralegal, overseeing a church’s community assistance program, technology/business/math teacher, Computer Resource Specialist, and Instructional Technology Coordinator. I believe that being able to see all sides of an issue and understand the legal ramifications of a decision is an essential skill for anyone serving in public office.
During my 30 years in public education, I have developed department budgets, written grants and the financial accounting reports for those grants, developed district Technology Plans as required by the State Department of Education, led committees which developed district-wide technology plans and programs, served as president of the Shenandoah Valley Technology Consortium, served as the media liaison for a Virginia Beach school, and was chosen to represent Virginia Beach City Schools in a pilot program developed by the State Department of Education and Old Dominion University. I believe I have the leadership skills and experience to lead our town council as they work hard to meet the needs of our town.
My goals –
- Ensure that town residents are given a forum to express theirviews and concerns through regular public workshops where citizens can talk about what they want for Buchanan, suggestion boxes, online formats for submitting questions and ideas, updating the website and online calendar of events ensuring that essential information is easily available. I want to make it easier for residents to feel like they have a voice and a part in the future of our town.
- Encourage and support the development and success of businesses in town. Reinvent our downtown to make it a place to visit again and not just an area to drive through. Hold monthly meetings with local business owners to discuss what the town can do to help them, what’s working and what’s not working. Develop a guide to starting a business here in town, and encourage the development of a business-to-business organization/team.
- Work with schools and other organizations to help provide opportunities for our youth to learn the skills and make the connections they need to be successful. Work with the Junior Police Academy to open conversations between teens and officers about the kinds of behavior that can cause them problems and what happens if they choose the wrong behavior. Develop a Youth Town Council where students can develop leadership skills and also feel like they have a voice in town issues that affect them.
My vision for Buchanan is simple – keep our many traditions and the charm of the town, while ensuring our citizens have the services they need, encouraging the development of new businesses, and ensuring the continued success of businesses which are already here. Above all, I want to make Buchanan a wonderful place to live, work, and visit in a way that protects the history of Buchanan without impeding progress.
Sue Way
Buchanan
