Category: Harrisonburg Politics
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City council approves Bluestone Town Center in 3-2 vote
The proposed development split the council much like how it inspired opposing reactions from residents. Here’s how the council members voted and why.
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Deanna Reed remains mayor and Laura Dent becomes vice mayor — making more history for a historic council
With its two new members officially sworn in, the Harrisonburg City Council on Tuesday morning appointed Deanna Reed to stay as mayor and Laura Dent to become vice mayor, marking the first time women will hold the top two positions.
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Vice Mayor Sal Romero ends term on city council and looks to the future
After four years on the city council, Vice Mayor Sal Romero stood up from behind the dais upon the adjournment of Tuesday’s meeting for the last time as a council member — at least for now.
U.S. Rep. Cline fields questions about shootings, education and national politics
Education, rising interest rates, implications of a looming rail strike and gun control were some of the concerns community members took up with Republican U.S. Rep. Ben Cline at an area town hall meeting Tuesday.
Harrisonburg’s Election 2022: Why turnout among certain voters might have lagged
Voter turnout in this month’s general election was lower than the last midterm in 2018, but to Mark Finks, Harrisonburg’s registrar, turnout matched expectations. Finks said there was an uptick in young voters locally, but their turnout rates still appear lower than what was seen nationally.
City braces for higher construction costs, including public works building and potentially the new homeless shelter
Concerns about ballooning construction costs for the city’s homeless services center and low barrier shelter prompted the city council to hold off on finalizing a plan Tuesday for spending its $23.8 million in federal American Recovery Plan Act funds.
Emma Phillips, Kristen Loflin & Andy Kohen win school board race
With all precincts reporting results to the city registrar’s office, Emma Phillips, Kristen Loflin and Andy Kohen have been elected to the Harrisonburg City School Board.
December 7, 2022
Residents and teachers vent to school board about controversial issues and educators being stretched too thin
More than two hours of public comments dominated Tuesday’s Harrisonburg school board meeting as about 20 speakers voiced opinions on several different issues. The jumbling of topics — where one person would talk about working conditions at elementary schools while the next speaker addressed higher suicide rates among LGBTQ+ students followed by another person playing a gospel song to punctuate her point — gave the meeting, at times, the feel of a local political fever dream.