In the wake of local wins but statewide losses, local Republican representatives called for collaboration at Lynchburg City Council’s annual legislative dinner.
Longtime legislator Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, who did not seek reelection in November to the Virginia Senate, thanked council members for the relationships they’ve shared with him.
“And that’s the way Lynchburg works, and I hope you’ll keep that up,” Newman said.
“I think Lynchburg’s got to work that way. When it comes to our big policy items, we’re going to feverishly disagree on some policy, right? But when it comes to what’s good for the city, what we’ve been doing the last 30 years or so is we’ve been sitting down. I would sit down with [former Virginia Sen.] Elliot Schewel. We didn’t agree on everything, he didn’t let me in his office for a few years, but in the end, what was important to Lynchburg, we did that, and I hope we’ll continue to do that.”
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Retiring after more than 30 years representing the Lynchburg area in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, Newman told city leaders and staff about his concerns for the region in light of major turnover in the General Assembly.
“You guys, we are always under attack on transportation funding and you don’t see it because we have people on the committee that beats it down. There’s a constant move to make sure that the money is going to Northern Virginia and Eastern Virginia and Tidewater because they need it.”
Newman said he’s concerned the region will fall behind if the General Assembly opts to change the Virginia Department of Transportation’s system for funding transportation projects; and the SOQ, or Standards of Quality, formula that determines state funding for instructional positions in public schools.
“Let me tell you, any change to the SOQ funding is bad for you. We have fought and fought and fought and fought in the finance committee and in the committees of education to make sure we don’t adjust it.”
Newman encouraged more regional partnerships, which recently reelected Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, and Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, both echoed in their addresses.
“We’re going to have to do the best we can to work with Roanoke, to work with Bristol, to work with Abingdon, to come up with joint ventures as best we can,” Peake said.
“Not a lot of partisan legislation is going to go through the next two years. Common sense legislation that affects people’s standard of living, their way of life, their safety, education, I think we can agree on those bills …” Peake said, adding he and Walker can help with funding regionally-specific projects.
Peake said mental health and public safety funding will continue to be a priority.
“When we go back again we’ll continue to focus on public safety, I think that’s one of the most important things we do. That is one of the core functions of government, if you’re not safe in your community, if you’re not safe in your home, on your street, where you go to work, nothing else really matters. You can’t work, you can’t do those things, if your kids aren’t safe in school they can’t learn.”
Wendell said the relationships he and Peake have built across the aisle will be important to get things done in the next four years.
“I think the most important thing is, and this is something everybody needs to remember, politics is about building relationships to get legislation done. So whether it’s the local level, the state level, or the national level, we’re all neighbors here. We have different opinions, we go to different churches, all different things, but we’re still a community, so we have to find those ways by which to work to get things accomplished for the betterment of our communities …”
Newman honored
After dinner, Mayor Stephanie Reed and Newman unveiled a new sign to designate Odd Fellows Road from U.S. 460 to the Lynchburg Expressway as “Senator Steve Newman Parkway.” City Council voted unanimously in favor of the overlay on Sept. 26.
“He has served in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate for more than 32 years with nine Virginia governors both Republican and Democrat, both in the minority and majority. He is well known for sticking to his conservative principles while trying to find common ground to solve problems for the benefit of his constituents and the citizens of the commonwealth,” Reed said.
Emma Martin, (434) 385-5556