The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE Va. (VR) – Candidates for Clifton Forge Town Council met on Sept. 4 at the iconic Masonic Theater to answer the many questions and hear the concerns of the voting public of Clifton Forge. The event was just one of three forums being hosted in the County by the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. By the posted starting time there was a large crowd on hand. It began promptly at 6 p.m. after assuring all wanting to attend were present and anyone with questions for the candidates had submitted them.
Executive Director Josh Taylor started the evening off by thanking everyone who made the night’s forum possible and introducing its moderator Dr. John Rainone. Candidates on hand to answer the communities’ questions were Councilman Carl “Shorty” Wolfe, Mayor Jeff Irvine, and newcomer Mike Foster. Each candidate was allowed to give an opening statement and explain why they were running and what would make them a viable choice for the Town Council.
Mike Foster was allowed to start things off. He explained that when he moved to Allegheny County part of his dream for the future was to make a difference by getting involved in the community and helping to grow local businesses and the area as a whole. He went on to explain that he grew up to be the son of a fifth-generation beekeeper in a small Montana town and he understands the struggles small businesses go through.
Mayor Jeff Irvine kicked his opening statement off by giving a rundown of the time he has happily devoted to seeing Clifton Forge succeed. He has spent thirteen years on the council, during which he’s held the titles of both Mayor and Vice Mayor. He thinks the town is headed in the right direction and changing its leadership during this time could be costly to the success they’ve built. He has lived in Clifton Forge his entire 62 years and believes that a vote for him is a vote in the right direction.
Carl “Shorty” Wolfe used his opening statement to describe himself as a family man with two children and six grandchildren. He wants to create a town that not only allows them to stay and build their lives but that they choose to stay in and make forever their home. He’s served on the Town Council for four years, believes that a lot of progress has been made, and hopes that the community’s vote allows him to continue as a council member.
The first question of the evening dealt with the number of run-down, decrepit houses in Clifton Forge and how they would incentivize citizens to fix up those properties. Mayor Irvine answered first by saying that the first step would be to put them on a registry and make a fee of up to $150 for noncompliance. Before charging the fee though, he would like someone from the town to sit down with owners and try to resolve the issue verbally because fees and fines should be the last resort.
Councilman Wolfe pointed out that he has fixed up and sold ten run-down properties himself and thinks the answer lies not in sending letters and fines, but in sitting down and talking to the owners and hearing what they have to say. Wolfe pointed out that it’s an extremely complicated issue with property rights and personalities involved. He would reach out to other governments like the House of Delegates in Richmond to explain the town’s issues. If successful, the town can walk away with additional funding or grants to make a notable change in the aesthetic beauty of Clifton Forge.
There were many questions posed to the hopeful candidates, topics of which touched on all areas of local government, from the economy down to Parks and Recreation. After the question-and-answer portion of the evening, each candidate was allotted three minutes to present information about their candidacy and to explain why they are running for office. Wolfe began by exclaiming “I love Clifton Forge.” He went on to talk about the town’s prosperity in the 1960s and 1970s and said that he wants to see it prosper that way again. He wants to take steps that encourage others to want to move back into the town. He thinks Clifton Forge is a wonderful place to live but wants to do more to ensure that its greatness only increases, and its prosperity never falters.
Foster ended by telling a story about a stranger helping his family when he was young and how that experience molded him into the same type of person. He wants to be a council member who exudes compassion and understanding. He thinks that every citizen deserves to be heard. He went on to describe that every life has its own story and that he, more than anything, wants the bettering of Clifton Forge to be a big part of his story.
Irvine stated that everyone in Clifton Forge knows him and what he’s about. He happily sits down with the people he represents hears, their problems and tries to help in any way he can. Mayor Irvine stated that everyone in Clifton Forge needs to be accurately represented and he thinks he does that. He tries to be very approachable whether it’s in a store or on the street and would appreciate everyone’s vote on Nov. 5.
The candidates were then treated to a very enthusiastic round of applause for giving everyone the chance to hear about the important things they have planned for their beloved town. Thanks were given to the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Masonic Theater.
A full video of the forum can be watched on The Virginian Review’s Facebook page along with many other news stories and community
happenings.
If you missed the AH Chamber forums, you’ve still got one more chance. The Virginian Review is hosting its election debate on Oct. 3, at 6 p.m., which will be held at the Historic Masonic Theatre and live-streamed on the VR’s Facebook page.
Everyone is encouraged to come out and vote on Nov. 5.
