Citizens for Salem, VA; James Martin, Salem City Council

Citizens for Salem, VA; James Martin, Salem City Council Page to promote James Martin’s re-election to Salem City Council in May, 2020. In my opinion, this is how we will secure our future.

My name is James Martin and I'm running for Salem City Council because I believe we need to refocus our core values as a city, the “Salem Way”. This means being true to our “Salem First" ideals and history of strength, but also ensure that we relentlessly pursue, prepare for and create economic opportunities for both existing and prospective Salem businesses as our workforce needs change. In my vi

ew, it is time to move forward together in renewing our preference for decisive leadership that makes specific and outcome-driven decisions taking direct responsibility for the result. As a community, the City of Salem cannot be reluctant to lead ourselves and we shouldn't apologize for stepping forward to fill a regional performance gap. We should not be shy about trying to improve the lives of our citizens. I, for one, am ready to take a more active role in community decisions to ensure that Salem continues to be one of the safest and best places to raise our families, achieve career goals and forge a future filled with unlimited promise for those who are willing to work for it. If this vision is in line with your thinking, I urge you to connect with me to help make it happen! Together, I believe we can make a positive difference for our city by clearly focusing on re-invigorating the Salem economy to support our families, uplifting city services / staff and revitalizing our physical / cyber infrastructure allowing us to design and build our own future. Please see the "Strategy" tab above for my thoughts on the way forward and links (pull down menus) to citizen surveys you can use to voice your opinion on how we can achieve these goals for OUR city. There's also an "Issue Rating" tab to help prioritize needs for the City of Salem. Feel free to give me a call (540.589.0606) or email ([email protected]) if you would like to have a conversation about OUR future.

05/20/2020
05/20/2020

I’m honored to have served on Salem City Council. Thank you to everyone who voted for me in 2016 & 2020. Congratulations to those elected to serve Salem in the coming term. Good luck!

05/19/2020

City of Salem votes today for City Council. All precincts vote at the Salem Civic Center from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Community Room area. We have folks outside to help direct voters. Enter on the left side of the building. The Community Room side entrance will be clearly marked.

05/19/2020

Salem voters will select from two incumbents and three challengers to fill three open seats on its city council during the state’s municipal elections Tuesday.

Tuesday, May 12th’s Roanoke Times article describing the action City Council took amending City Code to provide a public...
05/14/2020

Tuesday, May 12th’s Roanoke Times article describing the action City Council took amending City Code to provide a public comment period during our Council meetings lacked adequate detail causing concern for many.

To be sure, City Council approved the First Reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article2, Sec 2-56 pertaining to the order of proceedings at Regular Council Meetings to include a Public Comment provision.

The process, structure and guidelines for the public comment process have not been fully discussed, vetted, decided nor approved by Council - which is required. The City Manager and staff can make recommendations but Council will ultimately approve how the Public Comment provision will work.

My view is citizens should be able to speak and ask questions in a structured way at Council meetings. This can be as part of normal, existing Public Hearing agenda item and/or now with the Public Comment section added to the regular meeting agenda. Speaking topics and time limits seem to be prudent guidelines to put in place to help track discussion content and progression to conclusion. City Council is working through a process to define these parameters but it is yet unfinished.

Anyone suggesting we on City Council are deliberately trying to prevent transparency, public comment or withhold information is pushing a false narrative and providing a disservice to those who allow and accept the premise.

Moreover, and specific to the RT article, any General Assembly activity related to the topic of amending Salem City Code providing a Public Comment period during our City Council meetings, was well after this was being discussed, determined and outlined by our staff and Council in relation to requests for public comment by our citizens late last year. Our action in Salem wasn’t “prompted” by anyone outside Salem nor driven by a new state law from Richmond. The Citizens of Salem demanded a Public Comment provision and the City responded.

May 19, 2020 Election Update; All precincts will be open from 6am – 7pm for the May 19 local election. Five precincts w...
05/11/2020

May 19, 2020 Election Update; All precincts will be open from 6am – 7pm for the May 19 local election. Five precincts will now be relocated to the Salem Civic Center for the May 19 election.

Precinct 1 – North Salem #2 – First United Methodist Church

Precinct 3 – Beverly Heights – Fort Lewis Christian Church

Precinct 4 – West Salem – Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

Precinct 7 – South Salem #2 - Cardinal Police Academy

Precinct 9 – Southside Hills – Riverside Evangelical Methodist Church

ANY VOTER that requested and has received their ballot by mail for this election needs to mark their ballot and return it to the Registrar’s office, before 7PM on May 19.

Honored to receive the 2020 Business Leadership Fund endorsement administered by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerc...
05/07/2020

Honored to receive the 2020 Business Leadership Fund endorsement administered by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
210 S. Jefferson St.
Roanoke, VA 24011
www.RoanokeChamber.org

Address

Salem, VA
24153

Telephone

+15405890606

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