5 questions for Mayor Sherman Lea

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - July 1 marks Sherman Lea's first day on the job as mayor of Roanoke.

WSLS 10's John Carlin sat down with the new mayor to ask him five questions as he looks forward to his term of office.

Carlin: What do you want to be the first project you want to take now that you're the mayor?

Lea: Well I want to get in and meet with the city manager and start talking about jobs. That was something that I campaigned on throughout the course of the campaign and what we can do to go forward from that standpoint...I think we've had one of the best springs that we've had in the city with the brewery with the Deschutes Brewery coming into our city, and that's been really make some things happen.

He also plans to focus on education and the police department as early projects.

Carlin: What do you think is the status of race relations in Roanoke? It's been known often as one of the most segregated cities in Virginia.

Lea: For the most part, I think we're a city that, we get along well with races. I think there's some things that we can improve on. I think we are divided to a degree. But I don't see the bitterness that we had in other cities...I think we need to continue to talk about race. That's one of the things that I want to do as mayor, is to possibly form a committee to look at race, to talk about it, bring some people together.

Carlin: Do you feel particular pressure from the African-American community to try and improve their situation or do you feel pressure from the community to try and bring everyone together, where are the real pressures that you feel every day as you're walking around Roanoke?

Lea: Let me be honest. You're always going to have a certain amount of pressure. You're going to have certain people in the African-American community that you say you got to improve on this we got a scorecard we want to see where you are. That's part of it. I knew that going in, it's always been there. I've been on Council for 12 years. I understand where we are and what's expected and I feel I have a good grasp for the city...but I want to be the mayor that brings people together. And many people have talked to me about being the second African-American mayor of the city. And the good thing about that is that my focus has been so much about being the second African-American mayor even though that significant...to answer your question, yes I'm sure there will be people talking at me. That's part of it, but I knew that going in. And I look forward to the challenge. And I what I want to do is to make sure that I have an open, honest serve as councilmen and mayor and make sure the people feel like they can trust what I say.

Carlin: What do you think is the biggest problem in Roanoke right now?

Lea: Well we want to make sure that all of our citizens understand our vision for the city. I think that we're concerned about with crime and the things that are happening right now. It's not a major problem but we want to make sure our neighborhoods feel like they are getting things done and that things are happening in the neighborhoods that make them feel like they're a part of the great resurgence... We have to make sure our infrastructure is in place. Roads, sidewalks, buildings, bridges, make sure those things are concerns. So there are some challenges. That we face, But I'm confident will overcome it.

Carlin: What your plan for creating jobs and economic development?

Lea: I'd like to see professional sports come back to the city. I'd like to see strength and to continue to develop our partnership with Virginia Tech and Carilion and as that continues to grow with our medical school here I'd like to see that at another level. I want to continue this. I want to continue to have a vibrant downtown. I want to help restore some of the neighborhoods, some of the old housing and rebuild the community. And I want citizens to feel like in Roanoke we got a chance to make it. Roanoke is a great place to live. I think we started that with our Blue Ridge very scenic area... you only have one vote, but you should be the face of the city, and my role is to make sure that all our citizens have a good place to live good job, and get going. And I'm the type of leader who is not concerned who gets credit for it...I just want to get it done. I look at this opportunity has one to leave the city even to higher heights.


About the Author:

John Carlin co-anchors the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts on WSLS 10.