Steppin' Out and Coffee with the Candidates

Steppin' Out was a lot of fun and it was great meeting and discussing issues with many residents of Blacksburg and those from the surrounding region! I wanted to offer my special thanks to Graham, our campaign field organizer, and to TJ, Jenny and Maroon Man for the tremendous help! Friday's "Bryce Crispy Treats" were a big hit and I imagine more batches will come in the future for all to enjoy. Our recycling can designed by Jenny was in an excellent spot and to those we caught in the act we would offer candy which lead to quite a few smiles! Also my fond thanks goes to the Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg, particularly Laureen Blakemore and Sue Drzal for their outstanding coordination efforts to make the event such a success!

I hope everyone enjoyed Steppin' Out! It was a pleasure to discuss the campaign in detail with many of you and I thank those that have offered to help out with the campaign, we'll certainly be in touch soon!

Campaign Field Organizer Graham Owen and myself holding up a filled recycling can in front of our Steppin' Out Booth.

Also don't forget to come out to the Easy Chair Coffee Shop from 7-9pm THIS THURSDAY to hear me talk about my background experience, speak about details of the campaign and have an open discussion about the issues. Click below to join the Facebook event.

Roanoke Times: A crowded field of candidates

It is important to start getting to know all your candidates for the election this coming November. With 10 candidates for 4 seats, now is the time to start considering what issues matter most to you and where each of us stands.

As you will hear many times, the foundation of my campaign is based on two pillars: sustainability and community. I believe that we must pursue sustainability to meet the local and global challenges ahead and I believe that working with and empowering our community is the key to developing collaboration to find creative solutions to these challenges. Stay tuned to this blog for specific examples of how the campaign will work to address the challenges that our community faces today.

I know it is essential to listen to what are your concerns regarding issues in your neighborhoods and of town policies. Within the next week I'll begin knocking on front doors and reach out to each of you to provide an opportunity for you to have a direct voice for this campaign that I intend to take straight to council. I'm looking forward to talking with each of you directly about what issues matter most to you.

In the mean time, here is a great article I recommend you read from the Roanoke Times to explore the contenders for Blacksburg Town Council.

Best,

Bryce Carter
Town Council Candidate


The Roanoke Times: July 19, 2009

A crowded field of candidates

Blacksburg Town Council contenders say they will canvass the community and use online tools to generate voter interest.

Sharla Bardin

BLACKSBURG -- Candidates for town council say their strategy on reaching voters this year will include Facebook and face-to-face conversations.

That's just a couple of the methods they will use to set themselves apart from a large group of council hopefuls.

Ten people are running for four open seats in the Nov. 3 election. Susan Anderson is the only incumbent on the ballot -- the two other incumbents, Al Leighton and Tom Sherman, decided to not seek re-election -- while incumbent Mayor Ron Rordam is running unopposed.

The council seats are voted on at-large.

Last year, the council voted to change elections from May to November of odd-numbered years in hopes of boosting turnout significantly. This fall will mark the town's first November election.

The candidates include Virginia Tech students and employees, a design engineer, a retiree and active volunteer, residents with experience working on town boards and a former council member.

The youngest candidate is Bryce Carter, who turns 21 in August, while the oldest is 72-year-old Frank Lau.

Some of the campaign issues from the candidates include promoting smart growth, preserving green space, enhancing downtown, attracting businesses, enticing young professionals to live in the area, working with Virginia Tech and local municipalities, and ensuring open, accountable government.

FULL STORY

Collegiate Times: Tech youth could give back to town

The Collegiate Times: June 3, 2009

Editorial: Tech youth could give back to town

Editorial Board

If they haven't already, those paying attention to Blacksburg local politics will notice two young candidates vying for Blacksburg Town Council votes.

Michael Sutphin, 24, is a writer with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a 2006 Tech communication graduate. Bryce Carter, 20, will be a senior majoring in humanities, science, and environment. Both will attempt to represent nontraditional town council demographics: youth and recent status as a Tech student.

The question is whether they should.

Some Blacksburg natives refer to the students as a tide that ebbs and flows. This hardly makes them sound like integrated members of the larger Blacksburg community. So, is it really fair for students or recent graduates to take up as much as two-fifths of the decision-making body for the town?

Consider that voters aged 18 to 29 have steadily increased their voter turnout and more than half of the demographic participated in the election last November. On Monday, Tech passed the Climate Action Commitment resolution, a plan with its roots in the student-led environmental coalition. The college-aged and recently graduated are getting more and more accomplished.

FULL STORY

The Collegiate Times: Two young residents aim to give Town Council Hokie viewpoint

The Collegiate Times: June 3, 2009

Two young residents aim to give Town Council Hokie viewpoint

Sara Mitchell, Editor-in-chief

Record numbers of Virginia Tech students stormed the Blacksburg voting booths for the 2008 presidential election. This November they'll have the chance to check the names of two fellow Hokies.

Michael Sutphin, a 2006 Tech graduate, and Bryce Carter, a rising Tech senior, are both on the ballot for Blacksburg Town Council.

The two began campaigning for one of the four council seats available in the coming election.

Carter, a 20-year-old humanities major and former vice president of the Tech Environmental Coalition, was inspired to form his candidacy when Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam spoke this spring to students about making a difference in Blacksburg.

"The way he was talking, it really inspired me," Carter said. "Here I am on the campus community and why not take the next step? That's when it clicked for me."

FULL STORY

The Roanoke Times: Tech Student Announces Bid for Council Seat

Roanoke Times: May 2nd, 2009

Tech student announces bid for council seat

Bryce Carter said he wants to encourage college students to get more involved in local government.

Sharla Bardin

A supermajority of Blacksburg Town Council seats will be up for grabs during the town's first November election this fall, and a Virginia Tech student is the first newcomer to formally announce plans to campaign for one of them.

Bryce Carter, 20, said he wants to work to help college students become more invested in the community while also working with residents and town leaders to promote smart development and alternative transportation.

"I see so much potential here for us going in the right direction," said Carter, a junior at Virginia Tech.

FULL STORY