A Full House with Five Council Contenders
Highlights from the Roanoke Rambler's Roanoke City Council Candidate community forum and dinner at Melrose Library.
Highlights from our Roanoke City Council Candidate community forum and dinner at Melrose Library.
Roanoke, VA
Author: Roanoke Rambler Staff, Hart Fowler Lead
Published: 7:10 AM EST September 30, 2026
Edited: 9:30 AM EST September 30, 2026
Listen Here: Roanokesradio.com
Five council candidates took the stage Tuesday night for our two-hour community forum and dinner at the Melrose Library. The discussion remained civil and amicable as the candidates addressed public safety, schools, homelessness, economic development, data centers and the opioid crisis. Here are some of the highlights.
Council candidates Raekwon Moore and Vivian Sanchez-Jones were unable to attend because of work schedules.
"If I’m Wrong, Someone Should Stand Up and Say David Bowers Is Wrong"
The evening's most unexpected exchange came when former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers raised concerns about city non-disclosure agreements and questioned whether the Hotel Roanoke could eventually be sold as part of a casino development.
“Our city council has entered into non-disclosure agreements regarding the casino,” Bowers told the crowd. “And I'm concerned that they're now wanting to dissolve the Hotel Roanoke Commission and sell the hotel to a casino hotel. And if I'm wrong, then somebody should stand up and say David Bowers is wrong.”
Councilman Nick Hagen, who was in attendance, took the microphone and directly disputed the suggestion.
“Yeah, Dave. No, that's not being sold for a casino hotel. There is no indication that that is the case. Virginia Tech owns the hotel; we own the conference center. It is a lot easier to sell both together just because that's the way that anybody who has ever bought property knows—you don't buy something with a lien on it. So, that's kind of what's occurring. There's no indication that we're trying to sell it for a casino hotel.” Watch more of the exchange here.
The exchange was one of several notable moments during the forum, here are some highlights from the five candidates in attendance: Watch More
Stephanie Moon-Reynolds (I)
The former council member emphasized neighborhood input, transparency and personal experience with addiction in her family.
On the Evans Spring master plan, Moon-Reynolds said surrounding neighborhoods had not had enough opportunity to weigh in.
“Melrose-Rugby, Villa Heights, Fairland Lakes—the surrounding neighborhoods did not have an opportunity to have input. I support the neighborhood and what's going on over in Evans Spring and I would like to see it developed according to what the neighbors want.”
Moon-Reynolds also explained her history of dissenting votes on council, saying she has voted against measures when she felt residents had not been adequately informed or consulted.
“There was no transparency on some of it. There was no community engagement or either there was not enough facts given.”
On the opioid crisis, Moon-Reynolds connected her personal experience with addiction to her willingness to listen to people with expertise in the field.
“I have family members who are addicted, so I know what they do. I look to people such as Danny [Clawson]. If they have that expertise, have that experience, then yes, I want to hear from them.”
“How do we get a handle on all of this?”
Kathy Cohen (I)
Independent candidate Kathy Cohen emphasized public transparency, environmental protection and direct community involvement.
Addressing data centers and Flock cameras, Cohen said both reflected a broader concern about residents having too little say in decisions affecting their communities.
“I think all three of them are connected through the idea that we the people know nothing about what is actually going on and how it is happening, and that that is one of the major problems.”
On Evans Spring, Cohen focused on preserving green space, particularly in Northwest Roanoke.
“There are so many places in Roanoke that are green, but there are so few places in the Northwest that are green. And I think that that is a huge problem.”
Cohen said she would seek regular input from residents if elected to council, including listening sessions throughout the city.
“I will commit to having listening sessions on a regular basis in all of the different quadrants of the city, because what you think and what you hear is very important.”
Danny Clawson (D)
Democratic candidate Danny Clawson drew on their public-health background to discuss the opioid crisis, environmental justice and public safety technology.
Clawson pointed to declining fatal overdose rates in Roanoke as evidence that local harm-reduction efforts are making a difference.
“When I took this job at Virginia Harm Reduction in 2021, the fatal overdose rate in our town was 98 per 100,000. In 2024, it was 70 per 100,000. So, not only are we doing things, but we are successful at saving lives in this town, and I'm incredibly proud of that.”
On Evans Spring, Clawson connected preservation of the property to the effects of urban heat in Northwest Roanoke.
“Northwest is a full 10 to 15 degrees higher in the summer. It is an issue of equality and justice in this city, and maintaining Evans Spring helps address that heat island... We need to be talking about protecting our vulnerable communities.”
Clawson also opposed the city's use of Flock cameras, questioning the security of the technology while distinguishing it from other potential uses of cameras.
“I am on the record against Flock... they're incredibly insecure. You can hack into them with a decent Wi-Fi signal. There are legitimate reasons to have cameras, like speeding zones around schools, but Flock ain't it, y'all.”
Amanda Marko (R)
Republican candidate Amanda Marko focused on civil liberties, economic development and environmental preservation.
On Flock cameras, Marko said she opposed the technology because she believes public safety should not come at the expense of privacy rights.
“I know we can have law and order and safety without compromising our civil rights. ... So therefore, no Flock cameras here in Roanoke.”
Marko also argued that economic development is central to the city's ability to fund schools, public services and public safety without increasing taxes.
“Economic development is my area of expertise and interest because that is how we grow revenue and grow our tax base in the city. That pays for the things we want and need—our services, our schools, and our safety—without raising our taxes.”
On Evans Spring and environmental preservation, Marko said economic growth and conservation do not have to be competing priorities.
“I don't think we need to trade our tree cover or our beautiful clean water or our views for jobs. I think we can have both. Roanoke could actually lead the way as a national example for sustainable economic development.”
David Bowers (I)
Independent candidate and former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers focused on city finances, data center development and government transparency.
Bowers argued that voters are looking for a change in how City Council operates, pointing to the city's budget and its relationship with the school system.
“What I'm hearing Roanokers say about this election... they want things to be different at Roanoke City Council. Why is that? Well, because they know that we're in a budget crisis.”
On data centers, Bowers called for a moratorium while questions surrounding water, electricity, noise and other impacts are addressed.
“There should be some moratorium on data centers until some of these issues about water—because our Carvins Cove is still down—about electricity, about the noise and even the rumblings [are resolved]. All of those things have to be worked out.”
Bowers also criticized the use of non-disclosure agreements by public officials, arguing that they can conflict with the public's right to know what its government is doing.
“What really bothers me are these non-disclosure agreements. A non-disclosure agreement, in my opinion, goes against everything that a public official, an elected official, owes to the people—an oath.”
Raekwon Moore (D) sent in the following statement in his absence: "My name is Raekwon Moore and I’m running for Roanoke City Council to increase funding to our public schools, improve our public parks and public transit, and fully staff our permitting department to increase economic opportunity here in Roanoke City.I apologize for not being able to attend today’s forum due to work. I grew up here. I’m born and raised in this city. I went to our public schools like Roanoke Academy (the old one and the new one). I have a background of working in banking and the administrative side of mental health. I’m a mentor with The Young Doctors Project and 4-H, and I serve on the Board of Directors for the Grandin Theatre. I care about our public schools because I went to them. I want to increase funding to them by bringing back “Eat for Education” using a portion of our meals tax to fund education, and also by utilizing the same sales tax referendum that Martinsville, Franklin County, Giles County are voting on right now. An option to give you the voters the choice to increase funding to our public schools by 20 million dollars a year.I want to make sure that each park in this city is adequate so that families have free and quality spaces to be families. As I mentioned I went to the old Roanoke Academy that is now called McCadden Park. It was made a park 20 years ago and 20 years later it’s still undeveloped. I want to make sure that we have an actual plan in place to develop that park. As someone who depended on public transit to enter the workforce I know how essential adequate public transportation is. I want our bus stops to be decent, I want our routes to be efficient, and I want our Union transit workers to be paid well and treated with respect. All of these things are essential to bring more jobs to Roanoke and improving our quality of life, and I hope that you will join me in working to move Roanoke forward in a way that includes all of us." He also participated in the Roanoke Ramblers first community forum, watch more here.
Councilwoman Sanchez Jones (D) could also not attend due to commitments at Roanoke City Public Schools, but attended the Roanoke Rambler's first community forum and had this to say (watch the video).
Voting for Roanoke City Council opened Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. It ends when polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Early voting (Sept. 18 – Oct. 31)
All early voting is at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections, 317 Kimball Ave. NE.
- Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed Monday, Oct. 12, for Columbus Day.
- Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25: noon to 5 p.m.
- Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Last day to vote early: Saturday, Oct. 31, closing at 5 p.m.
Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3)
- Polls: open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at each voter's assigned polling place.
- Buses: Valley Metro is free all day.
Other deadlines
All from the City of Roanoke: roanokeva
- Friday, Oct. 23: last day to register or update a registration (by 11:59 p.m.) and last day to request a mailed absentee ballot (by 5 p.m.).
- Nov. 3: last day to return an absentee ballot, either by mail or at a secure drop box.
- Noon on Friday, Nov. 6: deadline for mailed ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 to arrive and still count.
