Government and Politics - The Roanoke Rambler

Disparate Roanoke City Council Candidates Find Unity in Bashing Evans Spring Plan

None of the candidates has been elected to City Council before, and many found common ground in attacking the status quo.

Education

As Roanoke School District Aims To Limit Cell Phones, Governor Orders Statewide Policies

A Roanoke school district group recommends different policies around cell phone use for K-8 students and high school students.

City Hall

'It Makes Us Look Like Fools': Riverdale Developer Urged Roanoke Council Not To 'Fire' City Manager, Emails Show

Other Roanoke developers expressed mixed feelings about Bob Cowell’s departure, with a couple saying it was time the city manager moved on.

City Hall

Roanoke City Council Votes To Raise Its Pay, Which Will Nearly Double By 2027

The action was a change from a last-minute meeting Friday, when City Council voted to institute a full $20,000 pay bump next year.

Politics

Roanoke Treasurer Runs For City Council As Independent, Jackson Drops Out Officially

Evelyn Powers is running for City Council as an independent, while Jamaal Jackson dropped out Tuesday, hours before polls closed in a Democratic primary.

City Hall

Roanoke Council Picks Former Member Fitzpatrick To Take Over Priddy's Term

Bev Fitzpatrick served three terms on Council beginning in the 1980s and was later executive director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

Politics

Roanoke City Voter Registrar To Retire Before General Election

Andrew Cochran, who's served as Roanoke's voter registrar since 2013, says he will retire in September.

Housing

City To Repeal, Replace Zoning Reforms After Roanoke Sued Over Single-Family Housing

City Council voted to begin the process of repealing and replacing in “similar substance” a raft of zoning changes the city adopted in March.

City Hall

Roanoke Council Names Former Portsmouth City Manager As Interim After Cowell's Departure

Lydia Pettis Patton will succeed Bob Cowell in an interim capacity over the next four months, Roanoke leaders announced

City Hall

Roanoke To Pay Departed City Manager Cowell One Year’s Salary, Benefits, Per Contract

Bob Cowell's contract says the city must pay him a year's salary and benefits under a "no cause termination" clause.

Politics

Embattled Roanoke Council Candidate Could Still Be Elected As Democratic Nominee

Despite last week announcing his withdrawal from the race, Jamaal Jackson has not given formal notice to elections officials about the June 18 contest.

Politics

Roanoke Council Candidate Drops Out Weeks Before Primary Amid Review of 'Questionable' Voter Signatures

A week after city officials received a complaint alleging an illegal campaign act, Jamaal Jackson said he is dropping out.

Interview

Who Are the Democratic Candidates for Roanoke City Council? We Asked Them 4 Questions.

Following Jamaal Jackson’s sudden departure from the City Council race, we introduce you to Democratic candidates Terry McGuire, Phazhon Nash and Benjamin Woods.

Politics

Future Roanoke City Manager Becomes Flash Point in Campaign for City Council

Democrats and Republicans running for City Council are encouraging incumbents to hold off on picking Bob Cowell’s permanent successor.

Education

Late School Bus Issue Prompts Roanoke School Board To Change Schedule, Again

Despite hiring a new company to operate buses, the district says more changes are needed to prevent hundreds of students from arriving late to class each day.

City Hall

Roanoke City Manager Cowell Resigns. Here's What Led Up To It.

In the wake of toxic workplace claims, City Manager Bob Cowell resigned and Council installed Mayor Sherman Lea as an acting city manager.

Politics

Roanoke City Councilman Priddy To Resign Next Month, Move to Northern Virginia

Priddy made the announcement 18 months into a Council term left vacant by disgraced former councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr.

Education

Roanoke Changes School Funding Policy, Which District Fears Could Cost It Millions

City Council said the change will allow for flexibility in spending taxpayer money, while school officials decried it as harmful.