Two open spots on the Williamsburg City Council attracted five candidates. In a rich field of contenders, two stand out as the best.
The College of William and Mary contributes a great deal to Williamsburg: jobs, educated residents, cultural resources, prestige, a visitor and tourist-magnet and, every year, a new crop of alumni with a fond place in their hearts for "the burg." The college has been represented on the City Council by faculty and staff, but never by a student.
This is the year to change that. Students represent a large proportion of the city's residents. Their spending supports its businesses. They contribute workers, energy and volunteer hours. And, yes, sometimes they annoy and frustrate neighbors whose ways of life aren't in sync with 20-year-olds. A good way to work through the touchy points and maximize the strong points has been to include students at the city table. Electing one to a voting seat is a natural next step, and this election offers the right candidate.
Scott Foster is thoughtful and articulate and has done more homework than many candidates do, interviewing city staff about issues and operations.
He handles the "student candidate" label well, for while he can add their voice to the mix, he isn't taking up arms in any "Us versus Them" controversy. He will bring something useful to the debate — and it will never be over — about how and where to accommodate student renters in single-family neighborhoods. He has been an off-campus, in-city resident. He has chaired the Undergraduate Student Conduct Council (a disciplinary panel, which means he has seen the reality of students gone wild). He's also about teamwork — about students and the college, the city, Colonial Williamsburg and tourism-related businesses, all working together.
Foster can represent and advocate for another group that the city would do well to nurture: young professionals. They don't find much to do in town, from jobs to night life, but a concerted effort on this front could be an asset to a community that increasingly tilts toward the other end of the age spectrum. It can't hurt to have someone on the council 20-somethings can relate to.
Sean Driscoll promises to fill the other open seat capably. With service on the Planning Commission and in a variety of volunteer roles, he's been around long enough to understand the city's needs. And he's lived in other cities, which can bring a fresh understanding of how things can be done.
Driscoll's background in finance can also be an asset to the council. He makes a lot of sense when he talks about the need to diversify the city's tax base and its tourism reach by bringing in arts and sports events. He understands the importance of fine-tuning density in the downtown area without spoiling the feel of the blocks around Merchants Square while still attracting the critical mass of residents needed to support restaurants and shops.
David Dafashy, a physician at the college health center, is running for the right reasons: to protect what is unique about Williamsburg. He speaks convincingly of how development and redevelopment can be managed. But this native son has only been back in town for a couple of years, and some more experience working on local civic projects will make him a stronger candidate in a future election.
The other candidates — incumbent Bobby Braxton and hotelier Doug Pons — are also knowledgeable and committed to the community. Both offer unique perspectives on local issues.
Indeed, with just two seats available, Williamsburg has more qualified candidates eager to work than it can put to work. This hardly seems fair, when some if its down-Peninsula neighbors have a shortage of solid candidates and even some uncontested seats.
Perhaps some sharing is in order here.
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