Three Lynchburg councilmen plan re-election bids

Alicia Petska / Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: February 4, 2008

At least three incumbents and one challenger plan to be on the ballot in the upcoming City Council elections.

Councilmen Mike Gillette of Ward I, Ceasor Johnson of Ward II and Jeff Helgeson of Ward III are all expected to make a bid for what would be their second terms in office.

Also confirming his intention to run is Babcock & Wilcox Company employee Nathanial "Nat" Marshall, who'll be challenging Helgeson for the Ward III seat.

Marshall, director of human resources for B&W, is the first announced challenger in this year's race. He described himself Monday as a candidate of change, calling on the city to take more initiative in addressing the challenges before it.

"I'm a proactive type," he said. "I like to be at the forefront, making things happen."

This is Marshall's second run for City Council. He was previously one of 12 candidates vying for office in the at-large elections of 2006. He finished that campaign in fifth place, losing out on one of three available seats by just more than 1,000 votes.

On Monday, Helgeson said he was looking forward to the race, calling Marshall a friend and "really nice guy."

"I'm planning on getting out there and working hard," he said. "- I'm looking forward to a clean, positive campaign that's focused on the issues."

Helgeson, a self-employed financial adviser, has prided himself on his fiscal conservatism while in office, as well as his advocacy for homeowners when it comes to development issues.

In a Republican gathering Saturday, he received the party's nomination. He'll be the only candidate running under the GOP banner.

"What I've heard (from my supporters) is they appreciate me fighting for taxpayers and defending the homeowner," he said, reaffirming his commitment to the principles of limited government.

Marshall plans to run as an independent. If elected, he said his priorities would include improving local education and job training opportunities. He also said he thinks the city needs to take a harder look at new development, particularly in Ward III, which includes the rapidly growing Wards Road and Greenville Drive areas.

"At some point, you have to ask when is enough enough," he said. "I think that's something the city is going to have to come to grips on."

Of the four incumbents up for re-election, only Councilman Joe Seiffert of Ward IV said he was not yet ready to make an announcement.

Seiffert, a retired police chief, is finishing his second term in office. He ran unopposed in his last campaign.

On Monday, Councilman Johnson said he was proud of the work the city's done to revitalize downtown and the inner city, both of which are in Ward II. He also pointed to the commitments made to the school system as another positive achievement.

"I like to be in there, in the fight for teachers' pay and getting our students the resources they need to learn," he said. "I like being part of that process."

If re-elected, Johnson, a Baptist minister, said he would put an emphasis on promoting affordable housing within the city and developing the type of "ready" work force that would attract new employers to the area.

Reflecting on his last four years in office, he said he always tried to do the "right thing."

"I've tried to do what I think is fair and do right by people," he said. "I think the citizens can look at the things I've done and say, 'We sent him there to do a job and he did it to the best of his abilities. And he always thought of us.'"

Councilman Gillette, a bioethicist, said he plans to formally announce his candidacy in the near future.

In 2004, he won a three-person race for the Ward I seat running on a platform that called for an aggressive approach to the city's economic development and a strong commitment to quality of life investments, including recreational and cultural initiatives.

Gillette and Johnson both run as independents, although both were also endorsed by the local Democratic committee in 2004.

The deadline to enter the Lynchburg City Council race is March 4. As of Monday morning, no candidate had officially filed their paperwork with the city registrar.