Deirdre “Dede” Smith

Deirdre “Dede” Smith
Dede Smith in June 2011
Party	Democrat
For term to start	2012
Appointed Member Charlottesville School Board
Term Start	July 2000
Term End	June 2006
Chair Charlottesville School Board
Term Start	2004
Term End	2005
Biographical Information
Date of birth	October 1, 1955 Age 68
Place of birth	Springfield, Vermont
Spouse	Tim Wilson
Children	Chris & Leigh
Alma mater	University of Michigan, B.S. Microbiology
Website	Campaign Website
Campaign $	VPAP
Contributions $	VPAP

Deirdre "Dede" Smith is a former member of the Charlottesville School Board and an active member of the group Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan. She also served for a time as director of the Ivy Creek Natural Area. In 2004, Smith was selected as one of the distinguished dozen award given by the Daily Progress.

Community Involvement

Smith served as the director of the Ivy Creek Foundation from 1993-2007.

In 2007, Smith co-founded the Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan, which advocates for a reevaluation of the Community Water Plan to install more environmentally sustainable provisions.

Election 2011

On June 13, Dede Smith announced that she will seek the Democratic nomination to run for Charlottesville City Council.

Issues

Questions and answers published in The Daily Progress on August 14, 2011.

Do you support construction of the Meadow Creek Parkway in the city?

Let me say first that I sympathize with residents who live on and near Park Street; the traffic there can be unbearable. But, I don’t believe that the Meadow Creek Parkway is the answer. It was never intended to be a stand-alone solution to the congestion on Route 29. Doubling as the “Eastern Connector,” it will be a magnet for cars trying to get from Route 29 to I-64, and increase cutthrough traffic in city neighborhoods as congestion in Pantops worsens. If the road is built, my priority will be to make the interchange pedestrian and bike friendly.

Do you support the approved water supply plan or a different approach?

One reason this issue is so contentious is that two goals have become intertwined: providing drought protection and increasing stream flows to Moormans River.We can achieve both goals more economically, and with less environmental damage, if we address them separately. We can improve flow to the Moormans immediately by modernizing the stream release pipe in Sugar Hollow dam. New studies confirm that dredging will provide enough water for at least 40 years and this will benefit the Rivanna River below the dam.We can prevent the loss of invaluable city-owned resources if we work together to find mutually beneficial solutions.

What is the most important thing the city can do to create jobs?

First and foremost, we must assure that each and every child can walk across the stage as a senior at CHS and receive a high school diploma. Secondly, we need to be sure that our educational system prepares young people for local jobs, matching skills with available jobs.Thirdly, and related to job skills training, we should consider developing a workforce identity here in Charlottesville and create an environment that is supportive of that job market, such as biotechnology or cottage industries.That means developing both the infrastructure and the incentives to attract and support these opportunities.

Does the city have an affordable housing problem? What should council do?

Yes, but we also have an affordability problem that goes beyond housing. Charlottesville has some of the highest water and gas rates in the state — rates that are controlled by the city.We have families forced out of their homes because they can’t pay their utilities bills.The age and condition of low-income housing exacerbates the problem when families can’t afford to upgrade their homes to become more efficient and thus must bear the greatest burden of increased rates. I favor subsidies to help residents in moderate and low-income housing make their homes more energy and water efficient.

What should the city do on the issue of addressing poverty?

Education and the availability of jobs are key. Breaking the cycle of poverty is difficult without assuring that all our children receive a good education. At the same time, the city needs to support adult education in GED, literacy and skills training for residents lacking the degree and skills needed to get a job.The city must also enforce Section 3 of the HUD Act to assure that residents are first in line for jobs created as redevelopment of public housing occurs.We must address the barriers to finding and keeping a job such as reliable transportation and childcare services.

What is the city’s biggest challenge in transportation?

By encouraging city residents to use alternative and public transportation, we can offset the need for more roads and build a culture of respect for sharing the roads we have. The best way to do so is to provide a safe and connected network of dedicated byways for bikes and pedestrians. Safety is a critical concern for bicyclists as is access to sidewalks and safe road crossings for pedestrians.We should also take a lesson from the success of the free trolley and expand that model to more popular destinations such as Barracks Road and along other major arteries.

What will be your top priority if elected?

My highest priority is to balance the positive aspects of growth and development with the commitment to preserve the natural and historic beauty of Charlottesville.To do so, we must implement innovative solutions when dealing with aging infrastructure and the impact of development on our quality of life. Growth is inevitable.Therefore, we should use a multi-dimensional analysis of the impact of any new development on schools, neighborhoods and the environment (e.g., landscape and stormwater management). If elected, I will work tirelessly to keep Charlottesville the jewel that it is and make it even better for current and future residents.