James Halfaday

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James Halfaday

Party Democratic
Election Nov. 8, 2011
For term to start 2012

Biographical Information

Date of birth July 3, 1979
Age 44
Place of birth Canton, Illinois
Alma mater Western Illinois University, Anthropology & Native American Studies
Profession Co-owner, SNAP Fitness
Website Campaign Website
Campaign $ VPAP
Contributions $ VPAP


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James Halfaday is a Charlottesville resident running for City Council in the 2011 election[1].

Halfaday was appointed to the city's Police Advisory Panel in 2009[2].

2011 election for City Council


Charlottesville Democrats Candidate Video[3]


Issues

Questions and answers published in The Daily Progress on August 14, 2011.[4]

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

Yes.This issue has been debated and discussed for far too many years already. Further delay is only going to take up the time and effort of the council that is sorely needed on other critical topics. Solutions to controversial issues like this will never satisfy everyone completely, but continuing to postpone and delay when a decision has been made, especially after being debated as much as this one, doesn’t benefit anyone. I hope that both city and county governments will learn from this project, and that future projects of a similar nature will have a faster, more peaceful resolution.

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

I do not, at the moment, support the currently approved water supply plan and believe that dredging and possibly a small increase in the current dam, as proposed by Dave Norris, is an environmentally and financially sounder approach that will still meet the city’s water needs. However, I recognize that there is currently a lot of conflicting data about this issue. Our water supply is a crucial issue, and I would like to see further independent assessments of all of the various options so that City Council can make an informed decision and move forward with the best solution.

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

The city needs to continue to promote and encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses. Charlottesville’s job market is built on small businesses and not on large companies or heavy industry. One way to help the residents of our community start small businesses is to ensure educational opportunities are available for all.This will lead to a more highly skilled local workforce, which in turn will lead to an increase in the establishment of new businesses. Direct city involvement in new job creation should focus on jobs with the opportunity for advancement, and the development of marketable work skills.

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

Although projects like the Crossings at Fourth and Preston help, Charlottesville, like many other cities across the country, continues to struggle with the issue of affordable housing. It is not sufficient to increase the supply of new, low-cost housing, since many low-cost housing units result from the aging of housing that was originally more expensive. An effective housing plan should address the needs of families and individuals of all income levels. Another avenue to address the problem is to increase the median education and income level of our residents, which will reduce the need for lowincome housing.

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

Although the poverty level has decreased to 21.4 percent, the lowest since 2004, poverty remains an important issue in Charlottesville. The keys to combating poverty are ensuring the availability of affordable housing, essential services and educational opportunities for low income residents, and providing upwardly mobile job opportunities. Government funding can address some of these needs, but individuals and nonprofit organizations must play a role also. When the Haven opened in January of 2010, it was thanks primarily to the generosity of one man, Tom Shadyac, and he has given us all an example of generosity and compassion towards people in poverty.

What is the city’s biggest challenge in transportation?

Charlottesville’s biggest transportation challenge is improving the quality of its alternative transportation options. Encouraging the use of other modes of transport will become increasingly important as the congestion level in and around Charlottesville grows. We need to look at having better sidewalks, more extensive bike paths, and a mass transit system that provides more complete geographical coverage of the city for more extensive hours. None of these issues are glaring problems, but we could improve in all of those areas, and provide a much friendlier city for alternative transportation. A related issue is the lack of any incentive for carpooling.

What will be your top priority if elected?

All of the issues specifically mentioned here relate to the quality of life for the residents of our city. Ultimately, a member of any community deserves an equal opportunity to achieve their goals and have a prosperous, happy life. I believe that education is the key to providing this and will make education at all levels my primary goal.

References

  1. Web. Potential City Council Candidate Has Revealing Campaign Strategy, Jessica Jaglois, newsplex.com, Gray Television, Charlottesville, 10:24 PM Feb 21, 2011, retrieved February 23, 2011.
  2. Web. Citizens Appointed to Boards and Commissions, News and press releases, official site, City of Charlottesville, 11/4/2009
  3. Web. James R. Halfaday: Candidate for City Council, Charlottesville City Democrats, 31 July 2011, retrieved 8 August 2011.
  4. Web. Democratic hopefuls weigh in on the issues, Graham Moomaw, The Daily Progress, 14 August 2011, retrieved 15 August 2011.

External Links

Campaign website