PETERSBURG – In the race for the city’s Ward 2 council seat, incumbent Darrin Hill, currently the vice mayor, is being challenged by Belinda Baugh.
As part of our ongoing campaign coverage, The Progress-Index submitted five questions to each candidate in contested races via email and asked for their written responses. The answers are listed below and are in alphabetical order based on the candidates’ last names. The responses were edited for spelling and grammar only.
Why do you feel you are the best fit for the ward seat you seek?
Belinda Baugh: Well, to be honest, I want to give back to my city with my experience, leadership skills, and issue-focused perspective. I believe our city can lean on its strengths to support everyone in our community – while at the same time being innovative and willing to do the hard work to make sure we are making wise decisions for the future. I believe our city can be environmentally sustainable, supportive of mental health services, have affordable housing (particularly for our workforce, young families, and seniors), and support our small/micro businesses – all while being pragmatic with our budget.
Darrin Hill: I feel that I am the best candidate to represent Ward 2 because of my years of experience, my work ethic, and the knowledge that I have obtained while representing the ward and the city. I have represented our city during the financial crisis and now we have over $50 million cash on hand through our efforts. I helped bring the pharmaceutical company AMPAC to our ward and city for financial growth and development, and I have worked hard to get the citizens to vote on a once-in-a-lifetime $1.5 billion economic stimulus project for the city that will create over 1700 good-paying jobs, health benefits and a great retirement package. During my tenure I have supported our youth by revitalizing our parks and recreation facilities, and I am working alongside our seniors. I most recently motioned to give a pay increase to our city employees, bringing them to competitive rates. Also, I have worked hard to eliminate blighted properties and have reduced our real estate taxes. I have worked to increase our police and fire departments and have assisted in giving them the tools to keep our cities safe. I am a proven and trustworthy leader for our city.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing your ward? Facing Petersburg?
Baugh: Some of the most significant challenges facing my ward and the city of Petersburg, Virginia, include: affordable housing shortages, rising crime rates in certain areas, and the need for infrastructure improvements, particularly in older neighborhoods.
Hill: The challenge facing Petersburg is school accreditation. Schools are run by School Board members who are elected officers. Our job as city council is to make sure we help fund them along with the state. I have tried to work close with our school board members and give them the finances and tools that they need to get our schools accredited. Also, recently, the council made decisions to redo the high school football field with turf because players were getting hurt playing in an unsafe environment. I also helped champion a new indoor field house/sports facility that will be erected soon. Another challenge that we face is our infrastructure on Crater Road. We have received grants and monies to fix our aging infrastructure in Ward 2, which I am most proud of. These efforts will start in the spring of 2025. I am happy that we repaved many of our main streets and some of our neighborhood streets within the last couple of years, and to get Dominion Energy to put up LED streetlights to help save on costs and energy. As a council person, you must be talented and be knowledgeable in many areas of city government, but most importantly, listening to the voices of the citizens whom you represent. I have been transparent in my governance with our citizens, and they respect me for that.
If you are elected and take your seat in January, you will be on council for the infancy and development of the casino should it pass the November referendum. We know what the casino has promised, but what do you as a potential councilor see as council’s role I have no in nurturing that casino and subsequent growth around it?
Baugh: As for the council’s role we should ensure promises that were made are followed through with.
Hill: I am in favor of the development of the casino. I know it will bring jobs and revitalization to our city. The role that council should play is to make sure that all funds are being used to help the citizens and the city financially by building new schools, increasing our police department and fire department, lowering our real estate taxes, and improving our infrastructure. As councilor, this proposed project will be in Ward 2, and it is projected to bring a stimulus to our city as a once-in-a-lifetime project. With over 1700 jobs starting roughly around $70,000.00, this will help our median household income to come up which will put more tax revenue back into the city. Also, we will try to go after more franchise hotels, restaurants, and businesses. I have worked hard over the years to get economic growth and jobs to our city and citizens. This is a win for our entire city.
Rate these topics in order of what you see as their importance on the next council’s agenda, and why? Casino (should it pass); Aging infrastructure; Pharmaceutical Industry future; School renovation and construction; Crime, including how you see it being influenced by a casino presence; Government transparency with its citizens; Fiscal management practices; Citizen morale and pride
Baugh:
Hill: The ranking of these topics and their importance is listed below:
-
Casino (should it pass) because it will address most of our financial needs, such as unemployment, health disparities, more police officers and firemen, infrastructure issues, and school construction.
-
Aging infrastructure because our city is one of the oldest cities in the country, and we need to reinvest in our infrastructure, plumbing, streets, and new roads, etc.
-
Citizens’ morale and pride because we as a city have come a long way in a short time, but we must keep that Petersburg pride. We must tell our story of our history, of our contributions to the state and to the nation. We have a rich history in Petersburg that we should be proud of.
-
Government transparency with citizens because we work for the citizens. This is important. We represent the citizens through our vote, through our policies, and through our procedures.
-
Fiscal management practices because as I serve on council, we are watching all finances that come in and out of the city because we do not want to go back to the past financial crisis. It is important that we use good policies and procedures to maintain our management practices.
-
Pharmaceutical industry future because this is another drive to our city that I am proud that we are able to have in our city. There are only three drug manufacturing facilities in the nation: in Texas, California, and now Petersburg. This corridor will continue to drive economic growth for our city through machinery taxes, real estate taxes, and jobs.
There appears to be levels of distrust among citizens and council that some say has been developing for some time. If elected, what would you say to your ward residents and to Petersburg citizens about re-earning trust?
Baugh: To build trust with city leadership, I would prioritize open and honest communication, demonstrate competence and expertise in your field, actively listen to their concerns, be transparent about decision-making processes, consistently deliver on commitments, acknowledge mistakes when they occur, and actively seek opportunities to collaborate and build relationships with key stakeholders across the city.
Hill: If elected, I would say to my ward residents that I am transparent in my actions. I have nothing to hide, nor would I try to hide anything from our citizens. I am a native of Petersburg. I, along with my wife and children, graduated from Petersburg High School. I own a business here (24 years). I am a pastor, and I am an open book when it comes to my life. I understand how some people may think about city council, but what is read on some social media platforms is not true. I love my city too much to cause embarrassment because of the wrong actions. I am held accountable by the citizens, by my friends, by my family, and most importantly, by God. I pray every day for our city, and it has helped. If elected, I will do my best to represent Ward 2 and the citizens of Petersburg to the best of my ability, so help me God.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Two candidates seek Ward 2 council seat in Petersburg
