NEWS
A6/Liberty Champion
Keith Anderson, a 15year U.S. Army veteran, former Lynchburg City School Board member and current dean of students at Liberty University, announced his bid to run as an independent for Lynchburg City Council Tuesday, Feb. 25. In his position as a dean, Anderson currently provides oversight to Student Care, Student Conduct, Commuter Services and the Campus Pastors Office. In addition to these roles, Anderson also serves as the chief judicial officer and director of Counseling and Spiritual Support Offices. Anderson graduated from public school in Memphis, Tenn., and went on to pursue his bachelor’s degree at the University of Memphis. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in biblical studies from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Ga. He continued his education at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a master of arts in religion and a master’s in religious education. In addition to his career as a military officer, Anderson also served as the senior pastor of Eighth Street Baptist Church and as the founder and CEO of HiliFavrd Ministries, a
Hunsdon Cary, III, also known as H. Cary, is running in hopes of securing a second term as a Lynchburg City Council representative. Cary, originally from Sandusky, Ohio, served as a captain in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1975. He later moved to Lynchburg and began working for Westminster Canterbury in 1976. Cary assumed the position of president and CEO in 1985 and held the title until retiring in 2010, when he successfully ran for Lynchburg City Council. According to Cary, his experience in the military and business realms has prepared him well to serve as a City Council representative. In addition to his time at Westminster Canterbury, Cary has also worked for a proprietary hospital corporation and served on the boards of various local nonprofit organizations. Some of his goals include reducing the Lynchburg meals tax and promoting participation in Lynchburg’s volunteer programs. According to Cary, communication between Lynchburg City Council and local colleges such as Liberty University has grown since his 2010 election. If re-elected, he hopes to continue that trend. “As long as the city continues to view colleges as a resource rather than a
APRIL 29, 2014
nonprofit mission organization. According to his campaign website, Anderson has been married for 23 years, and the couple’s son, Nicholas, is 16 years old. Anderson, 43, recently announced his enthusiasm for continuing to serve the Lynchburg community. After losing his 17-yearold daughter Stacia in a car accident in 2012, Anderson now recognizes the impact the community had on his family throughout their highs and lows. “I arrived here in 2003 and have fallen in love with this city and with the people,” Anderson said in an interview with News & Advance. “I’ve had some very difficult times with the tragic death of my daughter two years ago, but … the city has wrapped its arms around me. In return, I want to continue to love it back and to serve.”
burden, there is no limit to what the two can accomplish,” Cary said. Cary also encouraged students who attend college in Lynchburg to get involved in the political process, even if they are not originally from the city. “For some college students, it may feel like embracing your college town means rejecting your hometown,” Cary said. “Nothing could be further from the truth. We are glad you have chosen Lynchburg as your home for four years, and we hope you decide to stay.”
Q: How would you define the relationship between the city and the local colleges? A: Any good relationship takes work. We’ve been working on ours since I joined City Council four years ago. In 2011, representatives from the city and its local colleges began holding regular Town and Gown sessions to share thoughts and concerns about the future. “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Our communication has improved markedly. More importantly, we have seen results. The city recently approved institutional zoning for Liberty. The new designation means your school can continue to grow responsibility without spending time and resources lobbying City Council for permission to realize your potential. Now, Liberty only needs city approval for new construction that will impact traffic off campus. It was the right decision, and I supported it. As long as the city continues to view colleges as a resource rather than a burden, there is no limit to what the two can accomplish. Q: What key city projects do you plan to focus on if elected? A: Lynchburg’s meals tax is one of the highest in Virginia. If re-elected, I will focus on reducing that tax. Our neighbors should be excited to visit Lynchburg’s great local restaurants! I think we can improve their bottom line and make the dining experience more affordable. I also think it is important that we get to know our neighbors. That means encouraging opportunities that bring students and long-time residents together. In the next four years, I’ll be pushing for greater involvement in the kind of volunteer programs that bring us all together, like Friday Cheers at Riverfront Park. Q: Why is it important for students to vote locally, rather than focus on voting in their hometown? A: For some college students, it may feel like embracing your college town means rejecting your hometown. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are glad you have chosen Lynchburg as your home for four years, and we hope you decide to stay. If you are heart-set on returning to your hometown,
we understand that, too. Here is the bottom line: not all college students reside in Lynchburg year-round, but they are here for at least nine months of the year. If you complete school in four years, you will be here for 36 of 48 months. It is so easy to change your registration now. It just makes sense. You can always change back later. I think it is important for students to be engaged in local affairs. It gives a perspective you may not have otherwise. Hopefully your involvement will carry over to your next hometown whether that’s Lynchburg or not. You get out of life what you put into it, and civic involvement is an essential part of the democratic process! Q: What role do you believe the city government should play in our city? A: City Council has a comprehensive plan that outlines the goals and objectives for Lynchburg for the next 20 years. You can view it on the city website: lynchburgva.gov. Local government should see to it that citizens are safe (police and fire), have access to proper utilities, have roads and streets that are well maintained and can rely on necessary capital improvements. Q: How do you plan to evenly allocate the annual budget in order to best serve the city? A: The proposed city budget for FY2015 is also available on the city website. City services are funded and available to all citizens/property owners in an equitable manner. No area or neighborhood is favored over another and that is how it should stay. Q: Why should a college student vote for you? A: More specifically, why should a Liberty student vote for me? I championed the pedestrian bridge over Wards Road when the City wanted an “at grade crossing” and I supported the Institutional Zoning change (discussed above) that has allowed Liberty to initiate so many projects on campus without having to jump through unnecessary hoops with the city. Q: What has prepared you to be on the City Council? A: In addition to my last four years as a member of City Council, I served my country as a captain in the United States Air Force Medical Service Corps during the Vietnam era and worked for a proprietary hospital corporation before becoming president and CEO of Westminster Canterbury, a 500-resident, continuing-retirement community with a $25 million budget. My business experience and service on a variety of local non profit boards prepared me well for becoming a member of City Council in 2010, and it continues to serve me well today.