In Virginia, towns and cities can have either a “weak mayor” or “strong mayor” system. In a strong mayor system, like in the City of Richmond, the mayor holds a lot of power. They carry out policies passed by the City Council and handle local government administration.

But most towns in Virginia have a “weak mayor” system, where the mayor has a mostly ceremonial position and presides over Town Council meetings. Sometimes they cannot vote unless there is a tie. Towns with weak mayors often hire town managers to handle day-to-day administration.

The Town of Pamplin City is a bit of both. The Town Council is made up of six councilors and a mayor, elected to two-year terms. The town does not hire a town manager. The mayor can vote on town council matters, but has no veto powers.

This year, incumbent Sarah Hamlett Blackwell is running unopposed for mayor. She has held the seat since 2021.

Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire for Blackwell based on responses we received from our voter survey. Blackwell told Charlottesville Tomorrow she would give the questionnaire a look, but did not submit a response before publication.

Here are the questions we sent her. If you would like to reach out to her yourself, you can find candidate contact information, as provided to the Virginia State Department of Elections, searchable by name.

Town budget priorities: Pamplin has a small budget and no full-time town manager; a clerk-treasurer handles much of that work alongside the mayor. With limited money coming in, council members must choose which repairs, services or projects to fund each year. What should the town’s top spending priorities be, and how should the town decide between them?

Flood preparedness: Like many rural communities in Virginia, Pamplin is vulnerable to flooding, particularly during heavy rainfall that scientists predict will become more frequent in the future. To address this, the town successfully secured a $55,000 grant from the state’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund and is developing its first formal resilience plan. Do you think the town should prioritize funding the programs or constructions that the final plan ultimately recommends? If so, how would you go about making that happen?

Downtown development: After years of community effort, Pamplin’s Main Street is drawing new interest and revitalization. What’s your vision for Main Street, and what do you think the town can or should do to support businesses and buildings there?