In Virginia, town councils are elected city leaders charged with overseeing a local town government. They have the power to set tax rates, make zoning decisions, oversee local emergency services, and much more.

The Town of Pamplin City is located in both Appomattox and Prince Edward counties. It has six council members and a mayor elected to two-year terms. 

This year, three incumbents are running for three open seats on town council: Ken Swanson, Shannon Reed, and current Vice Mayor John Marks. 

Charlottesville Tomorrow reached out to the candidates multiple times through email and over the phone. No one responded to our questionnaire, which is based on responses received from our voter survey. 

Here are the questions we sent them. If you would like to reach out to them 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?

More information on the candidates and issues: 

• Ken Swanson’s election history, from the Virginia Department of Elections
• Shannon Reed’s election history, from the Virginia Department of Elections
• John Marks’ election history, from the Virginia Department of Elections
• Town news and events are posted on the Town of Pamplin City Facebook page
• Pamplin turned 150 in 2024, from The Farmville Herald, April 16, 2024 (subscription required)
• The High Bridge Trail extension opened in Pamplin in 2024, from Rails to Trails, June 1, 2024