Meet The Candidate: Ron Campbell For Leesburg Mayor - Leesburg, VA Patch

Posted: 06 Oct 2020 07:47 AM PDT

LEESBURG, VA — Leesburg Town Councilman Ron Campbell is running for mayor of Leesburg against incumbent Kelly Burk, who has served as the town's mayor since 2017.

Campbell, who was elected to the Leesburg Town Council in 2016, plans to make the development of an economic recovery plan from the coronavirus crisis his top priority if elected mayor. Campbell believes his business and leadership experience make him the better candidate to deal with the financial stresses as Leesburg works to recover from the pandemic.

If elected mayor, Campbell said he will work closely and partner with diverse groups of people, no matter their party affiliation, on developing an economic recovery plan that is fair to everyone.

Growing up in the Bronx in New York City, Campbell said his father, a community organizer, told him never to sell his integrity. Throughout his life and career, Campbell said he has been a person who has had the courage to remain true to his integrity.

Learn more about Campbell and why he is running for mayor of Leesburg in 2020:

Education

B.A., M.A.

Occupation

35 years in Higher Education Finance, nonprofit Higher Education Business Executive

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current Member of Leesburg Town Council, Elected 2016

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The development of an economic recovery plan due to the impacts of COVID-19 for the town and our small businesses must be the top priority. The town is currently facing an estimated $11 million deficit and the economic recovery will not happen if we do not make a plan to address and prioritize the budget impacts on our programs and services. The revenue deficit that was begun in FY 20, now extending into in FY 21, is not forecast to end anytime soon. The entire community involvement in this recovery plan is critical for the long-term success of the town. The leadership direction for the town council must be focused on a recovery agenda.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I started Citizens for a Better Leesburg as a Facebook Community and in May after the George Floyd murder and I organized what turned out to be the largest Loudoun County peaceful demonstration of citizen engagement. this event showcased the peaceful outrage and show of sympathy for the Floyd family. I am not afraid to use my leadership platform to help our diverse communities as they wrestle with local and national issues that we cannot ignore.

I have always supported the constitutional rights and protections for all American Citizens. And when at times the arbitrary and disproportionate treatment of Americans of African descent results in violence and death, it is time to speak out and that's what the over 2,500 people who came to Leesburg on May 31st wanted us to hear, Black Lives Matter and no more. They came as individuals, as families with children in strollers, they came as friends and school communities, they came to take a stand against law enforcement violence taking the lives of black men and women.

What are your thoughts on the campaign to "defund" the police?

In Leesburg we have been historically underfunded the police department because of partisan fears of raising taxes. I am leading the initiative with members of our community to have an open conversation with the Chief of Police related to some of the national issues and local concerns.
As our Town has grown, we are also experiencing the challenges of paying for additional police, and improving our safety and emergency response operations.

I believe that it is time for us to be open to recommendations about what law enforcement services we need and how to pay for them.

Moving forward, the culture and impact of working with our law enforcement officers in our town will look and feel different than in other communities and our citizens should have a role in the process. The funding for law enforcement services will and should continue.

It is my hope to engage our community to work with law enforcement to review our policies and explore the opportunities for citizen involvement and building safe communities for all.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

We are in state of national emergency and the impacts have been devastating on the tremendous loss of life and changes to our daily way of life.

I believe in the science and the recommendations to keep the virus under control.

I believe that the statewide restrictions has a disproportionate impact on each community, but I support the restrictions and don't see them as limiting our freedoms.

I believe in mask wearing, hand sanitizing and social distancing to protect ourselves, others, family and friends. Mask wearing is the only way we will ever get back to the freedom of not wearing a mask until we get the full impact of a vaccine.

My children and grandchildren have limited our exposure to each other. My wife and I have experienced the virtual HS graduation of a grandson and missed birthdays of aging parents.
Our unity as a community must be focused on doing all that we can.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have the proven leadership and financial experience that is critically necessary at this time. I have the ability to develop partnerships without regards to political party affiliation and use all of our common strengths to create a working environment of respect.

I am a passionate community organizer who volunteers and works with many of our diverse community organizations and can engage them as important stakeholders.

I believe that job accountability is important as our community make the important decision about to who to vote for as Mayor.

I am not leaning on political party support or the usual marketing techniques to get your attention or your vote. I continually inform the community about the decisions I make and I am not afraid to object on issues where I believe don't serve the best interests of our community.

I have made strong efforts to work in a nonpartisan fashion and will continue to be inclusive of all voices in our community. I know how to lead difficult conversations and resolve complex problems.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am running for Mayor of Leesburg because the challenges that face our community require new leadership that has the ability and the experience to step outside of the partisan circle to lead conversations on important topics such as the economic recovery plan for the town and our small businesses. The impacts of COVID-19 are a critical top priority that must be addressed. It is estimated that we will lose 25% of our current small businesses.

I plan to lead the Council in the development of a five- year recovery plan to prioritize the budget impacts and take action on solutions to provide services to our residents and our small businesses. The business community involvement in this plan is critical to the financial success of the town and provide for new innovative concepts to stimulate small business growth.

My educational background and professional leadership roles have given me the experience that is critically necessary to support the challenges facing the town. In my four years on Council I have developed partnerships without regards to political party affiliation and as a leader, I know how to use all of our common strengths to work towards serving all in our town.

I am a principled leader that will work with all elected members of the Town Council and will assure you that all members of our community will be treated with fairness and respect.

I believe in people over politics and pledge to always put the best interest of our town first.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Our residential community policies need one common goal: affordability. The affordability issue is big throughout all of Leesburg and it should be a long term vision statement embedded in the town's comprehensive plan, that as we grow there is a balance of housing options. The other issues affecting community development are parking, bus transportation, retail services and open space.

Leesburg is over 95% built-out and the future redevelopment plans for residential space must focus on affordable creative designs. Currently, less than 13% of town staff live in Leesburg mostly due to the affordability issue. The long-term future development ideas must be captured in livability and affordability.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have built many business partnerships that have delivered economic and social value for public and private institutions and organizations. I have worked with diverse communities to help organize programs and presentations that add value to their voices. I spoken in front of public and private forums in the U.S. and in five foreign countries. I can handle the political pressure and remain true to my integrity and commitment to serve the town.

I have had to make difficult business decisions about outsourcing jobs affecting the lives of thousands of food service workers and I was able to achieve an innovative outcome that was applauded by the labor unions representing the workers. We outsourced management and kept the workers as university employees. I have learned that many things are possible with the right team and an open mind to seek creative solutions.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

A completed new Town Comprehensive plan and the development of a new town council working culture that is respected by the community because it has become more nonpartisan in its approach to our common issues. I want to have a new plan to address the process of economic recovery and start the work of helping to rebuild our businesses.

Why should voters trust you?

I have been visibly active in our community and my references are not from other politicians —they come from the community members who live, work and volunteer in our Town. I have a track record of using my voice and my vote to serve the best interests of the Town and not any political organization. I am personally dedicated to faithfully abiding by the oath I took to serve and my personal pledge to do the best job possible to be a voice for all the town residents. I have demonstrated these last four years my commitment to serve and I am running on my record of service and experience.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

The Council has an important oversight responsibility to ensure that public funds and spent appropriately and that the budget priorities reflect a spending plan that support services and programs to benefit the entire community and keep tax rates that maintain an affordable quality of life for all in our community.

The new council must prepare itself to quickly learn about the fiscal challenges and the fiscal obligations that have been built into the current budget that have been mostly covered by residential and business tax revenues. I will propose additional council budget orientation sessions that will focus on the learning about the fiscal deficit and potential solutions that might involve reductions in staff and/or services.

This fiscal deficit cannot be resolved by increasing taxes on an already fiscally stressed community.

Additional revenue support will be hard to find and no new support will be coming from the county or the state and we will need to have serious conversations with the town's financial advisers about how to best use reserve funds while we are in the recovery period.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Never sell your Integrity." Those were the lasting words that my father spoke to me as a teenager, when he knew that I would be faced was with important decisions in the civil rights climate during the 60s. It was time when "selling out" and compromise seemed to be on the same page, especially if you wanted political access to power. My Dad was instrumental in leading rent strikes in NYC and I was taught to be who you are, stand up for the integrity of an issue even if you are the only one standing. He told me that Your integrity is the only thing that you can sell and never get back. I never have sold my integrity or asked anyone to sell theirs.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will bring a non-adversarial approach to the Town Council and seek to respect all council members as we debate and make important town decisions. I intend to get support for a planning retreat with the town staff and our commision leadership, so that we can all set agendas that reflect the town priorities. I love Leesburg and the many great communities that we have. I want our town to reflect our strengths and a positive future as we move forward in uncertain fiscal times. I have the professional business and leadership experience to move us forward.

Are you running for office in Leesburg? Contact Mark Hand at mark.hand@patch.com if you have not received your candidate questionnaire.

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