Collegiate Times

After all the votes were tallied, six of the 10 Blacksburg Town Council candidates fell short in a campaign centered on downtown development and a campus-town partnership.

Bryce Carter, a Virginia Tech senior and the youngest candidate on the ballot, said he had been excited for the opportunity to serve on Town Council. He had hoped to bring the school and Blacksburg community together as the first student voted onto the council.

Candidate Greg Fansler called his campaign a “terrific experience” but said he wished he could do more.

 “I think I did a pretty good job of getting my name out through media,” Fansler said. “I think I did a good job of people recognizing my name through just the endeavors I am involved in on and off campus and just trying to leverage my network as best possible.”

For Frank Lau, the turnout was disappointing.

“It’s down about 30 percent less for what I would have hoped for,” he said.

Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Registrar Cynthia Chappelka said that an unofficial count had no winning candidate receiving more than 3,200 votes. According to the State Board of Elections, there are 20,686 registered voters in Blacksburg.

Candidate Tom Rogers observed how voters had different priorities when it came to their picks.

“It’s crazy how some people go about voting,” Rogers said. “There are all different types of people here.  It’s our job … to learn how to communicate with all of them.”

The night stayed calm for some of the candidates.

“Lots of people will go out to a big party tonight,” Lau said early in the evening. “I just want to go home.  My wife has my favorite spaghetti and meatballs waiting right there for me.”

“I need to be able to go back to my regular life tomorrow,” Lau, a BT Transit driver said. “I have to get up at 5:45 a.m. to drive the bus.”

Paul Lancaster, a former councilman, was unable to actively campaign this year because of an illness.

He said that he would continue to serve on the Blacksburg Planning Commission.

“I want to see a little more economic development, commercial development, it helps pay the bills” Lancaster said. “I think the challenge is doing that without losing Blacksburg’s small-town charm.”

Lancaster said he believed he would run for Town Council in the future.

“I think it was nice having that many candidates to give voters a choice,” Lancaster said. “No matter how it goes, it’s nice for voters to have a choice.”

Michael Sutphin was not available for comment.