Editor’s note: We recently received an opinion submission from a community leader in Lynchburg who criticized city council. We sent an email to all seven members of council to invite any of them to write a response if they chose. Vice Mayor Curt Diemer said he would. However, the original opinion piece writer withdrew his piece before publication. Diemer’s submission is below. If you’d like to weigh in on the direction of Lynchburg city government, you can do so by filling out this form for our Cardinal Way project on civil discussions.
Lynchburg stands at a turning point. The question is no longer whether change is coming, but which vision will define it.
Will we return to the “business as usual” politics that left our schools and infrastructure in disrepair, with bloated budgets and higher taxes? Or will we continue embracing a new approach, one that respects taxpayers, empowers families and fuels revitalization from the ground up?
In the past two years, conservative leadership on council has charted a new course. The results are speaking for themselves.
Growth fueled by conservative principles
We lowered the real estate tax rate, and some feared revenues would fall. The opposite happened. Councilman Marty Misjuns highlighted how tax revenues have actually increased, proving that responsible rate reductions can still produce robust city funding. Economic growth follows freedom.
That growth is visible all over Lynchburg.
Major employers are investing:
- BWXT, Delta Star, Framatome and Liberty University are expanding operations and facilities.
- CloudFit Software, a Lynchburg-based tech company, continues to expand its presence in the city. Headquartered in the historic Carter Glass Building on Church Street, CloudFit recently opened an additional facility at 700 Main Street to support its growing operations. Over the past year, the company has added over 100 high-paying jobs, further contributing to the revitalization of downtown Lynchburg.
Smaller-scale revitalization is thriving as well. On Bedford Avenue, where blight once stood, renovations are transforming homes and storefronts. Homeowners are reinvesting, driven by the freedom to keep more of their money.
Smart spending, not bigger government
The old way was to ask for more taxes. Our way is to do more with what we have, and it’s working.
We’ve prioritized core services and frontline personnel. That includes:
- The largest raise for law enforcement in city history.
- A step-pay progression plan to support officer retention.
- Direct salary increases for classroom educators, ensuring resources go to those who serve students daily.
Meanwhile, we’ve renovated parks, upgraded infrastructure and expanded transparency, all while respecting taxpayers. Public-private partnerships have modernized city assets without overburdening the budget, proving government doesn’t need to grow to succeed.
Councilman Jeff Helgeson, who has served for more than two decades, helped lay the foundation. His unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility, restrained government and policies that let citizens keep more of their own money made today’s momentum possible.
A city investing in itself
Property improvements are everywhere — from family homes to major developments. Neighborhoods once overlooked are experiencing rebirth, and road improvements long promised are being funded. It’s not because government told them to. It’s because government got out of the way.
We’ve also expanded civic access and openness. For the first time, Finance and Physical Development Committee meetings are livestreamed, giving citizens real-time visibility into city budgeting and land-use decisions. Accountability breeds trust, and trust builds communities. Open government is good government.
It’s also become increasingly clear that some city staff, hired or promoted under previous political administrations, have not aligned with the new direction chosen by the voters. Requested budget information has been delayed, budgets have been inflated and priorities have been resisted. If collaboration is our goal, we need a team ready to move forward with council’s elected mandate.
Many Lynchburg residents are beginning to question the unchecked authority of unelected bureaucrats. They are challenging the notion that technical expertise alone qualifies them to steer city policy while remaining insulated from the will of the people, as expressed through their elected representatives.
The choice ahead
For over two decades, Lynchburg was controlled by a liberal majority on city council. During that time, we saw a rise in real estate taxes, other taxes, fees, and services and the steady neglect of our streets, schools and public services. Council too often prioritized ideology over the practical needs of residents, resulting in the growth of the city government’s bureaucracy while the core responsibilities of the city fell by the wayside.
This moment is not about political labels. It’s about vision.
One vision believes the answer to every challenge is more spending, more staff, and higher taxes. That vision brought us years of neglect and stagnation.
The other vision, the Lynchburg First vision, believes government works best when it listens, shrinks and unleashes the strength of its people.
That’s the vision now taking root. It’s producing results. It’s changing our culture. And it’s just getting started.
We’re investing in teachers.
We’re honoring public safety.
We’re rebuilding neighborhoods.
We’re choosing growth over decline.
We are loving Lynchburg.
Curt Diemer is vice mayor of Lynchburg.
