Christiansburg residents re-elected Michael Barber to a fifth term over challenger Carl Pauli, a retired school and district administrator.
“I’m looking forward to keeping Christiansburg moving forward as I have for the last 12 years as mayor,” Barber said. He added he’s especially looking forward to seeing the Amtrak passenger rail project in Christiansburg through, an initiative he has been a part of for the past decade.
Barber has served as mayor since 2012 after three terms on the town council. His defeat over Pauli continues a trend of Barber winning by comfortable majorities.
Pauli had earned the endorsement of the Montgomery County, VA Republicans and told Cardinal News the town’s biggest issue was managing growth “in a way that does not overburden the town’s infrastructure.” Of Christiansburg’s nearly 18,000 registered voters, 52% participated in the mayor’s race.
The three available seats on Christiansburg’s town council will be filled by Tanya Hockett, Christine Waltz, and Beth Umberger, according to unofficial election results. Hockett, a career emergency manager, was the only town council member seeking re-election.
“Being reelected just opens doors to continue work on issues important to the community,” she said.
Christine Waltz served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy and was one of the three town council candidates who were endorsed by the county’s Republican Party. She said she wants the town council to sustain the current tax rates.
“I want to keep Christiansburg affordable,” she said Tuesday evening. “I will be making sure we do thoughtful development.”
Beth Umberger was born in Christiansburg and has held various teaching and research positions.
The three women defeated Joshua Bryan, Harry Collins Jr. and Matthew Hicks.
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