Radford’s financial challenges loom over elections to fill two money-related posts

In the midst of the City of Radford’s financial challenges, the municipality will continue to grapple with the problem with two new elected officials in its treasurer’s office and department of revenue.

Retiring at the end of the year will be current city Treasurer Janet Jones and Commissioner of Revenue Cathy Flinchum — both of whom were elected as members of the Democratic Party.

Jones was hired as deputy treasurer in 1990 and then ran for the elected position she currently holds for the first time in 1999. She ran unopposed six times since 2001 and won re-election each time.

Flinchum was first elected as commissioner of revenue in 2003, when her predecessor, Cassie Turner, retired from the position with two years left in her term. Since defeating interim commissioner Gale Collins in that first race, Flinchum won re-election five times, all of those unopposed.

Despite both being Democrats, the members of their party running to replace them consider themselves the outsiders in the election due to their Republican opponents both serving more than 20 years as city employees.

In the treasurer’s race, Democrat Joy Morrison, a human resources and payroll manager for a national company, is facing Republican Tracy Trump, who has worked in the Radford treasurer’s office for more than 30 years and served as the city’s deputy treasurer since she was appointed to the position in 1999.

The commissioner of revenue race is between Republican Angel Turpin, who has spent 27 years working as a deputy clerk in Radford Circuit Court and currently holds the title of master chief deputy clerk, and Kelsey Marletta, an adjunct professor at Radford University and a former Radford City Schools employee.

While neither office has a direct influence on the major financial decisions made by Radford’s city council earlier this year — a combination of tax increases and budget cuts were made to help overcome a financial shortfall. In May, it was reported that the city owed more than $6 million to American Electric Power and that it still owed $4 million plus interest on a loan taken out in 2023 to ease cash flow problems at the time. 

This is something that is not going to go away immediately, and Morrison said that if she was elected treasurer, she would be providing city officials with regular updates on the government’s financial standing and how it is sticking to the slimmed-down budget.

“The big piece of what I see is missing right now in the office is they should be giving regular financial statements, whether it’s a balance sheet — or whatever you want to call it — that the city council can use to make these financial decisions.”

Morrison believes because of her private sector job responsibilities, which include providing financial compliance and having those records available at all times, makes her qualified to become the city’s treasurer. She also believes being someone from the outside is something Radford needs in this juncture.

“What I’m seeing is distrust, wondering where our money went and what can we do to change it?” Morrison said. “My campaign — I’ve been saying since the beginning — transparency is the No. 1 thing I think that matters in this.” 

Morrison said if elected treasurer, she would advocate for the city council to ask for a forensic audit with the goal of finding out how city revenues were managed or mismanaged.

“That would be my first step, figuring out where the money is,” she said. “We want to find where are the short-term kind of fixes we can do to start pumping up the revenue now, but I think the bigger factor now is figuring out how we go into this place.”

Trump posted on social media this summer when she entered the race that as a result of serving as deputy treasurer for the city since 1999, she brings “proven experience and a deep commitment to our community.”

Trump said in an email that she has an approachable demeanor and humble leadership style, and added that she has always been passionate about serving the citizens of Radford.

“Serving the community is not just a job — it’s a calling,” Trump said. “Radford is my home, and I’m committed to keeping our Treasurer’s Office running efficiently, honestly, and with the care our residents deserve.

“As I continue my service, I remain focused on the values that have guided me for more than 30 years: trust, experience, loyalty, and readiness to serve on Day 1.”

Trump also touts the experience and professional training she has received as something that will benefit Radford’s citizens. In addition to being a 26-year employee in the office, she was certified as a master governmental deputy treasurer in 2002 and was named deputy treasurer of the year in 2019 by the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia.

“If elected, one of my priorities will be ensuring a smooth transition in the treasurer’s office,” she said. “Citizens deserve continuity, and I will work to make sure the transfer of responsibilities is handled with professionalism and care so that services continue without disruption.”

Trump added that while the financial challenges are directly handled by the city council, city manager and finance department, she will “ensure that every dollar collected is safeguarded, accounted for, and reported with accuracy.”

“I will do my part to help put our community back on solid financial ground if possible,” she said.

In the race for commissioner of revenue, Turpin says she decided to run for the office because “as a citizen, homeowner, and taxpayer myself, I understand firsthand how essential it is for this office to operate with accuracy, fairness, and respect.”

Turpin said the office of revenue’s most immediate need is improving citizen access to its services. If elected, she plans to establish an in-house notary service that would be especially helpful for senior citizens and residents with mobility challenges. She also would work on modernizing the online form system, where residents who prefer to take care of department-related business from home. She also wants to expand outreach on tax-relief programs available to many facing challenging tax burdens.

“Too many residents who qualify, particularly elderly and disabled citizens, miss out because they simply don’t know about them,” she said. “I believe in taking information out into the community through churches, civic groups, senior centers, and local events.

“…I’ve built relationships with our citizens, businesses, and city offices, and I understand how connected this work is to people’s everyday lives.”

Marletta believes that the next commissioner of revenue should be someone who has a fresh perspective, rather than someone who has been working in the city offices for multiple decades. 

“I think that seeing things from the outside and coming in gives a different perspective,” said Marletta, who is also the chairperson of Radford’s Democratic committee. “I think that there is so much that’s going on in Radford and there’s going to be a lot of changes just because of the city’s finances. So, I think it would really benefit for there to be a fresh start in a lot of the offices.”

As a result of past conversations she has had with the departing commissioner of revenue, Marletta said she believes there is a need for better communication between the city’s constitutional officers and city council.

Marletta added that she will advocate to set up a tax-payment plan for Radford residents that would allow them to pay their increased obligations in a split payment, hoping that will help ease some of the stress the steep tax increase some people may have.

“It has been years since taxes had been raised, so it couldn’t be unexpected,” Marletta said. “It’s just that with the way things are in general right now — paying more will be hard for some people.

“Paying taxes in the beginning of December is hard, especially for people who have families and know the holidays are right around the corner.”

Like her opponent, Marletta said she plans to improve the online form options for people who prefer to take care of paperwork from home and would also get the word out to the community about potential tax relief available to some.

Unlike her opponent, Marletta opposes having an excess of notaries within the city offices. She said when cuts have to be made, additional costs that are not 100% needed should be avoided.

“We will need to do our part to help keep costs down.”