Evelyn Powers, who has served as Roanoke’s treasurer for 20 years, is retiring in September.
But she’s not finished with local government just yet. This week, she decided to run for the Roanoke City Council — but as an independent, after decades as a Democrat.
Powers has worked in the Roanoke city government for 43 years, most recently as treasurer, an elected position; and prior to that as the executive assistant to the municipal auditor.
“In light of everything that’s been going on,” Powers said Thursday, “taxpayers should have a good choice of people running.”
Powers said Jamaal Jackson’s unofficial resignation from the primary on June 3, and the investigation into his campaign, motivated her to put her name in the race.
Seven candidates are in the running for three available seats in November: Democrats Terry McGuire, Ben Woods and Phazhon Nash, who all won seats in Tuesday’s primary; Republicans Nick Hagen and Jim Garrett; and independents Powers and Cathy Reynolds.
This is the first time since 2010 that Democrats have not had a woman on their slate for the city council. Both GOP candidates are also men, while both independent candidates are women. There has not been a Republican elected to the city council in more than 20 years.
The deadline to file as a Democrat was April 4.
Powers said she made up her mind to run as an independent just two days before the Tuesday evening deadline to file. Reynolds was also a last-minute addition to the race.
Reynolds is on vacation this week and has not responded to queries.
Working in local government for over four decades has given her an understanding of relationships, Powers said. “We all have a job to do here in the city, and we need to be respectful of each other’s relationships.” She said working with the city budget will aid her in making policy decisions, as well as guiding younger people who are looking to get involved in local government.
She said she plans to focus her campaign on economic development, education and city employee retainment.
“We’re losing a lot of our employees to other localities,” Powers said. She also mentioned taking a look at the city’s tax structure to see how she can help local taxpayers.
As far as the Evans Spring development goes, Powers said she needs more information on the subject before commenting, but can “see why people are upset.”
The development has become a controversial topic as the city council approved an amended master plan early this year for the 150-acre plot of land, the largest tract of developable vacant land left in Roanoke.
When asked whether her decision to run as an independent could result in a splitting of the Democratic vote in November, Powers said everybody who wants to run for office “has the right to do that.”
“It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about the people of the city of Roanoke. I’m giving them a choice, and if their choice is not me, at the end of the day my life goes on. … If that’s what our taxpayers want, that’s what they deserve to get. And I’d be happy with that.”
