Danville City Council Race – Challenger Overview

We’ve taken a look at the incumbents for the 2014 Danville City Council race. Let’s do the same thing for the challengers.

We’re using the same rules. I’m being brutally honest and I’m going to list strengths and weaknesses then I’ll give a quick overview. Five challengers are on the ballot against three incumbents. Four will win seats on council, four get lovely parting gifts. I’ve pushed the randomize button on the challengers and here’s the order of the challengers for the BreakDown: Thomas Motley, Joyce Glaise, Dawn Witter, James Buckner and Madison Whittle. Let’s light this candle…

Thomas Motley:

• Strengths: Large number of candidates in this field splits the vote in a lot of directions, one hell of a public speaker, booming personality.
• Weaknesses: Lost in 2010 & 2012 council elections, only moderate support from the black voting bloc, zero support from the old-people voting bloc, one-trick pony on a no-win issue (electric rates), occasionally scares the hell out of people.
• Overview: You know, I’ve got a soft spot for Thomas Motley. He’s got a lot of negatives against him but he’s became an advocate for the people. If he can diversify himself into a good knowledge of things that city council can actually do and campaign on that, he just may have a chance at jumping into a win this time. He’s got to be conservative (dropping that hideously awesome purple suit) and spend a lot of money to get voters to see him as a “for the people” type of guy. It’s going to be tough, but this is the year for Motley to actually have a chance to win.

Joyce Glaise:

• Strengths: Prior city council experience.
• Weaknesses: Has little connection to Danville as she works way out of town, low name recognition, was voted out as an incumbent, low old people voting bloc support, only moderate support from the black voting bloc.
• Overview: Is Joyce Glaise the female version of Seward Anderson? She was on city council but few seem to like her at all. She’s been out of the news for so long, I thought she had moved out of Danville after getting trounced by Danny Marshall in a House of Delegates race. Shes going to have to spend a lot of money to reestablish her name as somebody who cares about Danville’s future and I’m not sure that the voters will buy it. The voters tossed her out a long time ago and I’m doubtful that she’ll have the time to make the inroads needed to have a viable chance.

Dawn Witter:

• Strengths: Strong grassroots support, strong in social activities, strong social media skills, present at every governmental meeting, president of the local PFLAG chapter.
• Weaknesses: Ouch. This pains me to say it, but Witter’s starting of the local PFLAG chapter makes her a giant target for Danville’s closeted bigotry and hate. There’s  just as many people who’ll not vote for her because of that issue as those will vote for her because of it. I’m sad because that issue has absolutely nothing to do with a city council seat. She’s also being painted as way to the left on the political scale. Because of that, she starts with low support from the old-people voting bloc and will have to work strongly on the black voting bloc.
• Overview: Witter doesn’t have the outgoing spirit and charisma (yet) to make the young voting bloc come out like Lee Vogler did last year. She’ll need the same amount of young voter bloc support that Vogler had to get herself into a position to win a seat on Council.

James Buckner:

• Strengths: Successful small business owner/partner, good sources of campaign financing, active in putting out his positions on the issues, early campaign is very visible.
• Weaknesses: Low support from the old-people and black voting bloc as of now due to his newness.
• Overview: I have to be painfully honest with this one… James Buckner looks like a hipster. Old white people don’t vote for hipsters in Danville. James is a terrific guy and awesomely humorous, but his hipster ways have to win over Forest Hills & Windsor Heights for him to get a council seat. The disadvantage of youth can be overcome in Danville… Lee Vogler proved that last time. Lee Vogler also was seen in a suit and tie on the campaign trail. Danville old white rich voters are quite superficial, but Buckner’s being advised by smart people.

Madison Whittle:

• Strengths: Money. Also money. And I have to add money. Did I mention campaign money?
• Weaknesses: For a rich guy, he isn’t extremely popular in the Danville area and doesn’t have much name recognition. honestly, I didn’t even know that he lived in Danville. He owns most of Danville Estates as rental properties, and there are a few boarded-up houses in that area. That’s got to be taken care of quickly or he’s going to be hammered for that.
• Overview: Money can buy things that include city council seats. Enough advertising makes people believe what the advertising says. Whittle’s got that kind of money and seems to be willing to spend it.

So there you go. Five challengers in one BreakDown. Do you agree? Disagree? The comment box is all yours.

The first forum of the election season is Tuesday Wednesday night at the Danville Science Center’s Digital Dome and we’ll be there with LIVE! SouthsideCentral coverage starting at 6:00 PM.