ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – January 1 brings a new year and a new term for three Roanoke City council members and newly elected mayor Joe Cobb.
For Nick Hagen, the date marks the history that he has made by becoming the first elected council member in Roanoke City since the turn of the century.
“I look forward to representing the fine people of Roanoke and I need to thank them again for their trust in me,” said Hagen.
Roanoke has seen a Republican serve on council somewhat recently, as Alvin Nash was appointed to finish the unexpired term of Alfred Dowe in 2008.
But you have to go back further than city records include to determine the exact year the last Republican made it onto council through the election.
Interestingly, Hagen begins his term at the same time as Nash’s nephew, Phazhon Nash, who made history of his own by becoming the youngest person ever elected to Roanoke City Council at just 25 years old.
The younger Nash, along with the rest of the sitting council, are Democrats, as Hagen was the lone member of his party to make history this year.
“Having even a single dissenting opinion can force people to rethink their arguments, even the majority,” said Hagen of his position as the only Republican on the council.
He ran on a platform of being that dissenting opinion, which according to him will represent a group that he believes needs it.
“About 40 percent of people in Roanoke, 40 percent of voters or so, have not been represented on council in the last twenty-some odd years,” he said.
His desire to help members of his party be heard and represented among their leaders does not mean his focus lies solely with one side of the political aisle.
He hopes to improve the line of conversation between the council and all the city’s residents.
“That’s the job,” he said. “You’re trying to listen to people who not only agree with you but especially those who disagree with you.”
For Hagen, other top issues include homelessness, the city’s mass rezoning plan, and trying to bring in new businesses to the area.
Before the new council can tend to those issues, they will start the year by taking a long look at the city budget and by searching for the person they will appoint to finish the remaining two years of Cobb’s council term after he was elected the city’s next mayor.
“I’ve been on record in the past when we’ve had appointments as saying that the person who came in fourth in the last election is probably the one who should be appointed,” said Hagen.
If the council takes that line of thinking, then Evelyn Powers would be the selection as she finished fourth in the November election.
However, the appointment could also be done by application, and it is unclear which direction the council is leaning as a whole.