Taliaferro makes bid for second term official

City Councilor Julian Taliaferro announced Monday that he will run for re-election, two months before Charlottesville’s Democrats hold their nominating convention.

Taliaferro, a Democrat and former chief of the Charlottesville Fire Department, was elected in May 2006 along with Mayor Dave Norris.

“Julian’s connection to our city began at least 47 years ago,” said Tom Vandever, a former mayor and chairman of Norris and Taliaferro’s 2006 campaign.

Taliaferro, 68, who retired in 2005 after serving as fire chief for 34 years, said it would be an honor and privilege to continue to serve the city as he did with the department and as he has for the past few years as a councilor.

“I would like to continue that mission of service,” he said.

Norris also decided last week to run for a second term, and challenger Kristin Szakos announced last month that she would seek the Democratic nomination in an attempt to fill one of the council’s two open seats.

“This is what democracy is about, so I’m excited it’s going to be a race,” Szakos, a community organizer and the lone challenger thus far, said in an interview. “I’m hopeful people will get involved.”

No Republicans have entered the race. Additionally, three Democrats have decided to seek their party’s nomination for city sheriff, with Charlottesville police Sgt. Phillip Brown being the latest person to enter the race after announcing his intentions Monday. He joins Albemarle police Officer James Brown III and Capt. Mike Baird, a city’s sheriff’s office veteran, in seeking the post.

Several constitutional offices — commonwealth’s attorney, sheriff, treasurer and commissioner of revenue — also will be listed on the Nov. 3 ballot, along with three seats on the Charlottesville School Board.

Taliaferro emphasized many of the issues elected officials have been confronted with over the past few years — such as public education, governmental efficiency and especially affordable housing and the regional water supply plan — and vowed to continue work on these matters.

“We have made great strides in all of these endeavors,” Taliaferro said. But, he added, “when a school system goes in a community, the whole community goes.”

But Taliaferro went on the offensive about the revenue-sharing agreement that is in place between Charlottesville and Albemarle County, defending its use and the benefits it provides to the two localities and saying he has been dismayed by some of the criticisms of the contract.

“The silly talk about this whole issue needs to end,” he said.

The agreement gives the city roughly 37 cents of its 95-cent real-estate tax rate. And if it weren’t in place, Taliaferro said, “the city would take massive cuts to schools and other services.”

A recent efficiency review of the Charlottesville government suggested that the city and county consider consolidating several services to save money, and Taliaferro said he would be interested in discussing that with county leaders.

To eventually see major cost savings in city government, he said, “I plan to utilize this report as a guide.”

It is unclear how many of the study’s recommendations will be incorporated in the proposed fiscal 2010 budget, which was unveiled by City Manager Gary O’Connell last month and which councilors will vote on next month.

“The possibility exists that we can implement some things mentioned in that study [this year],” Taliaferro said. But he added that it was likely that many of the recommendations may be acted upon next year, when the fiscal 2011 budget is being developed.

Taliaferro has speculated before that next year’s budget will be even more difficult than what the city has dealt with this year, but said he was proud to be a part of a team that has demonstrated fiscal responsibility with taxpayer money.

“We are enduring this crisis without drastic disruption to our services,” Taliaferro said.

If elected again on Nov. 3, “I promise to do the very best that I can,” he said.