Yesterday, Charlottesville City Council candidates discussed election issues with The Cavalier Daily that affect the University and Charlottesville communities. Elections will be held May 2.
Incumbent Republican Rob Schilling and Democrats Julian Taliaferro and David Norris are running for two open seats.
Taliaferro and Norris have both spoken in favor of the "living wage" at recent rallies held on Grounds.
"It's a matter of basic economic justice for me," Norris said. "Somebody that's working 40 hours a week should not be living in poverty."
Norris also said he is concerned about the effects University wages have on the Charlottesville community.
"Right now we are subsidizing the University because when their employees are not making a living wage--they are having to rely on our social services like food stamps," Norris said.
Another issue linking the University and Charlottesville communities is the pressure put on the housing market by students, Norris added.
Norris, who served as associate director of Madison House for five years, said he would also support efforts to promote volunteerism by University students in the Charlottesville community.
Julian Taliaferro, recently retired Charlottesville fire chief, also spoke in support of the Living Wage Campaign.
"I spent 43 years in the fire department," Taliaferro said. "I've been in a lot of people's homes and apartments and I came across a lot of people having trouble making ends meet."
While Taliaferro echoed the issues of housing that affect Charlottesville, he also praised the increasing cooperation between the University and the city.
"I've had the opportunity to work with the University for the past 30 years and 30 years ago we were lacking cooperation," Taliaferro said. "That really has improved and I'd have to give [Executive Vice President] Leonard Sandridge credit for that."
Schilling, the sole Republican on City Council, did not return multiple telephone calls; however, his Web site states that he favors "economic development" and "budgetary reform to reduce the local tax burden while keeping Charlottesville affordable for all citizens."
According to City Registrar Sheri L. Iachetta, University students are eligible to vote in Charlottesville elections provided that they registered in the city before April 3.
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