Benjamin Woods (Roanoke City Council, Virginia, candidate 2024)

Benjamin Woods (Democratic Party) ran for election to Roanoke City Council in Virginia.^[1]

Elections

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Benjamin Woods completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Woods' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Benjamin Woods, a small business owner and proud Roanoke Valley native, is running for Roanoke City Council to bring homegrown dedication and proven leadership to the Star City.

Benjamin has traveled the country, navigating the complexities of political campaigns, nonprofits, building businesses, and notably managing historic wins. In 2019, Benjamin managed Delegate Alex Askew’ (D-Virginia Beach) which resulted in Democrats gaining control of the Commonwealth, the first time in 3 decades.

He served as Senior Advisor and Campaign Manager for Cheri Beasley, who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Cheri was the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice in North Carolina.

He worked to elect State Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and City Councilors. All of which became the first African Americans to ever be elected in their districts or cities.

Benjamin served as the Virginia State Director for Demand Justice, which advocated to get more Judges with public defender and civil rights backgrounds appointed across the Commonwealth. He also served as an Advisor to Democratic Legislative Leaders.

Benjamin now lives in Raleigh Court with his lovely wife Sarah, and their loud English Setter named Gracie. Sarah and Benjamin first met at the Salem Fair, and she hasn’t been able to shake him since.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Cut Property Taxes
• Grow the cities economic base, and make it easier for small business owners to create in the city.
• Transparency: Modernize the public facing communications of the city, make interactions with the city easier for residents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The results of good and meaningful work.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Transparency, an ingrained sense of service, and the will to protect your community

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Create policies that foster economic growth and investment into the community, be responsible and responsive with how the city gets revenue and spends tax dollars, and be the advocating force for people against the abuse of other office holders, corporations, or large organizations.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Discourse on the Method Rene Descartes

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Local governments have the opportunity to invest in emerging technologies to make their services and actions 100% transparent, in real time. Online servicing is the cheapest and most effective tool you can have in educating and sharing information and our city needs to do a better job of using it.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Combating poverty, growing opportunities in distressed communities, protecting freedoms of individuals, and protect women's rights to live their lives and control their own bodies.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The ability to directly to represent and be in constant interaction with the people you are representing. It's the most intimate stage of Government.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Knowing how things works beforehand always helps.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Negotiation, delegation, and the ability to put yourself in different peoples shoes.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Waited tables at Country Cookin' throughout high school.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I know how to conduct and manage conflict, I know how to get to know what motivates others. I can be diplomatic when needed, or blunt enough to make you blush, but I prefer to be nice.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Having confidence in myself.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Morals & Dogma

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Cregan Stark- Game of Thrones

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Y2K

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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[1] ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2024.