A Local Voice
for Town Council
My decision to run for Town Council stems from a personal conviction that community matters. It's what brings us together and makes Blacksburg a great place to live, to grow up, to go to school, and to raise a family.
I was born and raised in the New River Valley, and now live with my wife and two young boys in Blacksburg, so I know firsthand how incredible our local community is. I also deeply appreciate the legacy of our town, and I look forward to how we will carry that legacy forward for future generations.
I'm committed to being a champion for a stronger, more livable Blacksburg - a place we're all proud to call home. I would love to hear from you on how I can best represent you on Blacksburg's Town Council and be your voice for lasting, positive change.
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About Joel
Joel is proud to call Blacksburg home and is excited for an opportunity to serve his community as a member of Town Council. Born and raised in the NRV, and a graduate of Virginia Tech, Joel has deep local roots and a genuine understanding of what makes Blacksburg such an extraordinary place.
After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2015, Joel became the operations manager for the YMCA at Virginia Tech, where he played a key role in organizing and expanding a variety of community programs in Blacksburg. His work included overseeing Y-TOSS, one of Virginia Tech’s largest sustainability initiatives in partnership with the Y, coordinating local afterschool care programs, and handling daily operations. In 2020, he earned his Master’s in IT from Virginia Tech and went on to teach career and technology education full-time with MCPS. Currently, Joel has stepped away from full-time teaching to care for his children but stays connected to education by serving as a substitute teacher.
With a strong commitment to public service, Joel currently serves on Blacksburg's Housing Committee, is the treasurer for the New River Valley Bicycle Association (NRVBA), and leads Strong Towns Blacksburg, where he advocates for better streets, thoughtful growth, and bottom-up, community-lead action to make Blacksburg a stronger town.
Joel believes that the key to a brighter future for Blacksburg lies within the local community. From comprehensive housing and safer streets to active sustainability and thriving local businesses, the path forward starts with us loving our town, asking real questions, and finding the right things to do and getting them done.
If elected, Joel will seek to actively listen to everyone sharing their voice, and to seek out new voices that need to be heard. He believes that preserving Blacksburg's charm and creating a shared vision for the future is the right approach to ensuring that Blacksburg is an incredible town for generations to come.
The Issues Joel Cares About
Better Streets and Transportation
Better, slower streets are an opportunity to make Blacksburg more connected and thriving as a community. When our streets are designed for all kinds of users, the benefits are considerable. Whether people are walking, rolling, driving, or using public transit, slower streets reduce accidents, promote healthier lifestyles, and make it easier for everyone, including children and seniors, to get around safely. By investing in our streets, we can build more community connection, advance our sustainability goals, and create a more livable town that prioritizes people and place-making over empty car storage and through traffic.
Community Well-Being and Growth
Productive growth is an important distinction to make when discussing how we should grow in the Town of Blacksburg. Our downtown with its mixed use buildings and walkable streets is an example of productive growth that has had lasting value for the community for decades. This type of growth has long-term positive returns and gives us more choices for transportation, more potential for local business, a stronger tax base and protects our green space. Productive growth is all about creating a balanced, resilient town that respects its roots while building toward a brighter future with vibrant neighborhoods, better active & public transit, a solid tax base, and immense social capital. We need to make land use and zoning decisions that encourages productive growth while discouraging growth that is unproductive such as car-dependent, suburban sprawl.
Comprehensive Housing
Access to affordable, quality housing is vital for a thriving, livable Blacksburg. A diverse range of housing options ensures that people of all income levels, ages, and backgrounds can call our town home. By promoting smart housing policies that encourage productive growth and incremental adaptation, we can create and maintain opportunities for everyone—from young professionals and families to seniors, singles, and everyone in between. Comprehensive housing supports our local workforce, helps reduce commuting burdens, and ensures that Blacksburg remains a welcoming, accessible place to live for current and future generations.
