The candidates for Ward III on Lynchburg City Council debated both local and national issues this week at an election forum sponsored by the College Republicans at Liberty University. The two candidates, Democrat James Coleman and Republican Curt Diemer, offered their views on the best ways to tackle crime and bring civility to city council.

A Lynchburg City Council candidate forum kicked off Thursday evening with each of the candidates offering their views on how they would listen to the concerns of their constituents and then work to connect, rather than divide, the city’s residents. The forum, co-sponsored by the Lynchburg Voters League, a nonprofit group that works for full voter registration, education and participation, and the Lynchburg Branch of the NAACP, included three candidates running in Ward I, one candidate running in Ward II, two in Ward III and two in Ward IV.

WDBJ7 covered the campaign launch at Monument Terrace for the four Democratic candidates seeking seats on City Council this November. Watch the full video below.

On Thursday, Lynchburg Democrats announced their candidates running for city council this election. A crowd gathered to hear the four candidates speak at Monument Terrace. One common focus was civility and communication. Democratic candidates running for city council said something needs to change. Dr. James Coleman is running against Jeff Helgeson in Ward 3. "Civility and collaboration are necessary, huge, so that we can have strong public schools and learning for all students regardless of the option," Dr. Coleman said.

A little over a month removed from Lynchburg Better Together announcing its four candidates who secured Democratic nominations for November’s Lynchburg City Council elections, the group officially announced its campaign Thursday afternoon. More than 40 people joined the Democratic candidates on a warm afternoon at the base of Monument Terrace, located at 9th and Church streets.

Lynchburg Better Together will announce a campaign launch on Thursday, May 23 at 12:00 PM at the base of the Monument Terrace steps (9th and Church Street) to introduce the four Democratic City Council candidates running for a seat on November 5, 2024. Randy Smith (Ward 1), Dr. Sterling Wilder (Ward 2), Dr. James Coleman (Ward 3), and April Watson (Ward 4) will be joined by friends, families and supporters. 

Last week, in the aftermath of the City’s decision to cancel the International Festival, Lynchburg Councilman Martin Misjuns issued a public statement. In that statement, he claimed that local groups intended to disrupt the event and specifically named LYH Queer Town Hall and one of its members as “radical extremists.” That accusation is patently untrue, and utter nonsense. (Read the full statement here)

For The First Time In Living Memory, Democrats Will Aim To Sweep All Four Ward Seats On Lynchburg City Council

[Lynchburg, VIRGINIA, April 5] – One incumbent and three challengers have successfully secured the Democratic nomination and will square off against Republican opponents for Lynchburg’s four ward seats in the upcoming November election for City Council.