A career in journalism and Information Technology has equipped long-time resident Jeff Overholtzer to run for Staunton City Council.
“I just really appreciate and love this community, and I think we’re on a good trajectory,” Overholtzer said. “I’d like to see us build on our strengths.”
Staunton‘s strengths include historic downtown, natural beauty and a thriving arts scene.
“So, we need to protect and nurture those things, that’s our drawing card with people who live here and what draws them to visit here from all over the world,” Overholtzer said.
However, Overholtzer said warning signs exist in the city, especially with individuals and families struggling and with a housing crisis.
Staunton’s economy is good, according to Overholtzer, but diversification would strengthen the city’s economy. Light industry and technology jobs would provide higher salaries and encourage Staunton’s youth to stay in the Valley.
“That’s kind of the whole point really with Staunton Crossing,” he said.
Local and state funding has provided an area for Staunton to attract companies that will bring higher paying jobs.
“I think we need to push full steam ahead and really be focusing our efforts on locating those kinds of employers and bringing them to Staunton and give people, young people especially, a reason to stay here,” he said.
Overholtzer, who grew up all over the world because his father worked for GE, said his ability to adapt to new environments and to listen strengthened his ability to communicate with individuals from different backgrounds.
Overholtzer and his wife, Kathy, have three children and three grandchildren.
He earned his undergraduate degree in English from Hamilton College in New York and a graduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He began his career in newspapers in western Tennessee.
“Campaigning is wonderful actually, because I revert to that old excuse to be curious about everything [and ask questions],” Overholtzer said of the similarities between journalism and running for local elected office.
His journalism career brought him to Staunton and a position at the Staunton News Leader, then he transitioned to Information Technology.
Overholtzer supports values in Staunton’s city plan: advancing natural environment and preventing flooding. The stream remediation project and planting of native grasses in Gypsy Hill Park will help prevent further flooding in Staunton like the downtown experienced in early August 2020, while also beautifying the city.
He would like to see more options for walkability in the city and providing more shade cover downtown that would provide additional health benefits for community members and lower energy costs.
“Part of resiliency is also recognizing that there are going to be weather events and people are going to be in danger at times,” Overholtzer. He would like to see more proactive planning for situations with emergency shelters, perhaps with cooperation from local churches.
When discussing initiatives and outcomes, Overholtzer said he is data driven. If elected to council, he will want to see data behind making certain decisions for the city.
“What’s likely to have the biggest impact? What’s most effective for dollars spent?” Overholtzer said.
Communication and collaboration are important for Overholtzer.
“We need to be really good at communicating to residents concerning change,” Overholtzer said.
Overholtzer, who taught journalism and designed technical education courses, most recently retired from an IT position with Mary Baldwin University. He previously was at Washington & Lee University for more than 20 years. He said that communication links together the different paths his career took.
As technology rose more and more as an interest in his journalism career, Overholtzer decided to make the change.
“I’ve been involved in big, complex [IT] projects where I had to understand all the needs of a pretty diverse community and then help devise cost-effective solutions,” he said, “and, I think, that fits pretty well with the work of [serving on city council].”
Internal communication is important to Overholtzer also, either between city council members, with city staff or with school board determining needs and goals.
“I think discussions early and often with the school board to talk about their priorities, their needs, both short-term and long-term.”
In IT, Overholtzer regularly conducted similar “big picture planning.”
Collaboration with community organizations and local counties/cities also plays key roles in serving on a city council.
The draft plan for Staunton’s West End is also a priority to Overholtzer, who regularly volunteers at the Valley Mission. He said the plan is a good start and the next step is to put money behind the plan.
“I think it’s a really solid plan, and we just need to get more specific,” he said.
If elected, Overholtzer said his priorities would be local housing and the economy. He attended the SAW Housing Summit and streamlining a path toward affordable housing is important for the city and its future. Zoning code changes, such as parking requirements, could encourage more developers to build housing.
“I really want to use City Council as a bully pulpit to encourage people to look out for each other, encourage people to be good neighbors to each other, and to volunteer, to get involved,” he said.
Early voting began today. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Related stories:
Staunton: Dan Gunnells one of five candidates for City Council (augustafreepress.com)
Staunton: Adam Campbell seeks re-election to City Council (augustafreepress.com)
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Rebecca Barnabi
