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Residents urge Roanoke City Council to appoint Trish White Boyd as interim councilor; other speakers back Evelyn Powers
Summary
Dozens of citizens used the council's public comment period to press the city to fill a vacant council seat, with multiple speakers endorsing Trish White Boyd for her prior council experience and institutional knowledge while others urged the council to appoint Evelyn Powers in deference to recent election support.
Dozens of residents used Tuesday's public-comment period at the Roanoke City Council to press members to appoint a successor to the recently vacated seat, and two names emerged repeatedly: Trish White Boyd and Evelyn Powers.
Supporters of Trish White Boyd framed their argument around her prior experience and steadying influence. "She worked tirelessly and endlessly for the benefit of our city," said Martha Goode, noting White Boyd's fundraising for the Henrietta Lacks statue and civic leadership. "She organized private and public forums to raise over a $140,000 to put the statue that we have out front in place," Goode said. Former Mayor Sherman P. Lee Sr. and multiple former council members and civic leaders also urged appointment, highlighting White Boyd's committee experience and role in recent city initiatives.
Other residents urged the council to consider Evelyn Powers, citing strong voter turnout for her in the recent election. "Evelyn Powers received over 13,000 votes and came in fourth in this past election," said Kathy Greenberg, arguing the council should "respect the voices of its citizens." Business owner Adele Carlos also backed Powers, saying Powers had demonstrated "excellent financial skills and accountability" as a former city treasurer.
Why it matters: Council will decide how to fill the vacancy by appointment. Supporters of White Boyd emphasized continuity on ongoing projects and institutional memory; supporters of Powers stressed democratic legitimacy and recent electoral backing. Several speakers said the choice matters for upcoming decisions on capital projects and ARPA allocations.
Council did not take the appointment during the 2 p.m. session; the public record of endorsements and the range of reasons for each candidate provide the council with the arguments and community preferences it cited when discussing next steps. Several speakers also tied their recommendations to specific city matters: Dottie Clifton noted a sustainability interest and the imminent arrival of three electric buses; others referenced redevelopment projects and prior ARPA decisions.
What they said (selected quotes): "She is able to work across the aisle," said Dottie Clifton in support of White Boyd. "She calls you back no matter who you are." "Evelyn Powers is the people's choice to fill this vacancy democratically," Anthony Stavala said, emphasizing Powers' vote totals in the recent election.
Next steps: The council will consider the applications and the testimony heard during public comment as it determines whether to appoint from the applicant pool or take another course; no appointment vote was recorded during this session.
