Councilman Caleb Rogers to Complete His Term; Will Not Seek Reelection
This Op Ed was posted in the Virginia Gazette on April 1st, 2024
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In 2021 and after much debate, Virginia’s General Assembly passed a law pushing back the election dates of 16 independent cities in Virginia, elongating the elected terms of office for any affected council people. Suddenly, our terms went from going through the fiscal year’s conclusion in June, to the calendar year’s conclusion in December. The general reasoning was equitable access to the ballot box was furthered when these cities, which historically had their own special local-level elections in May, elected all political leaders on the same day in November’s general election.
While this thought process is sound, I liked to joke then that another reason could be that the City of Williamsburg was doing such a good job that those of us elected in 2020 deserved an unprecedented 6-month contract extension!
Whatever the reason, in 2022 we successfully passed one local-level November election in Williamsburg, and we are now facing another. Whereas this time four years ago, the City would be dotted with yard signs and electioneering mailers, we are now only just beginning the ballot qualification process. This elongated timeline will give candidates and incumbents a better chance to get to know their voting neighbors. It has also allowed me more time to reflect. With this additional time, I have come to the difficult decision to not run for reelection on the Williamsburg City Council.
It is my hope to use this Letter to the Editor to, partially, explain my decision and, mostly, relay a deep gratitude to the countless service-minded individuals I have had the fortune of working with in the last four years.
Firstly, on not seeking reelection. My first official position in Williamsburg started in 2017 with an appointment to the Public Housing Advisory Committee. I then worked for the City in 2018 as its Economic Development Intern and followed that up with a partial term on our Planning Commission. Since my sophomore year at William & Mary, I have joyfully served this amazing place often named among the South’s best small towns. Looking back over the last 7 years of involvement, I feel both proud of Williamsburg’s accomplishments and ready to welcome new custodians of our City’s wellbeing.
Early involvement also exposed me to areas of need, such as aging infrastructure, equal representation on our appointed civic bodies, and the lack of affordable housing that so many communities face. On these issues and more went my focus on the City Council, and progress recognized today is due to the credit of many mentioned below. These issues and more that prompted my Council journey have also evolved positively, reinforcing my confidence in Williamsburg’s bright future.
Finally intermixed into my decision are the growing responsibilities in my career. While I was not the first student (and certainly won’t be the last!) elected to Council, I have been in the unique position of balancing Council service with full-time work in an early-stage occupation. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my employer Voltus, a clean energy technology company, for understanding the dedication and time commitment required by Council service. As my future evolves after Council, I look forward to deepening my commitment to climate change solutions.
Looking back, it’s clear that Williamsburg’s strides forward were the collective wins of several community-focused citizens. At the end of this year and my term, I’ll be stepping aside filled with pride for what we’ve accomplished and excitement for what’s next.
Secondly, on teamwork. I’d like to recognize now recent wins from those who dedicate time for the betterment of Williamsburg, our City staff and Council colleagues.
The saying “you can go fast alone or far together” rings especially true in managing a municipality. While Council people are celebrated often (and certainly denigrated too) for their work, I have learned to appreciate most the civic-minded, devoted members of our City staff for maintaining the quality of Williamsburg. Without them, the Virginia Municipal League would not have recognized Williamsburg as the 2023 Communication Award winner for a staff-led series of Future Festivals that engaged 1,600 citizens in planning ahead. Often too, it is the daily work of our City’s staff that leads to innovative solutions, such as a new Housing First initiative that was just recently expanded.
For my Council colleagues, I want to thank the 5 I have had the pleasure of serving with: Doug Pons, Pat Dent, Barbara Ramsey, Stacy Kern-Scheerer, and Ted Maslin.
Starting my Council tenure in 2020, I am glad our work today is far less predicated on an international pandemic than it once was. Tourism has now returned to surpass 2019 levels and we get to cherish traditional events again. Looking back, we should be especially proud of dedicating a state-of-the-art Fire Department and implementing common-sense recommendations from our 2021 Affordable Housing Report, such as inclusionary zoning and hotel-to-housing conversions.
In line with the theme of 2020, not only was Council then working through significant public health considerations, but we were also responding to the rightful calls for racial reconciliation in the wake of George Floyd’s death on May 25th, only six days after our local election. Williamsburg being a city of history, we have much to celebrate, but also much to reconcile with. I also think this Council should be proud to have made this work a priority, starting with the removal of a central Confederate obelisk, followed by federal funding for our Heritage Trail, and now soon-to-be implementation of two Truth and Reconciliation Committee recommendations (I wrote more on this here). I am profoundly thankful to my fellow Council members and engaged citizens for their ardent work on these vital initiatives.
A special thank you to William & Mary. As I was running for Council several people suggested Williamsburg find a way to end the “brain drain”. We have such a wealth of intelligence and passion next door at William & Mary, but the challenge is tapping into it. Having been an undergraduate only a few years ago, I know how it can feel difficult to better both your college and the community in only four years. Helping rectify this, I particularly appreciate several William & Mary administrators for growing the City Research Scholars program. Partnering with Professor Dan Cristol in 2021, we could not have expected the program to be where it is today. After two students in its first year, the Scholars have grown to 11 students this year. As an example of institutions benefitting from their work, Williamsburg received outstanding guidance on lowering our carbon emissions from a City Research Scholar in 2023. Thank you to Ted Maris-Wolf and Monica Griffin for continuing to facilitate, through this program, William & Mary student talent benefitting our local nonprofits and local government.
In late 2019, I had a very hard time developing a campaign slogan. Several ideas ultimately felt cheesy, cliche, or convoluted. In the end, my dedicated campaign team settled on “Count on Caleb”, with the idea being that a locally-elected official should be as accessible to the public that people can directly count on them. In an effort to be available, I have maintained a monthly blog, regularly updated social media, and responded to every email outreach. So far, I hope I have lived up to that ideal of being accountable.
I have found that this direct work, the “constituent services” of a political position, is the most unexpectedly rewarding. Being on Council puts you at a community’s nexus. Using this to help folks get their utilities back on or find rapid housing or gain employment is the greatest gift.
So a final thanks to the community of Williamsburg! We have the most special city, where you can walk back into the 1700s anytime or study machine learning across the street. I appreciate everyone engaged with bettering this historic, unique place. And I pledge to, as I like to remember while getting a run in around town, “finish strong”. With my term ending at the end of this calendar year, I will be staying just as dedicated to all items that come in front of Council.
To close, I think the closeness to the community in local government makes it the best position in policy-making. Elected, appointed, or employed, working for a local government means that closeness to those you serve is unforgettable. I have never met someone with no opinion on who is president. The top echelons of our politics are unavoidable, as is the following rancor. The federal budget isn’t in the millions or billions, but trillions. It funds our roadways, social safety net, environmental protection, and more. Without a doubt, priorities federally, and at the state level, profoundly impact our country. But at the local level, day-to-day livelihood is more affected by non-descript governance usually without fanfare. It’s the local government that empowers first responders, beautifies parks, runs the library, manages public transportation, and vastly more. At a time when “politics” in the U.S. can feel broken, I am heartened by the personal touch local governments bring, making democracy feel tangible and immediate.
With gratitude,
Caleb
