S. M. "Danny" Clawson
Candidate for Roanoke City Council
Background
- Occupation
- Executive director, Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition
- Campaign website
- clawsonforcouncil.com
Executive director of the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition and a former state manager for Georgia Equality. Holds a Master of Public Health from Emory University and served two years in the Peace Corps.
Photo: Candidate-submitted photo — Cardinal News voter guide
Documented positions
Taxes & budget
Supports growing the tax base over raising taxes.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“There's only two ways to fix a revenue shortage - raise taxes or increase our tax base. I prefer the latter.”
Proposes the maximum cannabis sales tax to fund education.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Once recreational cannabis is authorized, we should apply the maximum sales tax rate of 3.5% and re-invest those funds into education.”
Public safety
Opposes Raven and Flock surveillance, favoring intervention programs.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Rather than spending money on unsecure and faulty surveillance like Raven and Flock, Roanoke needs to target offenders with intensive wrap-around support.”
Education
Supports keeping the 40% city-schools funding formula.
He also supports collective bargaining for teachers.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I support maintaining a standard funding formula at 40% to protect our children, teachers, and parents from becoming a political football. … We also need to support collective bargaining for our teachers”
Housing
Proposes requiring affordable units in new apartment complexes.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“support legislation that allows Roanoke to require that all new apartment complexes include affordable and deeply affordable units”
Proposes a land value tax to discourage land speculation.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Roanoke should enact a Land Value Tax which discourages corporate land speculation of parking lots or vacant properties”
Economy & jobs
Proposes a public bid for entertainment district plans.
He said a casino may be part of such a plan, but that how it is pursued matters.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Rather than cutting a sweetheart deal with a middling company, we should put out a public bid for entertainment plans”
Government & transparency
Opposes city cooperation with ICE beyond legal requirements.
ReportHow to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“While the city will comply when compelled by law, we should not be going out of our way to accommodate an agency”
Other issues in this race
Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from S. M. "Danny" Clawson on them.
- Roads & infrastructureNo documented position found.
- Health & human servicesNo documented position found.
All sources (3)
- Candidate list, November 3, 2026 General Election: City of Roanoke (all offices)
Election filing · Virginia Department of Elections · elections.virginia.gov
- Sample ballot, November 3, 2026 General and Special Elections: City of Roanoke
Election filing · City of Roanoke Electoral Board · roanokeva.gov
- How to vote in Roanoke: Roanoke City Council candidate questionnaire responses (Cardinal News voter guide data)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.