City & town

Blacksburg Town Council

Special election (term ends 12/31/2027)

Vote for: 2
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The town council sets Blacksburg's budget, taxes and ordinances.

Candidates Compare by issue

Leslie C. Harwood

No party listed

Program manager and strategic consultant

The gist

Proposes earlier public communication before council decisions.
Supports putting more town public meetings online.
Supports a closer working relationship between Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.
Proposes involving Virginia Tech students in town decision-making.
Supports planning housing, transportation and the tax base together.

More about Leslie

View sources (1)

Proposes earlier public communication before council decisions.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I want us to communicate earlier instead of after decisions are nearly made.”
Supports putting more town public meetings online.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“When I wanted to understand why so many public meetings weren't available online”
Supports a closer working relationship between Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“strengthening the relationship between Blacksburg and Virginia Tech”
Proposes involving Virginia Tech students in town decision-making.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I want us to engage students in meaningful ways beyond simply asking them to vote.”
Supports planning housing, transportation and the tax base together.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Housing doesn't exist separately from transportation.”

Joel L. Goodhart

No party listed

The gist

Proposes zoning code reform to allow attainable housing by right.
Supports more starter and missing-middle housing.
Supports expanding Blacksburg's fare-free transit service.
Supports reducing car dependence through transit and biking.

More about Joel

View sources (1)

Proposes zoning code reform to allow attainable housing by right.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“the first step is zoning code reform”
Supports more starter and missing-middle housing.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“our stock of attainable housing, starter housing, and missing middle housing is very lacking”
Supports expanding Blacksburg's fare-free transit service.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“I would love to see transit service built upon and expanded during my time on town council”
Supports reducing car dependence through transit and biking.
Cardinal News 2026 Virginia Voter Guide candidate questionnaire: Montgomery County (ElectUp data feed)
Candidate questionnaire · Cardinal News · app.electup.com
“Blacksburg to have a strong foundation for reducing the need for car-dependent transportation”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 3 issues covered in this race.