WILLIAMSBURG − Questions with a candidate is a mini-series giving candidates running for Williamsburg City Council the chance to introduce themselves to the public as well as talk about policies regarding the community.
Each candidate will have the opportunity to answer the same questions. The following answers were submitted by candidate Lindsay Barna.
General background about yourself (ex. education, history in politics, community participation)
Our family has been a part of Williamsburg for over ten years now. My husband and I chose to move to Williamsburg because we wanted to raise our children in a family-friendly town that was rich in history and where neighbors knew one another and worked together to build a community. That is exactly what we found. Our downtown neighborhood welcomed us and have thoroughly enjoyed making Williamsburg our home. My children have attended the Williamsburg-James City County Schools, and we have taken part in many aspects of life here, including daily walks in Colonial Williamsburg, working with students at William & Mary, and participating in youth sports.
Before moving to Williamsburg, I was an attorney for a large law firm in New York City and Boston where I worked in international arbitration and finance litigation. Moving here allowed me to do what I love most and that is helping others. For seven years I worked as the Assistant Director of the William and Mary Law School Domestic Violence and Family Law Clinics. For those who may not be familiar with the clinics, they provide free legal services to clients within our community. During this time, I was able to mentor and educate students to be lawyers and advocates for families, children, and survivors of violence. I was also able to work with many of our community partners in Williamsburg, James City County, and York County including law enforcement, social services, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, William & Mary, and Avalon. Together we worked on protocols and programs to provide opportunities and resources for victims of violence and to curb violence in our community. I was also able to work with our many clients and provide resources for them to explore new opportunities. I have continued to pursue my passion for teaching and mentoring students by being an adjunct professor of legal writing at the William & Mary Law School and teaching a number of courses for the Department of Government at William & Mary.
Why did you decide to run for the Williamsburg City Council?
I want to be on the City Council as a voice for its citizens and to ensure that as we change we are thoughtful about the potential impacts those changes have on the fabric of our community. I want to hear from the community and be a voice for them.
When I moved to Williamsburg it was a community that was filled with families, students, and retirees. When I speak with people looking to move to the area or who have relocated here more recently, I find that many people view the City of Williamsburg as a place that only investors or wealthy individuals can afford. I want to ensure that we have responsible growth while preserving our natural resources. I believe that public schools are at the center of a community and that children should be provided with all of the opportunities and support that a community can provide.
What is your current opinion on the possible separation of the Williamsburg- James City County school district into two separate districts?
The potential split of the school system is one of the main reasons that I decided to run for office. I want to support the children and teachers of Williamsburg and ensure that we have not just a passable school system but an excellent school system that provides opportunities for academics as well as growth through sports and the arts. Our schools should serve the needs of all of our students whether they excel in academics or would benefit from more support. The feasibility studies conducted after the announcement of a potential separation showed that some students are not meeting the standards of learning for Virginia, and we need to review why that is happening and provide the teachers, staff, and students with the support that they need to be able to ensure that everyone can meet those standards.
After a careful review of the City of Williamsburg feasibility study and the James City County feasibility study, it may be easier to meet the needs of our students if we maintain our joint school system. However, we will need to implement changes to the school system to ensure that all of our students receive the academic education that they are entitled to. If we cannot reach an agreement with James City County then I will continue to push for an excellent school system where students receive not only an academic education but are also given experiences and opportunities through art, music, theater, sports, and STEM to find their passions and explore higher education or career paths of their choice.
The children of Williamsburg are not just statistics on a page to me. They are my children, their friends, and the many children that I have met through working with the schools as a parent or through community activities. I want to ensure that they have the best education that the community can provide.
How would you like the city to move forward with dealing with the Affordable Housing situation in Williamsburg?
I have worked with many families and students who have faced challenges finding housing that is not only affordable but also habitable. I am in favor of the ordinance that the City has already put in place to allow for the conversion of more hotels/motels into rental units. William & Mary has embarked on an exciting residential refurbishment project, but while construction is ongoing it has been forced to close many of its dorms, which has led to many students living off-campus. We are currently facing a housing issue in the City, where we need to find affordable housing for families, as well as students. I would be in favor of investigating what city ordinances could be put in place to encourage more affordable housing.
What do you envision with the Sports Complex?
The recent groundbreaking of the Williamsburg Sports and Events Center was an exciting event. This project was approved long ago and is projected to bring in a great deal of tax revenue to the City. I would hope that those forecasted numbers remain true. Moving forward, I think that any development proposals in the area of the Sports Complex should focus on the goal of bringing in sports tourism. I also hope that the Sports Complex will be an asset to the community and that residents of the City of Williamsburg will be able to make use of the facility.
As Williamsburg grows, what do you feel the city government should focus on regarding infrastructure, pedestrian safety, and parking?
We need to focus on pedestrian safety around the downtown area and near schools. There has been a renewed focus on walking, and biking, and the recent addition of electric scooters and e-bikes has made these activities much more popular. The City has already made some wonderful improvements by making crosswalks more visible and removing parking spaces that block the motorists’ view of pedestrians, but we need to do more. We should consider adding crosswalks to certain areas where we have a great deal of pedestrian traffic, but no existing crosswalks, such as along Jamestown Road and near schools. The multi-use trail along Monticello Road has also been a wonderful addition to the city and makes it possible for more members of our community to bike or walk rather than rely on cars. We should review other areas where we may be able to make similar changes.
As a downtown Williamsburg resident, I understand the stress the City is under concerning parking. It can be difficult to find a spot near William & Mary during the week. I am in favor of exploring other transit solutions with our community partners that could provide public transit to alleviate the issue of students and employees commuting and parking on side streets adjacent to the college.
It can also be challenging to find a spot anywhere downtown on a busy weekend. We should continue the work that the City is already undertaking to increase the usability of the downtown garage complex and work with our community partners, Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary to explore other alternatives.
What do you feel Williamsburg’s role is in working with James City County and York County?
The City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County form the historic triangle, and the relationships between the three jurisdictions help to make the experiences and opportunities for our residents, students, and visitors richer. In addition, we share many of our community resources with both communities, including but not limited to, emergency services, recreation facilities, as well as many others. We should continue to have close ties to James City County and York County.
How do you see Williamsburg’s relationship with Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary?
The City of Williamsburg has always had a strong relationship with William & Mary and Colonial Williamsburg and this should continue. These two organizations are our strongest community partners. They provide jobs, bring visitors, and are a huge part of the culture of Williamsburg. I would like to see continued partnerships and programs with both Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary as they are an important part of the fabric of our community.
Anything else you wish to address or discuss?
As Williamsburg grows and evolves, I am committed to being a strong advocate for our community, ensuring that it remains a welcoming place where families, retirees, students, and residents alike feel empowered to make a positive impact and support one another.
Read previous entries in the ‘Questions with a Candidate’ series:
