If elected, the 21-year-old Bryce Carter would be the first undergraduate student to serve on Blacksburg Town Council.

Holding the strongest connection to Virginia Tech students of any candidate, Carter intends to improve communication between Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg, pursuing economic growth, development and overall recognizing Blacksburg’s potential.

As the Environmental Coalition’s past Vice President, Carter did the central planning for Virginia Tech’s Power Shift 2008, a conference held every year in Washington, D.C. to mobilize progress against global warming, earning him the Gwin Parker-Gwin Award for his efforts.

As an involved community organizer for four years, Carter also contributed to the Student Advisory Committee, an organization within the Student Government Association to facilitate relations between Virginia Tech and Blacksburg by providing student feedback and promoting student involvement.

As a potential member for Town Council, Carter has plans to increase sustainability and the use of public and alternative transportation in Blacksburg, expand and improve our downtown through economic growth, and stimulate community participation.

Sustainability, Public and Alternative Transportation

Carter hopes to make Blacksburg a town safe for bikers, pedestrians and drivers by expanding accessibility of walking, driving and biking. He sees opportunities like a new, fare-free Blacksburg Transit route that runs from 1st and Main to downtown, encouraging long term residents to take the bus instead of driving. Carter proposes redefining bike lanes, improved traffic patterns and educating the community on environmental issues.

Expanding Downtown

Noted as the focal point of Blacksburg, Downtown provides many opportunities for redevelopment and expansion. Carter hopes to utilize and improve College Avenue, the most prosperous street of Downtown Blacksburg, to bring in revenue for the town. Carter sees extending Clay Court with the potential for new businesses, affordable housing, outdoor areas for community activities, indoor recreational space, or even a parking garage. He also sees the possibility of an arts incubator within the Downtown district, promoting ideals of aesthetics in Blacksburg. Hoping to encourage new businesses, keep owners accountable for the maintenance of their stores, and general retail improvement, Carter foresees true economic development inside Blacksburg.

Community Involvement

Carter plans to get our community involved beyond The Big Event. He would implement activities like Earth Hour, in which the entire town turns off electricity for an hour, student trips promoting sustainability practices to the Blacksburg’s South American sister city of San Jose De-Bocay, and even the possibility of a Sustainability Hero Award given to community members and active residents for their efforts in environmentally friendly issues. Carter also sees the possibility to increase web-interactive technologies by having an online forum in which community members could propose ideas, developments or new issues. Business owners, Blacksburg residents and students would prosper, and the town would progressively and connectedly work together.

Carter serves as a motivator for student involvement in the Blacksburg community, so be sure to cast your vote on November 3rd for the candidate who will be sure to always take students into account.