Caleb Rogers graduated from W&M in 2020 with a BA in public policy. He has served on the Williamsburg City Council for the last 4 years and will conclude his term at the end of 2024. Contact him at CRogers@williamsburgva.gov.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
Looking back over the last four years, I am immensely proud of what the Williamsburg City Council has accomplished for Williamsburg. Looking forward, I know the best three candidates to continue this progress are Pat Dent, Barbara Ramsey and Ayanna Williams. I am excited to endorse their candidacies today.
Vice Mayor Pat Dent and councilwoman Ramsey have served Williamsburg exceedingly well for four and eight years, respectively. Since 2020, we have worked to get our part of the Historic Triangle back on track post-COVID-19 through a successful vaccine clinic and support for local businesses. We have continued investment in our first responders through a now completed fire station and a currently under-construction police station.
Outside of landmark capital improvement projects, my colleagues Pat and Barb have also been advocates for transparency and inclusion for the citizens of Williamsburg. In 2023, the City was awarded the Virginia Municipal League’s “Communication Award” for our innovative Future Festivals, which sought citizen input from all corners of Williamsburg to best inform long-term planning. I trust their continued service on the Council will elicit similarly positive outcomes, making our City better through fun events, greater public art and more.
Thinking about the best new champion for Williamsburg’s future, I am heartened by Ayanna Williams’s dedication to local service. In fact, she just may be the best student candidate to ever run. Ayanna is passionate about the issues and deeply knowledgeable about our area. She is the only non-incumbent running on clear policy positions, which prioritize education, safety and keeping our tax rate low.
As a member of the Council, Ayanna will be able to continue the decade and a half of younger representation in Williamsburg. This is a vitally important thing to protect in a city with such a sizable part of the population made up of students, faculty and staff of the College of William and Mary. I know Ayanna is up to the challenge of being a voice for this constituency and all city residents. If you’d like to meet her, I encourage you to just reach out to see for yourself.
The future of Williamsburg rests on our ability to elect leaders who embody dedication, transparency and a vision for progress. Pat Dent, Barbara Ramsey and Ayanna Williams represent a formidable team poised to build upon our achievements and deliver continued success.
