John Bush for Blacksburg Town Council

John_Bush

My History here in Blacksburg

During my 25 years in Blacksburg and the NRV, I have been a timber framer, graduate student, competition runner, musician and parent of Blacksburg High School athletes. Currently I am a staff architect at Virginia Tech and serve as chair of the Town’s Historic Design Review Board. As a Blacksburg Town Council member I want to help preserve the quality of life we cherish in Blacksburg as future growth occurs and to keep citizen involvement as the centerpiece of an open, accountable town government.

My Priorities for Blacksburg

• Quality of Life Issues: Blacksburg is a Special Place. Promote more green spaces, trails, and recreational fields for our youth and continue progress on linking Blacksburg to downtown Christiansburg and Radford.

• Sustainable and Green Development for Blacksburg : Follow the Town Comprehensive plan, support a vital, lively downtown by strengthening the Historic District and the Downtown Merchants and business owners.

• Neighborhood Integrity: Through smart growth, intelligent zoning and protection of property values, ensure that neighborhood communities continue to be great, safe places to live and raise a family.

• Promote Open, Accountable Town Government: Encourage citizen involvement, input and creative solutions through responsive, progressive leadership.

Additional Priorities for Blacksburg

• Quality of life for families and neighborhoods

• Safe, walkable, bike able Blacksburg for all lifestyles

• Clear lines of communication between citizens and an open, accountable Town government

• Strengthen downtown businesses and work towards full occupancy of retail space

• Vital, lively, mixed use downtown from the Old Middle School to Prices Fork Road

• Promote affordable housing for all Blacksburg citizens by continuing the CDBG (Block Grant) program

• Smart growth, intelligent zoning, protection of neighborhoods and property values

• Partner with business, Downtown Merchants and developers to grow Blacksburg responsibly and aesthetically

• Promote Blacksburg as a retirement destination

• Support for high tech, biodesign, sustainable development and other businesses for a prosperous Blacksburg

• Promote cooperation between Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, Christiansburg, and Montgomery County

• Ensure fiscal oversight and integrity of tax dollar expenditures that benefit all citizens

Endorsements

I have known John Bush forever. Well almost. We met at Virginia Tech while studying architecture in the late 80s. Since then we’ve worked together at Blue Ridge Timberframe in Christiansburg, the Radford office of Thompson & Litton, Architects, Engineers, Planners, and now at Virginia Tech where John serves in the Office of the University Architect. Twelve years ago, John’s wife, Elizabeth, introduced me to Lauren, and John served as my best man four months later.

What does John Bush offer the Town of Blacksburg? He’s an architect who thinks long term and has a vision for a sustainable community whose elected officers are responsive to the needs of its citizens. John wants to preserve what is best about Blacksburg while addressing those things that need to change. He supports policies that foster neighborhood identity, sustainability, open government, local merchants, affordable housing, responsible development, fiscal restraint, and enhanced cooperation between the Town, the County, and the University. As an athlete, John appreciates running trails, bike lanes, and soccer fields. Finding the best use for the vacant middle school is a top priority.

What qualifies John to serve on Town Council? His service includes AIA, Blue Ridge Chapter President and Board of Directors, and Chair of the 16 Squares Subcommittee and the Blacksburg Historic Architecture Review Board.

John Bush is a man of strong principles who speaks his mind and does not equivocate. He is articulate, well read, and active in our community. John is a true friend and a good man to have on your side. Join us in supporting John Bush for Blacksburg Town Council on November 3rd. Van Coble, AIA, LEED AP New Construction Project Manager University Plannning, Design, and Construction Virginia Tech Lauren Coble Chief Operating Officer Virginia Bioinformatics Institute

Van Coble, AIA, LEED AP

New Construction Project Manager

University Plannning, Design, and Construction

Virginia Tech

Lauren Coble

Chief Operating Officer

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute

____________________________

John Bush is an excellent Choice for Blacksburg Town Council and has demonstrated a long and committed history of leadership and service to our community. He has served as the Chairman of Blacksburg’s Historic/Design Review Board for the past 10 years, acting as chair since its formation in 1999. He has also served as chair of the 16 Squares sub-committee from 2006 to present. He is committed to the continued revitalization of the downtown and to the integrity of the adjacent neighborhoods.

In the early 1990’s John and his wife were involved in the youth soccer programs at the recreation level and at the travel league level for his two sons who both played varsity sports at Blacksburg High.

John holds his Masters in Architecture from VT (1992) and has resided in Blacksburg’s historic Downtown East Side neighborhood since 1988.

Combine John’s understanding and experience employing sustainable concepts with first hand experience of raising a family 3 blocks away from Downtown in a period of 25 years and you can understand what will guide his vision as a Member of our Town Council.

If you don’t know John, please attend one of his events. Elect John Bush.

Michael Hudson

Bennett Hill / Progress

Personal

My wife, Elizabeth, and I moved to Blacksburg in 1984 and raised two sons, both Blacksburg High School graduates.

Education

• Master of Architecture, Virginia Tech, 1992

• B.A., St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM, 1984

Professional and civic service

• Senior Staff Architect, Virginia Tech, 2001 to present

• Chair, Town of Blacksburg Historic/Design Review Board, 1999 to present

• Chair, Blacksburg Historic Architecture Review Board, 1998 to 1999 (member since 1997)

• Chair, Town 16 Squares Subcommittee, 2006 to present

• Board of Directors, Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, 2006-2009

• American Institute of Architects, Blue Ridge chapter , Director 1997-2003, officer 2004-2009

Vote Nov. 3 - It’s your town!