Tuesday, April 13, 7pm  
Blackfriars Playhouse 

Staunton City Council elections are coming up in May, and to help voters learn about the candidates' positions on the arts, culture, and tourism as economic development strategies, the ASC, in conjunction with the Arts and Culture Council of Staunton and the Staunton Tourism Advisory Board, is pleased to host a candidates forum at the Blackfriars Playhouse on Tuesday, April 13 at 7pm.

Tourism is a nearly $50 million industry in Staunton, and cultural attractions in the Red Brick District and beyond are the driving force behind the City’s success in drawing increasing numbers of visitors each year from out of town. While these visitors use few local services, they do spend money in our lodging, dining, and other businesses, thereby creating hundreds of jobs and generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and local tax revenues so needed in a down economy.

As Staunton City Council prepares to finalize the City budget shortly after the election, the forum will also give the candidates a chance to address the value of investments in promoting tourism and the arts while attempting to fund other priorities out of reduced local government revenues.  

Our forum will be moderated by McKinsey Harris of WHSV TV-3 and will feature all four candidates running for contested City Council seats: Carolyn Dull, Bruce Elder, Lacy King, and Carl Tate.

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