Franklin City Council candidate Q&A: Linwood W. Johnson III

Published 5:00 pm Friday, August 16, 2024

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Name: Dr. Linwood W. Johnson III

Age: 71

Family: 

Education: Ferrum College, Virginia Union Seminary

Career: Business Consultant

1.) Why do you want to be reelected as the Ward 4 representative on the Franklin City Council?

To continue the work of making the city a safe and affordable place to live for the citizens.

2.) What would you list as your primary qualifications for this role?

My experience in working with the Virginia Municipal League to bring back ideas and resources to benefit the city.

3.) What do you think are the city of Franklin’s greatest strengths?

Our city’s greatest strengths are the natural resources of agriculture, timber, transportation, our education system, Franklin City Public Schools and Paul D. Camp, and our economic centers, including the workforce center and business incubator.

4.) What do you think are the greatest challenges facing the city of Franklin?

Our greatest challenges are bringing in more revenue-generating businesses and creating more affordable housing.

5.) If reelected, what will be your leading priorities in your new term?

To support our public schools, bring more businesses in the city, working to make the community safer and creating more affordable housing.

6.) Real property value is reassessed every two years in the city. Do you think this interval should be changed? Please explain your answer.

No. I believe that we should keep reevaluating real property value every two years to keep up with the market trends.

7.) What, if any, key improvements do you think need to be made to the city’s public education system, and if reelected, what will you do to help ensure those needed key improvements are made?

I will support the public schools in creating more vocational and tech programs for students and more joint educational programs with Paul D. Camp.