We checked out the facts incumbent Roanoke Mayor David Bowers' llisted in his first campaign mailer of the season.
The mailer gives prominence to an endorsement from Roanoke State Senator John Edwards, a fellow Democrat, which is true.
It also lists how every school in the city is now accredited, the crime rate is down, city council has balanced and cut its budget, and funneled money into neighborhood improvement programs.
Our fact check found all those details to be true.
However, we asked Mayor Bowers if can he take credit for successes in which, in some cases, he wasn't directly involved?
In the cases of accreditation, and the improving graduation rate at Roanoke City schools, City Council only has the power to approve the Roanoke City School system's budget. It can't really dictate to the school board how it should spend every dollar and cent.
"I'm reminded of what Bill Clinton used to say," Bowers replied. "When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, it didn't get there by itself. And so one of the things I would say when we talk about these things, like 'Did the mayor do it by himself?' Absolutely not. Absolutely not. But am I a part of the process? I think so. I hope I am."
Bowers voted for the Eat for Education meals tax to help the school system's bank account. He has maintained that the tax should sunset this Summer as scheduled.
As far as his role in lowering the city's crime rate, the mayor said it was his responsibility to connect neighbors to the city's police department.
"I guess my role in convening the council and convening neighbors, is to continue trying to build [the] relationship [between the police department and neighborhoods]," Bowers explained.
Bowers' mailer is correct in claiming council has shaved tens of millions from its budget. Virginia state law requires council to balance its budget.
It's also true that the mayor has voted to arrange the flow of money into some Star City neighborhood improvement programs, such as Hurt Park, Mountain View, and Melrose/Rugby.
Sam Rasoul is challenging Bowers in this Saturday's Democratic firehouse primary.
City Democrats can vote from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at William Fleming High School.
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