Editing Roanoke, Virginia (section)

==Government==
{{See also|List of mayors of Roanoke, Virginia}}

{{PresHead|place=Roanoke, Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222105145/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|15,787|25,737|790|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|15,607|26,773|943|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|14,789|22,286|2,391|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|14,991|24,134|1,030|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|15,394|24,934|444|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|16,661|18,862|477|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|14,630|17,920|892|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|12,283|17,282|2,451|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|13,443|17,724|4,014|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|15,389|17,185|239|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|19,008|17,300|184|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|15,164|18,139|1,643|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|14,738|20,696|515|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|18,541|9,498|632|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|15,368|9,281|5,359|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|13,164|15,314|18|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|15,229|9,175|49|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|16,708|6,751|623|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|15,673|8,042|32|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,542|5,343|1,315|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|5,095|7,322|34|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,553|6,942|47|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,363|7,087|54|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,195|6,215|130|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,471|4,018|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,747|3,930|758|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,329|4,715|100|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|610|2,246|94|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|268|1,913|562|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|593|1,408|5|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|506|1,268|45|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,120|1,761|105|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,697|2,005|91|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,870|2,707|106|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|535|719|67|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Democratic|568|621|0|Virginia}}

Like most cities in Virginia, Roanoke has a [[Council–manager government|council-manager]] form of government.<ref name=Monuments>{{cite news |date=July 3, 2020 |title=Editorial: The monuments come down |work=The Roanoke Times |page=11A}}</ref><ref name=Cramer1>{{cite news |last=Cramer |first=John D. |date=May 16, 1999 |title=A look at the men behind the curtain |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1B}}</ref> The [[city manager]] maintains the day-to-day operation of the city's government and has the authority to hire and fire city employees.<ref name=Cramer1 /> The mayor has little executive authority and is essentially the "first among equals" on the [[Roanoke City Council]],<ref name=Cramer1 /> though the position wields influence through public appearances and annual [[State of the City address|State of the City]] addresses.<ref name=Chittum5>{{cite news |last=Chittum |first=Matt |date=August 19, 2018 |title=Striking the right balance |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref>

The city council has six members, not counting the mayor, all of whom are elected on an [[at-large]] basis.<ref name=":12">{{cite act |type=charter |date=2023 |article=§4 |legislature=Virginia General Assembly |title=Roanoke City Charter |url=https://library.municode.com/va/roanoke/codes/code_of_ordinances |language=English}} {{Cite web |url=https://library.municode.com/va/roanoke/codes/code_of_ordinances |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 18, 2023 |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718195410/https://library.municode.com/va/roanoke/codes/code_of_ordinances |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> A proposal for a [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]]-based council was rejected by Roanoke voters in 1997, but ward system advocates still contend that the at-large system results in a disproportionate number of council members coming from affluent neighborhoods and that electing some or all council members on a ward basis would result in a more equal representation of all areas of the city.<ref name="Sturgeon8">{{cite news |last=Sturgeon |first=Jeff |date=October 3, 2022 |title=Should council return to ward system? Roanoke City Council candidates on a ward system for council and an elected school board |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> The four-year terms of city council members are staggered, with three members elected every two years.<ref name=":12" /> The candidate who receives the most votes is designated the [[Deputy mayor|vice mayor]] for the following two years.<ref name=":12" />

On June 27, 2016, Sherman P. Lea Sr. took the office of mayor,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sherman Lea sworn in as Roanoke's mayor |website=Go Dan River |url=http://www.godanriver.com/news/danville/sherman-lea-sworn-in-as-roanoke-s-mayor/article_e0ea302c-3d44-11e6-9d65-fbd194d4e5cc.html |access-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126054050/https://godanriver.com/news/danville/sherman-lea-sworn-in-as-roanoke-s-mayor/article_e0ea302c-3d44-11e6-9d65-fbd194d4e5cc.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and he was re-elected to the same position in 2020.<ref name=Berrier5>{{cite news |last=Berrier, Jr. |first=Ralph |date=November 4, 2020 |title=Lea wins second term as Roanoke mayor |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> The current city manager, Bob Cowell, has been in that position since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Manager {{!}} Roanoke, VA |url=https://www.roanokeva.gov/561/City-Manager |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=www.roanokeva.gov |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705231156/https://www.roanokeva.gov/561/City-Manager |url-status=live}}</ref> Joseph L. Cobb is serving his second term as the city's vice mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joseph L. Cobb {{!}} Roanoke, VA |url=https://www.roanokeva.gov/1007/Joseph-L-Cobb |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=www.roanokeva.gov |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705231158/https://www.roanokeva.gov/1007/Joseph-L-Cobb |url-status=live}}</ref>

The city has adopted a budget for the 2024 fiscal year that includes revenues and expenditures totaling $355.4 million, representing a 9.4% increase over the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Budget Development {{!}} Roanoke, VA |url=https://www.roanokeva.gov/1837/Budget-Development |access-date=July 6, 2023 |website=www.roanokeva.gov |archive-date=July 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162508/https://www.roanokeva.gov/1837/Budget-Development |url-status=live}}</ref> Local taxes, including real estate, personal property, and sales taxes, are the government's largest source of revenue at over 70% of its intake.<ref>{{cite report |author=City of Roanoke |date=June 20, 2023 |title=FY 2023-2024 Adopted Budget Document |url=https://www.roanokeva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18607/FY24-ADOPTED-BUDGET-DOCUMENT |format=PDF |page=22 |access-date=July 6, 2023 |archive-date=July 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707161954/https://www.roanokeva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18607/FY24-ADOPTED-BUDGET-DOCUMENT |url-status=live}}</ref>

Roanoke is represented by two members of the [[Virginia House of Delegates]], [[Sam Rasoul]] (D-11th) and [[Chris Head (politician)|Chris Head]] (R-17th), and one member of the [[Virginia Senate]], [[John S. Edwards (Virginia)|John Edwards]] (D-21st).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings |url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=h0237 |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=virginiageneralassembly.gov |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705233418/https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=h0237 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate of Virginia |url=https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S45 |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=apps.senate.virginia.gov |archive-date=July 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709043200/https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S45 |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2023, Edwards announced his intention to retire after 28 years in the state senate.<ref name=Hammack2>{{cite news |last=Hammack |first=Laurence |date=February 28, 2023 |title=John Edwards decides not to seek another term as Roanoke senator |work=The Roanoke Times |page= |url=https://roanoke.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/john-edwards-decides-not-to-seek-another-term-as-roanoke-senator/article_e5915036-b6f2-11ed-814d-27907d67cb5a.html |access-date=January 30, 2024}}</ref> The city lies within {{ushr|VA|6}}, which also includes Lynchburg and much of the [[Shenandoah Valley]]. Since 2019 the district has been represented by Republican [[Ben Cline]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2021 |title=About |url=http://cline.house.gov/about |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=Congressman Ben Cline |publisher=US House of Representatives |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721013840/https://cline.house.gov/about |url-status=live}}</ref>

Roanoke is one of the few Democratic pockets in the otherwise heavily Republican [[Southwest Virginia]].<ref name=Chittum6>{{cite news |last=Chittum |first=Matt |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Roanoke and Blacksburg voters 'make some changes' |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> It has supported the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] nominee in every election since 1988 and in all but one election since 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |access-date=July 5, 2023 |website=uselectionatlas.org |archive-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222105145/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live}}</ref>