Getting To Know The Candidates: Questions Answered Surrounding Upcoming Elections
The Liberty Champion emailed each candidate with the same questions for those running for the Lynchburg City Council, U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. We asked each candidate to submit a headshot, professional bio and 100-200 word answers to the questions. We contacted state Sen. John McGuire several times but received no reply. We did not edit the candidates’ responses but did run spell check.
Lynchburg City Council (Ward III)
James Coleman
Bio
For more than three decades, James Coleman has served the Lynchburg community through public service and leadership in a variety of nonprofit and governmental positions. He was unanimously appointed by the City Council to the Lynchburg City School Board, where he held both the Chair and Vice Chair positions during his tenure. James also served faithfully on the Lynchburg Planning Commission, responsible for making critical decisions about zoning and land use criteria.
No stranger to working on teams with disparate perspectives, James was also a member of the Selection Committees for the Lynchburg City Manager and Fire Chief.
Deeply engaged in education, James has been an instructor in Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) and Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), and now works as the Dean of the School of Religion, Faculty Chair and Professor at the Virginia University of Lynchburg.
James has 35 years of experience in ministry, serving as the Senior Pastor of Providence Transformation Church International (Baptist) since 2001 and is now the President of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia. He also served as the Chaplain of the Lynchburg Sherriff’s Office.
Always advocating for issues close to his heart, James volunteers his time with Churches United for Service in Lynchburg, Rush Homes, FARRR Foundation (affectionately known as The Lighthouse), and the NAACP. He is also on the Advisory Board for Truist Bank, and previously served on Boards of Lynchburg’s Youth Services Board and the YMCA of Central Virginia.
James is married to Dr. Patricia Denise Williams Coleman, a former Lynchburg Christian Academy teacher. They have four children and their daughter Jaqueline is a proud Liberty University graduate.
1. Each year there are over 600 men, women and children suffering from homelessness here in Lynchburg, what is your plan to combat that?
A safe home should be considered a fundamental human right, but homelessness is a complex problem and there are no easy solutions. As a community, we are called to care for the least among us. Matthew 25:40 reminds us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Addressing homelessness in Lynchburg requires compassion, action, and collaboration. My plan involves working closely with local shelters, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions, such as affordable housing, job training, and mental health support. We need to create pathways to independence while ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity and respect. We need to realign our resources to not only manage homelessness but put an end to it. According to the organization, Community Solutions, “people who suffer from long-term homelessness are also more likely to be ensnared within the criminal justice system and use emergency health services, which can add up to an average of $35,000 a year.” It costs more to ignore the problem than it does to implement long term solutions. I’ll work to find common sense solutions to this issue.
2. Lynchburg was voted as one of the top 5 best places to live in the south, what will you do to keep our city thriving?
Over the years, Lynchburg has received many national accolades. In addition to being one of the top best places to live, our community has been named one of the best adventure towns, and one of the most up and coming cities. Lynchburg is a great community, not perfect because no city is but it is one that has so much to offer. Our local colleges and universities are one of our greatest assets. As a member of City Council, I want to be sure that Lynchburg is a place in which our college students feel welcomed, wanted, and encouraged to stay to live, work and play in Lynchburg.
To keep Lynchburg thriving, we need a vision that balances growth with preserving our community’s values. I believe in investing in education, public safety, and infrastructure. By improving our schools, supporting local businesses, and keeping our neighborhoods safe, we can continue to attract new residents and businesses. It’s also important to foster unity and work together, embracing love and respect for each other. Our strength as a city lies in our ability to move forward together, without losing sight of what makes Lynchburg special. We can ensure this quality of life while being fiscally responsible and making sure families and individuals have what they need to thrive.
3. Violent crimes are increasing, what plans do you have to improve safety for all residents in Lynchburg?
Our police department and Commonwealth’s Attorney work in tandem to address violence, especially gun violence. They are doing all they can to apprehend and prosecute those individuals who make the decision to engage in violence.
Safety begins with community trust and collaboration. To address violent crime, we need to invest in community policing and building relationships between law enforcement and residents. We must also tackle the root causes of crime—such as poverty and mental health—by engaging our youth in mentorship programs and providing them with positive opportunities. Violence prevention is a shared responsibility, and by working together as a community, we can create a safer environment where everyone feels secure and valued. As a pastor, our individual values and morals are at risk. As a City of Churches, I believe we can become even more involved and work to reduce the proliferation of violence in the community.
4. Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
As a follower of Christ, I believe in servant leadership. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” As someone who believes in serving others, my approach to leadership is grounded in humility, unity, and civility.
Liberty students should vote for me because I stand for integrity, fairness, and a vision for Lynchburg’s future that includes better education, safety, and economic opportunities.
As a local pastor, I have worked closely with your LU Administration on numerous projects. While serving on the Lynchburg Planning Commission, I voted for Institutional Zoning that has helped facilitate LU growth. As a Virginia High School League Executive Committee Member, I voted for the admittance of LCA. Participation in VHSL expanded opportunities for LCA and has strengthened Liberty Athletics. My daughter Jacqueline is a Liberty graduate, and my wife Patricia served as a department head and board member for LCA. Going forward, my goal is to lead with the values we share—honoring Christ’s example of service and love for our neighbors. I hope that you will make Lynchburg your home after graduation and together we can make Lynchburg a better community.
Curtis Diemer
Bio
Since Curt was 8 years old, he has called Ward 3 in Lynchburg home. He graduated from LCA in 1983. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and then went on to get his MBA from Liberty. After college, Curt worked for various Virginia elected officials such as Senator Steve Newman (R), Governor James Gilmore (R) and Congressman Eric Cantor (R) and Congressman Dave Brat (R). After 911 he worked as the Chief Information Officer for a security start-up company that sold risk detection software to government and private agencies that was based on a technology created in Israel. Curt has had his own company since 1995. Providing IT and Photography services and political consulting, he has worked as an entrepreneur to provide for his family and specializes in wedding photography which has always been a love of his.
He has also performed contracting work for the Lynchburg Voter Registrar’s Office for the last several years specializing in GIS mapping systems and voting efficiencies to make our elections more accurate, transparent and secure. He has served as the Precinct Chief for the Liberty University Montview Ballroom precinct since 2021. Curt has also served on the VPAP.org board to post all campaign contributions and candidate purchases online. He also served as an employee of the Electronic Government Implementation Division (eGov) where they set policies for open and transparent digital meetings for Virginia state agencies, and he drafted the legislation that became the law to put all the laws of the Commonwealth on the Internet for all to see.
He is a lifetime advocate for openness and transparency since he believes it is critical for good governance. Curt is a lifetime Constitutional Conservative Pro-Life Republican. He is a Christian and he and his wife Angie have been members of Thomas Road Baptist Church since the 1970’s. Curt is an ordained deacon and has his Ham radio license. He and Angie have seven children and their first grandchild is due any day now.
1. Each year there are over 600 men, women and children suffering from homelessness here in Lynchburg, what is your plan to combat that?
Homelessness is a complex issue. Although it is not as visible in Ward III like it is in Ward II, it does exist here. Even on Ward’s Road right below Liberty’s campus. There are no easy answers but there are solutions that have shown success that I believe we should emulate. The predominant factors involved in most homelessness are drug addiction and/or mental illness. Providing services to the mentally ill or the substance addicted can help ensure that their problems don’t turn into long term homelessness. The church is also a great source of support for those who are going through family traumas, another source of homelessness. Many churches in our area provide triage support for men and women who are undergoing the trauma of family breakup. The best source of solutions are from the people who are closest to the problem. Every neighborhood or community must play a part in addressing the homelessness problem near them.
I have met many homeless when I lived in downtown Richmond while working for the Governor and also in my job at the Registrar’s Office at the Lynchburg Train Station. I remember one young man named Logan that I befriended. He needed clothing and shoes and with others help we outfitted him for a very cold winter. He was well fed through local food ministries but he just had experienced some personal trauma in his family and chose to live a different lifestyle for a while. He had even attended the same high school I did and didn’t match any of the stereotypes of a homeless person. I recently saw him and learned he had found a job and did have a place to live.
A job is always the best welfare program. These people are God’s children and so are we and I always to try to meet their physical needs before trying to address any mental or spiritual needs. I would hope all Lynchburg citizens don’t just ignore those less fortunate than us but realize that God loves these people and He has called on us to do our part to love them with His love. The best solutions come from a thriving economy where the private sector can help meet the needs of those who are on the verge of homelessness or those who are already experiencing homelessness. If our personal economy is doing well, we can help others more. The problem of homelessness has always been with us and always will be but if we follow Christ’s admonition to truly love our neighbor, we can be part of the solutions one person at a time.
2. Lynchburg was voted as one of the top 5 best places to live in the south, what will you do to keep our city thriving?
I will work to lower our taxes which are way to high. According to a state study, Lynchburg is in the top 10% of tax stressed communities in the Commonwealth. If we are going to continue to attract great people and businesses we are going to have to get serious about lowering our taxes. Also, much of what makes Lynchburg a great place for families to live and work is attributable to having a world class Christian University here. I intend to build on the successes of my predecessor, Liberty Professor Jeff Helgeson and support our community by supporting Liberty University, my alma mater.
3. Violent crimes are increasing, what plans do you have to improve safety for all residents in Lynchburg?
Radical liberal policies are jeopardizing our safety and emboldening criminals. I want to protect citizen’s civil rights to defend themselves and their families and neighborhoods. I support first responders like our police, fire and EMT services but I also think Lynchburg citizens need to take more responsibility for their own safety. The state of Virginia has recognized the need for all adult citizens to be trained and prepared to respond to critical medical emergencies. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services created the Civilian Response and Casualty Care (CRCC) program. This state certification program has trained thousands of Virginians to “Stop-The-Bleed” when time is of the essence. If you have been shot you have to take immediate action to save your own life or the life of somone you love from bleeding to death. Death is mere seconds away and government help will take critical minutes to respond. We need to be prepared to be our own first responder. This training is free and should be offered annually in Lynchburg.
4. Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
As a Conservative Pro-Life Republican and a two-time graduate of Liberty, and long time Flames Club member, I have loved and supported our Liberty Community for most of my life. From the first meeting in the snow on Candler’s Mountain all those years ago, my family has been part of the vision that Dr. Falwell had for training young champions for Christ. My parents brought me here so dad could help start the Lynchburg Baptist Theological Seminary to teach preachers. Mom also taught teachers to teach at LU. Dad later started the tennis team I’m proud that the new indoor center court is named in his honor. Both my wife Angie and I graduated from LU. Our daughter is currently finishing up her doctorate in the LU nursing school. I will support policies that will help Liberty to continue to carry out Jerry’s vision. Specifically I would like to lower the extraordinarily high meals tax that impacts Liberty student’s every time they go out to eat and I would like to lower other taxes that end up getting passed on to LU students in the form of their tuition.
U.S. Senate
Tim Kaine (D)
Bio
Tim Kaine, a Kansas City native, graduated from the University of Missouri and Harvard Law School. He volunteered with missionaries in Honduras, teaching carpentry and welding. He and Anne have been married for 40 years, and they have three children.
Tim practiced fair housing law for 17 years before serving as Richmond’s Mayor, where he improved schools, reduced crime, and revitalized the James River. As Lieutenant Governor and Governor, he led the Commonwealth through a national recession.
Elected to the Senate in 2012, Tim has expanded affordable health care, supported veterans, tackled the opioid crisis, and lowered drug costs.
1. Hurricane Helene has caused severe damage in the southeast, including here in Virginia. What actions will you take to protect the people of Virginia in the event of another natural disaster?
Over the last several weeks, I’ve visited communities in Southwest Virginia to survey damage and see firsthand the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. My heart is with hurricane victims, and I pledge to be with them at every step of the recovery efforts. I worked alongside Governor Youngkin and our bipartisan congressional delegation to successfully request an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration from the Biden Administration. This allowed a surge in federal resources to help Virginia recover and respond to the hurricane’s impacts more quickly. This was a positive step, but there is more to be done. As Congress works to pass our budget by the end of the year, we must ensure that we provide the necessary funding for disaster relief. I am confident that we will be able to achieve this in a bipartisan fashion and support the victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
2. What is a deep personal conviction that drives your work in politics?
Growing up working in my family’s ironworking shop in Kansas City, I learned to prioritize hard work, kindness, and service. After graduating from the University of Missouri, I embarked on a transformative journey volunteering at a technical school founded by Jesuit missionaries in El Progreso, Honduras, where I taught carpentry and welding. Through these experiences, I learned how one person can make a difference and saw how a good education is vital to ensuring that everyone can live up to their God-given potential. Throughout my career as a public servant, I have centered these values that I learned and worked to bring people together to find solutions that make life better for all Virginians.
3. What will be your top three priorities if you are elected?
The economy, affordable housing, and healthcare are issues I hear about all across Virginia.
I’ve proudly helped pass legislation to create good-paying manufacturing jobs, supercharge the green energy sector, and rebuild our infrastructure, but we must do more. Our American Rescue Plan ushered the strongest jobs recovery on record and expanded the Child Tax Credit, which benefited 1.7 million Virginia children and cut child poverty to its lowest rate ever. Now, I’m working to bring that tax cut back and make it permanent. To grow our economy, we must also pass a comprehensive immigration reform package to both secure our border and enable companies to hire more skilled workers.
In 2017, I cast a deciding vote to preserve the Affordable Care Act, protecting the health care coverage of 1.3 million Virginians with pre-existing conditions. In 2022, I helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to slash prescription drug costs. In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, I have introduced the only bipartisan bill in Congress that would guarantee all women the freedom to make their own reproductive choices.
I have spent my entire career, including 17 years as a fair housing attorney, fighting for fair housing and working to lower housing costs in Virginia. My LIFT Homebuyers Act would help first-time, first-generation homebuyers accelerate wealth-building through homeownership. We need to get this passed and signed into law.
4. Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
I have dedicated my life to helping others as a missionary, civil rights lawyer, and public servant. I have traveled throughout the Commonwealth listening to Virginians about the issues that matter most to them, whether it be creating good-paying jobs, protecting our rights, making healthcare more affordable, keeping Virginians safe, or standing up for our military families. I know there is more to be done—that’s why I’m committed to lowering everyday costs, protecting democracy, and safeguarding our freedoms. I’m running for re-election to continue standing up for Virginia against those who would tear us down or hold us back. I would be honored to earn your vote.
Hung Cao (R)
Bio
CAPT Hung Cao USN (Ret.) came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam in 1975. Hung moved to Virginia as a child and is a proud graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. He was commissioned as a Special Operations Officer from the U.S. Naval Academy, and served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Hung received his Masters degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and fellowships at MIT and Harvard. He and his wife April are the parents of five beautiful children and live in Purcellville where they are active in their community and church.
1. Hurricane Helene has caused severe damage in the southeast, including here in Virginia. What actions will you take to protect the people of Virginia in the event of another natural disaster?
We’re paying a billion dollars a day to feed and house illegal aliens in this country. We’re taking care of them better than we’re taking care of Americans. There are thousands of Americans that are homeless right now due to Hurricane Helene, and we need to put them into hotels and get room service instead of giving it to illegal aliens. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Tim Kaine spent billions of taxpayer money for disaster relief to feed and house illegal immigrants, and now American families in need have been left out to dry. As your Senator, I will always fight for Virginia.
2. What is a deep personal conviction that drives your work in politics?
I came to know Christ at the age of 21 and spent my life serving as He has served. I spent twenty-five years in U.S. Navy Special Operations. As a Deep Sea Diver, I recovered victims from the ocean depths, including John F. Kennedy Jr, his wife and sister-in-law. As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, I defused bombs for our SEAL teams and Special Forces teams in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia to save the lives of innocent men, women and children. Now I see the United States turning into the communism that I ran away from in my youth. I believe the Lord has given me these experiences in my life for this crucial moment in our nation’s history.
3. What will be your top three priorities if you are elected?
Secure the border, secure the border, and secure the border. Everything flows from there. It is a national security concern because we have millions of people who should not be here, including terrorists, gang members, and run-of-the-mill criminals. By some estimates we spend nearly a billion dollars a day in taxpayer funds, out of the pockets of the American people, to take care of illegal aliens. We feed them, we give them shelter, we pay for their transportation, we give them debit cards and cell phones. This needs to end. The American people are hurting. We need to be investing that money in our own citizens. These millions of illegal aliens also drive up prices for everything. The money we give them is spent on housing and food just like anyone else, which only drives up the prices on those things for American citizens.
4. Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
I serve the Lord our God first and foremost. ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel’ and I will use prayer and petition to guide my decisions. I have supported and defended the Constitution of the United States for nearly three decades and I take that oath very seriously. Our country needs change and change will not come from a 30-year politician who is asking to stay in office until 2030 to fix everything that he has ruined.
House – District 5
Gloria Witt (D)
Bio
Raised on a small farm in Amherst, Gloria Witt learned the value of labor early, working in tobacco fields and performing daily farm chores. Her father, a union steelworker, stressed the importance of education, leading her to earn a degree from Randolph College and a 32-year career with a global energy company.
After retiring, Gloria founded Define Success Coaching and has remained active in her community, including serving as NAACP Amherst Branch president. Motivated by threats to basic freedoms, she’s running to protect women’s rights, strengthen Social Security, and to ensure equal rights and freedoms for every citizen. Gloria believes in standing together to secure a better future for the people of the 5th district.
1. What is a deep personal conviction that drives your work in politics?
A deep conviction that drives my work in politics and life is rooted in my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe in serving others with compassion, humility, and a commitment to justice. My faith teaches me the importance of love, equality, and standing up for the vulnerable, values we are called to embody in how we treat one another. This includes caring for the poor, showing mercy, and seeking peace.
At the same time, I believe in the God-given gift of free agency—the freedom to make our own choices. It’s essential that, while we lead with moral principles, we also respect others’ right to make decisions for themselves. We are all given the freedom to choose our paths, and that’s a fundamental part of our human dignity. It’s not the role of government to legislate morality or force one set of beliefs upon everyone. My personal convictions guide me, but I understand that in a diverse society, we must protect each individual’s right to exercise their free will.
We live in a country that is beautifully diverse, and our laws must protect the freedoms and rights of all people, regardless of their faith or beliefs. My goal is to ensure that our government provides equal opportunities for everyone to thrive, to live according to their conscience, and to build a fair and just society rooted in love, compassion, and respect for each person’s freedoms and individual liberty.
2. What will be your top three priorities if you are elected?
If I am elected to Congress, my top three priorities will be:
- Strengthening the Economy through Education and Workforce Development: I believe that expanding career and technical education (CTE) programs is essential to building a strong, long-term economy. By ensuring that every high school graduate leaves with marketable skills or vocational certificates, we can create a workforce that’s ready for the jobs of tomorrow. This includes supporting apprenticeships, internships, and robust career counseling services to help students succeed in a modern economy.
- Protecting Individual Freedoms: From voting rights to reproductive rights, too many of our basic freedoms are under attack. I will fight to ensure that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body, love who they love, and vote without unnecessary obstacles. Upholding democracy means standing up for the God-given agency we all have and ensuring that the government respects individual choices while protecting the rights of all.
- Strengthening Families: We must ensure that families have the resources they need to thrive. This means advocating for affordable childcare, expanding access to healthcare, and supporting policies that protect Social Security and Medicare. Strengthening families also includes addressing the cost of living and ensuring that every family has the support to raise their children in a safe and nurturing environment.
3. Why should Liberty University students vote for you?
Students at Liberty University have a strong tradition of faith and service, and I believe that my campaign aligns with many of those values. As someone deeply rooted in my own faith, I believe in compassion, humility, and a commitment to justice—values that come from my personal faith journey and are reflected in the way I approach politics.
One of the reasons Liberty students should consider voting for me is my commitment to protecting individual freedoms, including religious freedom. I believe in the God-given right of free agency—the ability to make choices about how we live our lives, practice our faith, and serve our communities. My platform is focused on creating opportunities for all people, regardless of their background, while maintaining the principles of fairness, equality, and respect for all.
I am also deeply committed to policies that strengthen families, something I know is important to Liberty students. From advocating for affordable healthcare and childcare to ensuring economic opportunities for young people entering the workforce, I want to create an environment where families can thrive.
While we may not agree on every issue, I respect the values that guide your lives, and I will always fight for your right to live according to your beliefs. I believe we can find common ground in our shared commitment to service, faith, and improving the lives of the people in our district. I ask for your vote to continue that work together.