2017 Understanding
Government Forums
The Road Forward’s highly praised “Understanding Government” forums of 2017 featured over 20 speakers whose credentials include illustrious careers in public administration, policing, and elective office, and distinguished service in education, planning, criminal justice and other functions of government.
With a simple click, you can watch the video of any forum. We encourage you to do so. You are sure to learn many things you didn’t know about your government.
Forum 1. A Tutorial on Local Government
Virginia’s unique history and structure of local governments, as well as fascinating local history and amusing stories are shared by three speakers who bring over 100 years of experience managing local government to the forum.
Larry Davis
Albemarle County Attorney, 1994-2016
Albemarle County Administrator, 1991-2010
Robert Tucker
Cole Hendrix
Charlottesville City Manager, 1971-1996
Forum 2. The Virginia Commonwealth: How It Serves Our Community and Our Local Governments.
The relationship between state and local government both empowers and constrains localities and frustrates innovation at the local level, according to these forum speakers, who approach the topic from three distinct points-of-view.
John Thomas
Former Director, Institute of GovernmentWeldon Cooper Center at UVA
David Toscano
Member, Virginia House of Delegates
2006-2020
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David Blount
Legislative Liaison, Thomas Jefferson Planning District
Forum 3. Regionalism: Jurisdictions Working Together to Develop Effective Solutions.
This forum is about tackling issues that are larger than a single jurisdiction, as told by elected officials from two localities with a complex history of cooperation and conflict, and planners who have forged significant cooperative agreements between multiple jurisdictions.
Diantha McKeel
Member and Former Chairwoman, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
Michael Signer
Charlottesville City Council, Former Charlottesville Mayor
Nancy O’Brien
Former Charlottesville Mayor, Former Executive Director, Thomas Jefferson Planning District
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Charles P. "Chip" Boyles
Executive Director, Thomas Jefferson Planning District
Forum 4. Public Education: Meeting the Needs of Our Children in Today’s Challenging Times.
Public Education is local government’s most expensive, and arguably, most important function. This forum examines how public schools are meeting ever-changing challenges such as multiple student languages and cultures and racial disparities in achievement, as described by leading area educators and current and former school board members.
Juandiego Wade
Member and Former Chair, Charlottesville School Board
Robyn Bolling
Principal, Greer Elementary School
Billy Haun
Executive Director, Virginia High School League
Brian Wheeler
Albemarle County School Board, 2004-2010
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Forum 5. Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System
Almost by definition, these topics mean “trouble!” and evoke strong opinions. Forum speakers from the police, prosecutor, public defense and courts demonstrate the role of each and their interrelationships, and air opinions on mass incarceration, ICE, drug and mental health courts, community/police relations and other issues.
Timothy Longo
Charlottesville Chief of Police, 2001-2016
Jim Hingeley
Public Defender for Charlottesville and Albemarle County, 1998-2016
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Dave Chapman
Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney, 1994-2017
Jon Zug
Clerk of Albemarle County, Circuit Court
Forum 6. How Zoning and Land Use Planning Shape the World Around Us
At its best, comprehensive land use planning depends upon community input and engagement, yet many citizens scarcely understand how zoning and land use regulations work. This forum provides a framework for citizen action as well as official decision-making, approached from three very different perspectives.
Kathy Galvin
Charlottesville City Council, Architect and Urban Planner
Jeff Werner
AICP, Preservation and Design Planner, City of Charlottesville
Neil Williamson
President and Executive Director, The Free Enterprise Forum
