As Lynchburg prepares for its January 2025 mayoral and vice mayoral elections, a pledge circulating among Republican City Council members has become a flashpoint in the debate over party unity and leadership. Signed by Councilmembers Martin Misjuns, Curt Diemer, and Jacqueline Timmer, the pledge seeks to ensure leadership is elected with at least four Republican votes, preventing the lone Democrat, Sterling Wilder, from influencing the outcome.
The effort, framed by its signatories as a step toward restoring unity within the Republican majority, reflects frustrations with two years of division and infighting on the council. Misjuns, the only sitting councilmember to have signed the pledge thus far, has been a vocal critic of Mayor Stephanie Reed and Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi’s leadership. Despite their past differences, Misjuns has made public calls for a “clean slate,” urging unity and open communication among council Republicans. However, Reed and Faraldi have yet to respond to his outreach, underscoring the ongoing tensions. (News & Advance; Cardinal News).
“Voters of Lynchburg voted for strong Republican leadership, and I think they deserve it,” Diemer told The News & Advance, emphasizing the pledge as a way to honor the mandate from voters. Misjuns echoed this sentiment, stating the pledge would prevent Democrat Sterling Wilder from being a deciding factor in Republican leadership selections. (WSET).
Criticism of the pledge has come from Faraldi and Wilder. Faraldi described it as a “shadow” effort designed to pressure dissenting Republicans into compliance, while Wilder called it divisive, claiming it excluded his voice and those of Ward II residents. (News & Advance).
Reed, who benefited from bipartisan support in her 2023 mayoral election—when she was elected with votes from two Democrats—has commented sparingly on the pledge, stating she only recently became aware of it. Her leadership, secured by breaking from the Republican caucus, is widely viewed as the catalyst for the current divisions. (Cardinal News; WSET).
The pledge’s supporters argue it is a necessary corrective measure. By ensuring the mayor and vice mayor are elected solely by Republican votes, they hope to prevent a repeat of the fractures caused by Reed and Faraldi’s election in 2023. Timmer described the pledge as an effort to rebuild relationships: “It is common in legislative bodies for members of the political parties to fight for common ground, and this is what needs to happen.” (News & Advance).
Despite the criticism, the pledge underscores a broader challenge for the Republican majority: balancing individual perspectives with the collective mandate delivered by voters. Misjuns’ calls for open communication and a unified front will be tested on January 3, when the council casts its votes for leadership.
Sources:
• Cardinal News, “Maneuvering for Lynchburg Mayor Enters a New Phase,” December 16, 2024
• WSET, “Lynchburg Council Pledge Sparks Division,” December 16, 2024
• The News & Advance, “Pledge Circulated Among GOP Councilmembers Ahead of Mayoral Vote,” December 17, 2024
