Mike Pruitt

I’ve been committed to housing justice ever since suffering at the hands of a predatory landlord myself in my first year of military service. As a housing advocate and researcher, I know that there isn’t one silver bullet. Change begins with making it easier and less expensive to build homes where people want to live, but we can’t afford to stop there. I hope to lead major investment in keeping Albemarle affordable, strengthen partnerships with nonprofit housing providers, and fight for robust inclusionary zoning in our growth areas. I also pledge to work with the General Assembly for stronger, bolder tools to improve housing in our community.

From watching my dad repair machines on the factory floor to my own years spent in the engine rooms, network hubs, and machine shops aboard warships, I understand the value of technical education and careers in the trades. I hope to combine that passion with my experience building innovative job training programs to strengthen employer partnerships in Albemarle with PVCC, CATEC, and others. Whether in advanced manufacturing or “new collar” tech fields, these partnerships would give Albemarle’s future generation access to careers and futures, not just jobs.

Growing up in the ruins of a former mill town, I know what community disinvestment and the poverty it creates can look like: I’ve lost friends, family, and loved ones to the addiction, desperation, and despair disinvestment creates. Our rural communities on the southside and people of color throughout the county face that same disinvestment. I plan to work to bring economic opportunity and services to southside residents while preserving the small-town culture, strengthen support for the poor and underserved, and listen to and uplift the voices in our county that fear they won’t be heard.

It’s no secret that the Scottsville District’s natural resources are one of its most valuable assets. Home to the largest historic rural area in the County, our residents paddle the majestic James River, take in the sweeping vistas of Carter Mountain, and stroll the paths of the future Biscuit Run park. But protecting these resources for future generations requires vigilance. I’m committed to ensuring our environment remains a key constituent in all decisions, and fighting for policies that will safeguard it for years to come. This means resisting construction in the growing floodplain that can poison our rivers, protecting our tree canopy, and smart community and transportation design.