Candidate Profile: Jennifer Naperala (Chesapeake City Council)

Biography: I’ve been a school teacher for over twenty years. I am active in several local groups as a volunteer, but I have had the most opportunity to do good work for the schools as an Executive Board member of Chesapeake Education Association. I’ve had inspiring opportunities to work on state and national level committees to provide direct support to new educators, mid-career educators, and some of Chesapeake’s at-risk students.

The community project about which I am most passionate is single-member voting. In a city as large as Chesapeake, it’s not possible for our citizens to be served under our current system of elections. I have been fortunate to support The New Chesapeake Men for Progress in the powerful strides they’ve made toward bringing single-member voting to Chesapeake, and I intend to continue supporting their work toward that goal until we achieve it.

One of the newer groups I’ve become familiar with is Veterans for Peace 757, who not only provide support for our service members, but they also intentionally examine and attempt to enact policy that will minimize the impact of militarism on the climate.

Because I work with numerous communities, I’ve become highly skilled at finding compromise allowing for necessary progress while successfully addressing & managing community concerns.

I have three adult kids of whom I’m immensely proud. All are graduates of Chesapeake Public Schools: Avery, who earned her BS in Environmental Biology from Christopher Newport University and her MPH from Yale, is a scientist doing environmental risk assessment work for nationwide projects; Aaron, who earned his BSN from Old Dominion University is working as an ICU nurse and house-hunting in Norfolk, where housing opportunities are more realistic for young professionals, and Ali, who is working on a degree in Communications from James Madison University.

Why are you running for this office?

I was encouraged to run for a seat on Chesapeake City Council by good friends with various political beliefs. My ability to stay focused on issues and tune out distractions that obstruct problem-solving will offer various paths to solutions that the council and our citizenry will be able to consider. I have a vision for Chesapeake that will bring us together to work forward.

What is the top challenge facing Chesapeake, and how would you address it?

Our biggest challenge is the degree to which our citizens are stratified and divided.

My plan to address the stratification & division is not complicated: I intend to focus on the issues, while always keeping in mind the impact of potential solutions on our communities.

We’re a city of hard-working, reasonable people. By looking at possible solutions to issues and identifying the most fitting compromise forward, we can make unbiased decisions that will benefit Chesapeake as a whole.

What is your view on preserving agricultural land while also addressing the affordable housing crisis?

I am unwilling to place any more strain on the infrastructure of our southern communities.

We can provide affordable housing by considering some of the overlooked areas of Chesapeake. Reinvesting in disregarded communities will result in home sales, attention to the surrounding schools, and an overall improvement to the surrounding area.

How do you view promoting environmentally sustainable policies like recycling when compared to costs?

We should offer environmentally sustainable policies like recycling if our citizens support them. Before committing to a program, though, city leadership should ensure the cost is manageable to our citizens and the city. Taxes for the service should be progressive.

Community recycling is not the only option Chesapeake has for environmentally sustainable policies, though. The City of Chesapeake should also be able to expect measurable sustainability efforts from incoming international corporations.

What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?

My belief is that taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city is a conflict of interest and should be punishable. Public leaders are elected to serve the people, not special interests.

How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?

I can’t imagine not valuing anyone because we don’t agree about issues. Folks advocating for certain outcomes are doing so out of love for Chesapeake.

In our day-to-day lives, most of us don’t have a problem working with folks we disagree with. Fortunately, I find myself among the majority on this point.

Should the City of Chesapeake explore a ward/district system versus continuing to elect members At-Large?

Given the intense citizen interest alone, the City of Chesapeake should absolutely explore a single-member voting system.