L.G. Shaw III is a candidate for Virginia Beach City Council – District 5. His name will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
Shaw is running against District 5 incumbent Rosemary A. Wilson for Virginia Beach City Council in District 5.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: L.G. Shaw III is a Virginia Beach native and Wave Riding Vehicles (WRV) President. He was born and raised in what is now District 5 and attended First Colonial High School. He lives in the Birdneck Lake neighborhood with his wife, Stacy Jo, and their two children. He serves on the Surf & Rescue Museum Board and was a founding member and past Vibe Creative District business association president. The Shaw family is active in their neighborhood and greater District 5 community.
Why are you running for this office?
Being born and raised in what is now VB City Council District 5, I believe I truly understand the nuances of our neighborhoods, businesses, and tourists. My family’s business, Wave Riding Vehicles, lives in the exact crosshairs of what being a VB local means. My entire life has been about the Oceanfront, its community, its resources, and its potential. I plan to use my lifetime of knowledge to help create a better way forward in VB over the next 4 years and beyond.
What is the top challenge facing Virginia Beach, and how would you address it?
Stormwater is one of the largest and broadest issues our coastal city faces. It will take dedication and planning to ensure our city can continue thriving and is protected for future generations.
What is your view on preserving agricultural land while also addressing the affordable housing crisis? The two are not mutually exclusive. Most of our agricultural land is not well suited for high-density development, and should be protected. At the same time we must look to repurposing our aging infrastructure so that it can be brought up and put to better use. The Virginia Beach’s workforce and affordable housing issues are not a quick fix, something my family has been taken on in our business for the last several years, but we have learned that by working together as a community we have been able to make incremental improvements in these areas.
How do you view Virginia Beach’s continued growth strategy? What would you change?
When we set a goal, we need to see it through. Over the years, we have seen projects wither on the vine due to a lack of dedication to seeing a plan through to completion. As a council member, I will not focus solely on being re-elected in four years but on pushing up the best and brightest ideas for our citizens and executing them.
What is your view on changing the operational model of the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center? The situation was riddled with missteps. The VA Aquarium and assets like it throughout VB are one of the reasons I filed to run for City Council District 5. These special places that have grown organically through the years and decades are the tapestry of what makes VB great. Tossing any of them aside without extended consideration is the wrong direction for the city.
What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the city?
It has been very interesting treading into political waters. Most of the folks who can write larger checks are business owners and that means they will likely have issues to be handled and if there is a conflict I will recuse myself from any votes that are not appropriate for me to weigh in on. My family and I have always run our businesses in the most ethical way possible, and I will carry that ethos with me to Council. I am in full support of transparency, and I encourage voters to look into who has donated to my campaign and to my opponent’s campaign at the Virginia Department of Elections website.
How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?
Unfortunately, there are disagreements in public service; my goal will be to mitigate their concerns in the best way possible. My goal is to support the long-term health and success of Virginia Beach.
