By Cleve Wiese

Published: May 6, 2008

Fiscal conservative Frank Lucente, considered a lightning rod on the Waynesboro City Council since he was appointed three years ago, staved off two more moderate challengers for the at-large seat Tuesday in a decisive victory.
“I’ve made a statement with my message and I think the people responded to that tonight and I’m so appreciative,” Lucente said.
Lucente garnered 1,956 votes, or 61 percent of the total cast. Jeremy Taylor finished a distant second at 24 percent followed by DuBose Egleston Jr. at 16 percent.
After a long, hard-fought campaign, Lucente said he was looking forward to at least one night of relaxation before returning to the political arena.
“I hadn’t given myself the chance to consider what would happen should this situation arise,” he said. “It’s a celebration tonight, and in the next day or so I’ll get back to work serving the people of this city.”
Lucente’s landslide victory, combined with a commanding win by conservative ally Bruce Allen for the Ward B seat, constitutes a dramatic reversal in the ideological makeup of a council previously dominated by more moderate voices on issues such as public spending and taxes.
Jeremy Taylor said Tuesday night that he worries the new conservative bloc on the council will hamper downtown development and infrastructure projects.
“There are areas of our city that are falling apart and I hope the new majority does not take the results as a mandate to delay further the improvements that our city needs,” he said.
Egleston voiced similar concerns.
“I believe it’s a bad situation for the city,” he said. “I think the progress we’ve made for the last six years will be undone … I’m not in favor of raising taxes, but you have to provide services, and I think [this election] is going to ramifications for 10 years to come.”
Over the course of the campaign, Lucente emphasized low taxes as the surest way to bring in new business and stimulate economic growth, opposing further government spending on downtown development and arguing against a utility fee to fund stormwater improvements. Taylor and Egleston, by contrast, both favored the utility fee, using some public money for downtown revitalization and at least entertained the possibility of increased taxes down the road, should circumstances call for them.
In the wake of heated disagreements over these and similar issues, moderate council members Nancy Dowdy and Lorie Smith have in the past characterized Lucente as excessively confrontational. But Lucente has said descriptions of the council rift were exaggerated, and that “spirited debate” is an integral part of the electoral process.
“They try to paint me as a divisive guy,” Lucente has said, “but I’m just trying to get answers.”
As part of a new conservative majority, he’s unlikely to feel as embattled over the next few years.
“It makes me feel that I truly do represent the people,” he said of the decisive returns. “And I will continue to represent them as I always have.”