By Patrick Hurston
Moorefield will hold its municipal General Election on June 10, 2025. Among those on the ballot are six candidates vying for two Town Council seats. One of the seats is being vacated by current council member Scott Fawley who is running for mayor. The second seat is currently held by council member Jason Fertig who is seeking reelection.
Today the Examiner kicks off the first in a series of conversations with all six candidates, each of whom was given the same set of questions, and the same deadline in which to respond.
Candidates were asked to keep their responses to 3-5 sentences.
Today we talked with Valerie Daniel. Responses have not been edited.
Meet the Candidate: Valerie Daniel
Moorefield Examiner (ME): Please provide a brief personal statement about your candidacy, priorities and vision for the Town of Moorefield.
Valerie Daniel: Being a citizen in the Moorefield community for 15 years plus. Firsthand seeing a decline in town pride and unprecedented challenges this town is facing. I wanted to step up to the challenge of helping our community be heard, feel heard for maybe the first time in years. Our current culture takes accountability for granted, we need to fight for basic morals that we seem to have lost. With sleeves rolled up and hands in the dirt, I will do my best to help bring this community back to a new vibrant town of safety, pride, and wellness.
ME: What initiative, program, project, or issue (infrastructure, public safety/services, economic development, etc.) would you spearhead if elected?
Daniel: My thoughts go directly to the most urgent initiative that’s needing 100% of our attention: School/Community safety. Our community is facing unprecedented events regarding the safety of children/youth, along with the entire community. Another project would be to grow our current social events that our community has and to add new ideas to the mix. Community wellness and strength is at an all-time low, changes are needed, I will do all I can in helping the Town of Moorefield flourish.
ME: Given recent controversies involving the Moorefield Police Department, how would you work to enhance transparency and accountability in town government and strengthen public trust in the Council and local law enforcement?
Daniel: Initiate conversations between the MFPD and community leaders/town council for a discussion regarding ongoing and/or current issues and their challenges affecting our town. This is where an open discussion can be had for resolution ideas to build trust and transparency issues we currently are facing and design a path moving forward within our community. As well as establishing resources to keep our community updated on current issues. Examples: via social media page, town and/or council meetings. The importance of collaboration and being visible in the community such as events to create mutual trust in MFPD and community. Ride-Alongs with officers, police involvement in local school activities, and Police participation in (or police-led) community events.
ME: What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing Moorefield and its residents and how do you plan to address it if elected?
Daniel: Moorefield School system issues currently being faced with racism, harassment and assault allegations. Looking to initiate meetings w/ BOE, school’s principal, town council, and the MFPD discuss working towards a path of resolution, adding new programs and/or updating those currently used to bring more awareness to our student body and parents. Secondly, a community wide meeting/forum to share and provide information/programs to reassure that those parties listed above are fully invested in resolving and finding resolutions for the current situation to build a path moving forward for our system.
ME: The Council is just finishing/just finished its budgeting for FY 2025/26. How would you prioritize budgeting and balancing public safety needs with other municipal responsibilities such as cultural and recreational activities; public works and infrastructure; and economic development?
Daniel: Prioritize is an action that when addressed with all standard yearly operational or a new request that comes forth to the town council. I, along with our fellow council members. would give consideration to all equally within our budgeting resources.
