By Margo Boone '26
Jeff Vick, an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Affairs at Roanoke College, recently moderated two local candidate forums sponsored by Cardinal News.
Vick presided over Roanoke’s mayoral and city council forum on Oct. 22 and, on Oct. 29, he moderated the Salem city council forum. Both forums hosted candidates for the upcoming mayoral and city council elections. As moderator, Vick asked the candidates questions made by Cardinal News and the public, ensuring that each candidate had an equal amount of time to speak on topics that were on the upcoming ballot. Vick said he was impressed by the candidates’ depth of knowledge and their focus on local issues over party politics.
Vick has worked in foreign and congressional affairs for more than 25 years. After serving as an engineer officer in the United States Army, he became a foreign service officer, working at embassies in Chile, Pakistan, Russia and the United Kingdom, among others. Later, he served in Washington, D.C., as a strategic trade controls deputy director and as chief of the Congressional Affairs Unit of the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Vick has served as a neutral moderator for many forums over the years. He said he’s always excited to witness the democratic process in action.