Howe Not Giving Up On Courthouse Battle

Fredericksburg mayoral candidate Fred Howe says a committee of financial experts can help City Council reduce the scope and price of the new courthouse in downtown Fredericksburg.

During his first campaign event Thursday night at the city's posh downtown Marriott Hotel, Howe told about 35 supporters that he will put his constituents' interests first and he doesn't think they should have to pay more in taxes to support a $38-million courthouse project on Princess Anne Street.  The Ward 3 councilman said he wants to appoint local residents to a Finance Committee to advise City Council and one of its first projects could be to review the scope and costs of the courthouse.

The courthouse bonds are sold and that can't be changed, Howe said. But the design, location, size and cost of the courthouse can be, he said.

"We still have time to get this right," he said. "It's not over yet."

Howe said he wants the city to consider renovating the historic Renwick Hall for about $10 million and to significantly downsize the proposed new courthouse building to reduce costs. He said he has had discussions with City Sheriff Paul Higgs, who was at the campaign event, about renovating Renwick for court uses. Howe said Renwick is at risk of becoming "another Maury," referring to the 1919 Maury School that sat vacant for 26 years until a local developer brought it back to life by retrofitting the building into opulent condos. He thought City Council members and city staff violated open government laws by meeting behind closed doors so many times to discuss the courthouse project and for refusing.

"The reason I'm compelled to run is because of that process," Howe said. "There isn't a sounding board. We've lost that sounding board."

Two other residents are running for city mayor. Mary Katherine Greenlaw is the City Council vice mayor and the person who Howe said was his chief opponent because of her name recognition. Matt Paxson, the associate pastor at Fairview Baptist Church, is the third candidate and one who Howe is trying to discount because of his lack of municipal government experience.

Howe also proposed a program that would reward businesses with a lower BPOL tax. Howe said his business acumen sets him apart from the other candidates and that he's managed his business through the worst depression of his generation, didn't lay off a single employee and made it through with few scars.

"I'm a businessman," Howe said. "I'm not a politician."

Howe talks about his plan to govern this city.

Howe talks about the role of the Finance Committee that he wants to create.

Howe talks about the comments made Tuesday night by Jamie Scully, chairman of the Architectural Review Board.

Correction: Howe has discussed renovating the Renwick building with City Sheriff Paul Higgs, who was present at his campaign event Thursday. An earlier version of this article misidentified Paul Higgs.