The Lynchburg City Council turned blue Tuesday night, like the U.S. House and Senate and multiple state legislative chambers and governor’s offices. The Democrats who won in the Hill City said the flip was more about a vision for the community than affiliation with a party.  “I don’t think that this is historic in terms of ‘Oh, it was Republican, and now it’s Democrat,’” Christina Delzingaro, one of the winners, said at a press conference Wednesday. “I think it’s historic in the swing from being negative, looking backward, to being positive and looking forward; being exclusive and divisive, to being inclusive and caring and kind.”

“This success belongs to every single person who believes in a Lynchburg where every voice matters, every neighborhood matters, and everyone has a place at the table,” Delzingaro said. Dr. David Richards, a University of Lynchburg political science professor, said the divided vote was one reason for the Democratic success, but not the only one. “The Democrats represented unity,” Richards said. “They represented sort of a collective calmness, if you will. And I think people responded to that.”

The three Democratic candidates running for at-large seats on Lynchburg City Council cruised to victory on Tuesday, ending a four-year run of Republican control of the city’s governing body. Nat Marshall, Christina Delzingaro and Dave Henderson each received more than 12,000 votes. The next closest candidate was incumbent At-large Councilwoman Stephanie Reed, a Republican who received more than 7,900 votes. With a fellow Democrat, Ward II Councilman Sterling Wilder, already on council, Democrats will hold a 4-3 majority when the three new members get sworn into office in January. Wilder is in the middle of his third term on council.

Democrats won big Tuesday night, sweeping all three open at-large seats on the Lynchburg City Council. There were nine candidates in total on the ballot. Christina Delzingaro, Dave Henderson and Nat Marshall finished in the top three. The three Democrats running together as Team "Better Together Lynchburg" said they hope to take the city in a different direction. They said they want to focus on city services, education and addressing challenges facing the community.

Lynchchburg residents and college students filled the University of Lynchburg’s Hall Campus Center’s Memorial Ballroom to hear where city council candidates stand on both local and statewide issues. All nine candidates for the three at-large seats on city council participated in the forum, which was moderated by Pat Simon, an anchor at WSET and David Richards, chair of the University of Lynchburg’s international relations and political science department.

Personal animosities and competing visions for Lynchburg’s governance boiled over on Tuesday night as nine city council candidates transformed the Memorial Ballroom stage into a high-stakes political battleground. Moderated by WSET ABC13 anchor Pat Simon and political science professor Dr. David Richards, the debate exposed deep divides on how the Hill City should be governed. The three Democratic candidates, Dave Henderson, Christina Delzingaro and Nat Marshall, are running together as Lynchburg Better Together. For Liberty University alumna Brianna Falwell, supporting the Lynchburg Better Together ticket is directly tied to her morals. “Being a Falwell, a lot of my morals come through my politics and I think Christianity is more aligned with the Lynchburg Better Together candidates and their vision for Lynchburg,” said Falwell, dubbing this platform as the new Moral Majority.

Nine Lynchburg City Council candidates are vying for your vote in the upcoming election. They are competing for three at-large seats on the council. The three democrats, Henderson, Delzingaro and Marshall, are running together as 'Lynchburg Better Together.' According to their website, their goal is to "reset the tone of city leadership and return to competent, respectful governance focused on quality of life, economic opportunity, and responsible budgeting. Our approach is simple: when we expand opportunity and grow our local economy in practical, measurable ways, our entire city moves forward."

I’ve been saddened by the continual partisan, divisive actions that City Council has become, which are so at odds with Lynchburg's character. I believe that what most people want in their community, and especially from their leaders, is respectful collaboration and kindness. Lynchburg deserves it. When I moved here in 2014 to retire, I knew I had made a good decision, and now I want that decision back to confirm it. That is why voting for Christina Delzingaro, Dave Henderson, and Nat Marshall is the right choice for the At-Large seats. All three are very active, dedicated leaders across all facets of our community and extremely qualified for these seats.