Elizabeth Grogg
Candidate for Charleston · City Council Ward 17
- Age
- 24
- Education
- High School Diploma
- Occupation
- Hospitality Professional
Hello. My name is Elizabeth Grogg. I’m 24 years old and I’m running for City Council Ward 17 in Kanawha City. Growing up going to schools like Kanawha City Elementary and Horace Mann helped shape my love for history, and further inspired my dreams of a life in public service. I believe the best place to begin is in my own community. Working as a server at Fazio’s has taught me the importance of listening, working hard, and showing up for others—values I’ll bring with me as I serve Ward 17.
Why I'm running
As a young new candidate, I hope to provide a fresh perspective and encourage others who are my age to be active in their community. I have and will continue to run a clean campaign, focusing on people over politics. I plan to help bring a thriving future to Kanawha City. Here’s to Ward 17.
Beyond the ballot: Three questions
We asked candidates three questions about mistakes, disagreements and changing their minds. Their answers offer readers a look at how they reflect on their decisions, navigate difficult situations and approach public service beyond their policy positions.
1. A decision I got wrong
Tell us about a time you made a decision that you later realized was wrong. What led you to that decision, how did you respond when you recognized your mistake, and what did you learn from the experience?
2. Standing by my convictions
Describe a time you disagreed with someone whose support, approval or relationship mattered to you. How did you handle the disagreement, and what ultimately guided your decision?
3. Changing my mind
What is one belief or strongly held opinion you have changed your mind about? What caused you to reconsider your position, and how would that experience influence the way you serve in public office?
Where I stand on the issues
Candidates rated their agreement with five statements about issues affecting their communities, using a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
City Council should be willing to approve public funding or financial incentives for the redevelopment of major privately owned downtown properties, even if doing so means less funding for other city priorities.
“I would need to know more about the situation, how much public money, and exactly what was going to be affected by the lack of funds.”
City Council should direct more funding toward rehabilitating vacant and deteriorating homes rather than demolishing them, even if rehabilitation costs more per property.
“I think this would be a case-by-case basis. Are the homes in areas that buyers are looking to buy in? How much would the overall value be compared to what is spent? Does the housing remodel and cost make sense for the area? Questions like that can sway a need for either option.”
City Council should allocate more funding to housing assistance and homelessness services rather than expanding enforcement efforts targeting public camping and other activities associated with homelessness.
Charleston City Council should allocate more street paving and drainage funding to neighborhoods with the greatest documented infrastructure needs, even if that means some wards receive less funding than others.
“For instance Kanawha City has a lot of storm water runoff that inundates our storm drains.”
Charleston should direct more public funding toward improving existing residential neighborhoods to attract and retain residents, even if that means reducing funding for downtown development projects.
Responses are presented as submitted by candidates. An unanswered item does not imply agreement or disagreement.