Merissa Sachs sits in front of a digital colored printer that she uses in her business, Log Hub at Marketing at Main on Roanoke Street in Christiansburg.
Merissa Sachs is a Christiansburg businesswoman that has announced her intention to run for town council this November.
Monday, she joined the rising number of people seeking to be on the governmental body and calls herself a “proactive person.”
Sachs came to the area in 1989 from North Dakota. With relatives in Shawsville, she landed in Christiansburg. Sachs started at Star Promotions, then opening Marketing on Main along Christiansburg’s Main Street, before moving to the former Grandma’s Goodies location.
She also worked in the accounting department for Roanoke Restaurant Service, Hubbell Lighting and the Virginia Tech Foundation, and in 2010 opened the “Salvage Junkies.”
Sachs is also very involved in the community through volunteering, serving in the past on the board of directors for the Christiansburg Chamber of Commerce, is a volunteer at the Montgomery County Christmas Store, worked with the development of the Wilderness Trail Festival, advisory board for the NRV Salvation Army and is currently supporting the Women’s Shelter of the NRV with several fundraising programs.
Her daughter, Tiana, graduated from Christiansburg High School in 2016 and is now attending East Carolina University.
Sachs is banking on that experience as a business owner and also using it as motivation to seek the public office.
“I feel small business needs a voice in Christiansburg. Taxes keep going up along with multiple fees and licenses that have become so incumbering for small businesses. In addition, too many are closing for multiple reasons, and that is a problem. I feel I can make a difference in that,” she said.
Sachs sees a lot of positive things in the community with a lot of passionate people that love to be there. She points to the downtown area as one place the town needs some juice and revitalization, and is working on several ideas to change that roll.
Like others, Sachs knows there is plenty of concern surrounding future water and sewer rates in the town.
“Rates are going up, and I would like to see the repealed. I am not convinced the monies for repairs and upgrades should come from fees,” she said.
Sachs questions the need for a multi-million dollar outdoor park and hopes town leaders can reach some type of middle ground with ongoing noise complaints at the Starlite Drive-In.
This is her first-time running for public office, and believes her 20-year experience as a business owner will make a difference when residents go to the voting booth.
“I hope I can bring a lot of common sense to council,” she said.
Three positions will be on the ballot this November. Incumbent Steve Huppert has already announced his intentions to seek re-election. The other two incumbents, Cord Hall and Brad Stipes, are expected to run again as they are circulating petitions to be placed on the ballot.
