Jonathan "J.D." Taylor
Republican for Salem City Council
Rooted in Salem. Ready to Serve.
"Salem is home. I believe in this community, our families, and the values that make Salem special.
My goal is simple: keep Salem a great place to live, work, raise a family, and do business."
-J.D. Taylor
A Bit About Me
J.D. Taylor is a husband, dad, worship pastor, lifelong Southwest Virginian, and public servant. A graduate of Bluefield University with a degree in Biology and a current MBA candidate, he spent 15 years in the banking world first with a community bank, and nearly a decade with a local credit union for which he currently serves as an associate Board of Directors member. He currently works in local government tax administration working with taxes, budgets, businesses, and the everyday decisions that keep a city running. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing, biking, reading, and coaching rec sports with his wife and three children.
Priorities
Lower the Burden, Broaden the Base
I believe Salem should grow its tax base, not simply its tax burden. We can make it easier to do business, attract the right investment, and support local entrepreneurs. With sound policy and disciplined budgeting, we can grow the right way: stronger, more stable, and with less burden on our citizens.
Grow Like Salem
Salem should grow, but we need to be intentional about how we grow. I want to attract good jobs and support local businesses while protecting the neighborhoods and character that make Salem special. Growth should be guided by a vision, not something that happens to us. I want Salem to be a destination to do business while remaining a place we’re proud to call home.
More of What Works
Housing doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. I support thoughtful development that fits the neighborhood; quality single-family homes, good infrastructure, and mixed-use areas where housing and local businesses can thrive together. Before voting on a rezoning, I’ll ask a simple question: does this make Salem better? Growth is only half the equation. We need to make growth work for us while preserving the Salem we love for the next generation.
Positions
Education and Schools
As the parent of a West Salem Cardinal, education is top of mind to not just me, but every parent in Salem. Failing to provide a solid educational foundation and instilling the means of navigating the world is a disservice to our children, and the future of Salem. I support not just funding our schools, but increasing the local funding portion and relying less on state funds once our budget allows. I support career pathways in our middle and high school curriculum through our Career and Technical Center and expanding upon those programs when it makes sense. Our schools have long been the Pride of Salem, and they should remain as such.
Public Safety
Just as worthy of praise as our schools, our public safety men and women in our Police, Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Rescue Departments, and Code Enforcement have long been second to none. From 2019-2024 Salem experienced a 57% reduction in violent crime, 30% reduction in property crime, for an overall reduction of 31%. These trends are worthy of our applause and couldn’t be achieved without excellent men and women in leadership and on the ground. Our Fire and EMS have seen a steady increase in both fire and EMS call demand. As buildings and people age this trend will likely continue and deserves City Council’s attention to ensure we are not underfunding a key department.
Municipal Utilities and Maintenance
Municipal Owned utilities is one of the things that made Salem attractive to my wife and I ten years ago when deciding where we would raise our family. While much of the state is at the mercy of utility monopolies, we enjoy the ability to set our own prices and standards, determine the quality of our infrastructure, and provide jobs that pour into our community. I believe municipal utilities should be centered around the citizens. Our water infrastructure is aging, City Council must focus on replacing necessary equipment - it is my position that we price in maintenance of our infrastructure to the utility budgets and disclose the amount of each dollar charged that goes to maintenance.
Budgeting
Working in local tax administration has allowed me to develop a strong understanding of municipal finance. When government administrations become aware that they can put a budget before a Council who doesn’t understand the intricacies, things can get expensive. Balancing a budget is a legal requirement, not a campaign position. I will ensure we are spending our tax payer dollars wisely, getting the most for the investment of taxpayer dollars, and pull the financial levers provided to Council to broaden our tax base and lower Real Estate and Personal Property tax.
Storm Water Fee
Council recently began considering a stormwater utility fee. Stormwater is an expense that is already a part of municipal budgeting, Salem is no different. However, there isn’t always a dedicated revenue stream for stormwater maintenance. The purpose of the stormwater fee is not to enrich the City Treasurery, it is to make clear the expense and ensure that expense is covered. By adopting a stormwater management fee, City Council should lower that tax burden equitably from another tax source. My proposal is to adopt the fee and lower the Real Estate tax rate a commensurate and equitable amount. This creates clarity in the budget, and for the citizens.
Salem Civic Center
The Civic Center is an incredible asset to the City, along with the people who make the events successful year after year. I support significant investment into the Civic Center to modernize and expand the facility and expand the services and amusements it is able to offer.
Take Action
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