Empowering Our Community, Together
Maria Belcher is running for City Council because she believes Charleston’s strength lies in its neighborhoods. She has over a decade of experience in arts management, nonprofit, and community development work and is a homeowner and now small business owner in Ward 9. From organizing citywide festivals and community programs to supporting small businesses and public-space improvements, her career has been about bringing people together to solve problems and
strengthen our city.
Ward 9 deserves a representative who understands how city policy, infrastructure, and investment decisions play out on our neighborhood blocks. Maria has already been doing this work for Charleston and now she's ready to do it from Council chambers. Let's keep building, together!
Key Priorities
Maria is committed to a neighborhood-first approach, focusing on the practical challenges facing Ward 9 families and businesses.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Encourage public-private partnerships that drive investment and foot traffic.
Focus on Washington Street E corridor for business growth and public-space improvement.
Public Safety
Prioritize programs and partnerships that activate vacant and/or dilapidated spaces.
Focus on projects that tackle the everyday issues that we raise - traffic and speeding, trash and overgrowth, access to services, and safety concerns.
Community Engagement
Utilize data-and-listening approach to guide city investments - walking blocks, neighborhood meetings, surveying businesses.
Infrastructure &
Walkability
Improve walkability by focusing on safe crossings, and essential, responsive repairs to our streets and sidewalks.
Advocate for city investments in parks, public art, and community programs.
Coordinate with associations, community groups, organizations, commissions, and the City to identify opportunities, push for action, and leverage resources.
Charleston, WV
Charleston is at its best when we're working and celebrating together. The links below highlight some of the organizations and events that make our city vibrant year-round, from arts and culture to economic development. I'm proud to have worked alongside many of these partners, and I'll keep supporting the collaborations that bring people downtown, lift up local businesses, and strengthen the place we call home.