Anthony “Wayne” Hall is one of five candidates running for four available seats on Smithfield’s Town Council in the Nov. 8 election. The Smithfield Times asked each candidate to answer seven questions.

1. Can you briefly summarize why you decided to run for office?

I decided to run for reelection to the Town Council because these past four years I have learned a lot about town government and there is more to learn. I want to be part of making Smithfield a better place to live, work and raise children.

2. What should be Smithfield’s top priority right now?

Smithfield’s top priority right now should always be to maintain a safe community for the citizens of Smithfield, as well as the visitors, and to make Smithfield a place where others want to come and visit, live or work. Smithfield needs to grow to survive, but the growth needs to be a controlled growth.

3. What’s one thing you’d like to see change in terms of Smithfield’s town government?

At this time, I don’t know that anything needs to be changed in terms of Smithfield’s town government.

4. Should Smithfield contribute money to the building of a new farmers market building at former Smithfield Foods Chairman Joseph W. Luter III’s proposed “Grange at 10Main” development at Route 10 and Main Street?

Although the plans for the Farmers Market have not been finalized, there are several issues that I feel that need to be determined before I can answer if Smithfield should contribute any money toward the farmers market building.

5. How big of a priority do you consider the completion of Smithfield’s town-funded portion of the park-to-park bicycle and pedestrian trail, and how much local money should be put toward the project?

I feel the completion of the park-to-park trail should be a big priority, along with several other projects going on in town. Getting results of estimates in terms of building costs and plans on the location of the trail, and getting information from VDOT is a factor that needs to be determined.

6. Should Smithfield make the temporary 13-cent car tax rate reduction it adopted in June permanent, reduce the rate further, or restore it to the prior year’s rate of $1 per $100?

I feel the temporary 13-cent car tax rate reduction it adopted in June should be evaluated on an annual basis.

7. Should Smithfield decommission or restore the town-owned Smithfield Lake Dam?

I think every effort should be made to restore the Smithfield Lake Dam. There are several factors that need to be considered. Although the town owns the lake, it affects the entire community for Smithfield as well as Isle of Wight County residents. The Town of Smithfield and Isle of Wight County and VDOT need to work together and come up with a plan to maintain the Smithfield Lake Dam.