View source for Michael Payne

{{Infobox Candidate
| name = Michael Payne
| photo = 2019 Michael Payne.JPG
| caption ='''<span style="color:blue;">Democratic Party</span>'''<br/>Photo taken in 2019
| office1 = Charlottesville City Council (Nonpartisan)
| party1 = Democrat
| term_start1 = January 2020
| term_end1 = January 2023
| preceded1 = [[Mike Signer]] (D)
| succeeded1 =
| birth_date = September 23, 1992 <br/>Age {{age|1992|09|23}}
| date_of_death =
| birth_place = Albemarle County
| place_of_death =
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = Belmont Neighborhood 
| alma_mater = [[William & Mary]], B.A. in Government 
| profession = Affordable housing advocate
| occupation = Self-employed
| religion =
| website = https://michaelpayneforcville.com/
| vpapid = 328309
| vpap_donations = 
}}

'''Michael Payne''' (born 1992) is a community organizer focusing on affordable housing issues. Payne co-founded [[Indivisible Charlottesville]], a progressive political action organization, and is a former co-chair of the [[Charlottesville DSA|Charlottesville Democratic Socialists of America]]. 

Payne  (Democratic Party) is a member of the [[Charlottesville City Council]]. Payne assumed office in January 2020. He was then re-elected for Charlottesville City Council in the 2023 general election in which he ran against Natalie Oschrin and Lloyd Snook. Payne's current term ends on [[December 31]], [[2027]]. <ref>{{cite-VirginiaPublicAccessProject|title=Charlottesville City Council-At Large|url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/charlottesville-city-council-at-large/elections/?year_and_type=2023regular|author=|work=Public site|publisher=VPAP|location=|publishdate=November 7, 2023|accessdate=March 27, 2024}}</ref> 

Payne ran for re-election to the [[Charlottesville City Council]] in the general [[2023 election|election]] on [[November 7]], [[2023]]. On the trail he raised $17,940, 2nd most to Natalie Oschrin. <ref>{{cite-infocville|title=Oschrin joins Payne and Snook in Council race this November|url=https://infocville.com/2023/06/21/oschrin-joins-payne-and-snook-as-democrats-in-council-race-this-november/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=June 21, 2023|accessdate=August 17, 2023}}</ref> 


== Biography ==
Payne was raised in central Virginia and graduated from [[Albemarle High School]]. As a student at [[William & Mary]], Payne proposed a participatory budgetary website that would allow citizens to become directly involved in the process of proposing and editing budgets at the local level. <ref>{{cite web|title=Weingartner Challenge to improve the world elicits hundreds of responses|url=https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2014/weingartner-challenge-to-improve-the-world-elicits-hundreds-of-responses.php|author=Jim Ducibella|work=News Article|publisher=|location=|publishdate=February 13, 2014|accessdate=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

Payne has worked in affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity Virginia and PACEM. Payne has represented Habitat Virginia on statewide affordable housing issues and volunteers with the [[Charlottesville Low-Income Housing Coalition]].<ref>{{Minutes-citycouncil|newid=|when=January 6, 2020|accessdate=January 25, 2021|url=http://weblink.charlottesville.org/public/0/edoc/794391/MINS_20200106Jan06-APPROVED.pdf}}</ref>
==[[Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021)]]==
Payne was sworn into office on [[December 19]], [[2019]] and took office on [[January 1]], [[2020]]. Councilor Payne's term runs January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023; Salary: (not including fringe benefits) $18,000, the maximum range allowed under state guidelines. <ref>{{cite web|title=§ 15.2-1414.6. Permitted salaries; salary increases; reimbursement for expenses|url=https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter14/section15.2-1414.6/|author=|work=|publisher=Virginia General Assembly|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=January 8, 2022}}</ref>
==[[Charlottesville City Council (2020-2021)]]==
=== Committee assignments ===
In his first term, Payne was appointed to the following Boards and Commissions: 

*[[Housing Advisory Committee]]
*[[Piedmont Housing Alliance]]
*[[Local Energy Alliance Program|LEAP Governance Board]]
*[[Regional Housing Partnership]]
*[[Rivanna River Corridor Plan|Rivanna Corridor Planning Steering Committee]]
*[[Rivanna River Basin Commission]]
*[[Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission|Thomas Jefferson Planning District Committee]].<ref>{{Minutes-citycouncil|newid=794391|when=|accessdate=}}</ref><ref>http://weblink.charlottesville.org/public/0/edoc/794287/AGENDA_20200106Jan06.pdf</ref>


*[[January 6]], [[2020]] &ndash; Organizational Meeting: Payne (D) voted in favor of appointing [[Nikuyah Walker]] (I) for a second term as president of the council (mayor) and new member [[Sena Magill]] (D) as vice-president (vice-mayor), <ref>{{Cite-progress|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/walker-to-continue-as-charlottesville-mayor-magill-named-vice-mayor/article_3d3e63f6-ac06-57da-9f1c-86af26fe463b.html|title=Walker to continue as Charlottesville mayor; Magill named vice mayor|author=Nolan Stout|publishdate=|accessdate=}}</ref> a position previously held by [[Heather Hill]] who declined nomination.

*[[January 6]], [[2020]] &ndash; First Regular Meeting: First motion of the new City Council was entered by Magill, seconded by Payne, Council by the following vote amended the agenda, adding Item 8 – “Resolution Opposing Military Intervention in Iran” to the end of the regular agenda: 5-0 (Ayes: [[Heather Hill|Hill]], [[Sena Magill|Magill]], Payne, [[Lloyd Snook|Snook]], [[Nikuyah Walker|Walker]]; Noes: None).

==[[Charlottesville City Council (2022-2023)]]==
Payne accepted a nomination from [[Sena Magill]] to serve as Mayor, but came second to [[Lloyd Snook]] in a 3-2 vote. <ref>{{cite web|title=Snook selected to serve as Charlottesville Mayor|url=https://infocville.com/2022/01/08/snook-selected-to-serve-as-charlottesville-mayor/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|publisher=|location=|publishdate=January 6, 2022|accessdate=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
Payne was assigned to the following committees:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://charlottesvilleva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1296/files|title=Agendas & Minutes City Council Meeting|last=|first=|publishdate=January 05, 2022|publisher=City of Charlottesville|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref>

*[[Housing Advisory Committee|Charlottesville Redevelopment & Housing Authority]]
*[[Housing Advisory Committee]]
*[[Local Energy Alliance Program|Local Energy Alliance Program Governance Board (LEAP)]]
*[[Rivanna River Corridor Plan|Rivanna Corridor Planning Steering Committee]]
*[[Rivanna River Basin Commission]]
*[[Piedmont Housing Alliance]]
*[[Thomas Jefferson Planning District Committee]]

==Political career==
Payne has been involved with several Democratic campaigns, including 2010 congressional re-election campaign for [[Tom Perriello]] as well as several House of Delegates campaigns. He co-founded [[Indivisible Charlottesville]], a progressive political action organization, and is a former co-chair of the [[Charlottesville Democratic Socialists of America]].<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Gathers, Payne running for City Council|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/gathers-payne-running-for-city-council/article_8af1834a-129a-11e9-b1fb-af7cc2d4ca73.html|author=Staff reports|pageno=|printdate=January 7, 2019|publishdate=January 7, 2019|accessdate=June 16, 2019}}</ref>

===Political Goals/Priority Issues===
Making Charlottesville a thriving community for working class families by investing in affordable housing, public transportation, and jobs that pay a living wage. In addition, working collaboratively to make Charlottesville a statewide leader on solving the climate crisis by achieving carbon neutrality, promoting multi-modal transportation, supporting our local renewable energy sector, and protecting local green space. {{fact}}

==Personal life==
Paynes’s extended family live in the area where he grew up.

==Memberships/Affiliations==

*[[Charlottesville Democratic Party]]
*[[Charlottesville Low Income Housing Coalition (CLIHC)]]
*[[Cville 100]]
*[[Indivisible Charlottesville]]
*[[Sunrise Charlottesville]]

==Electoral history==
===[[2023 election]]===
{{2023 election/CityCouncil}}

===[[2019 General Election]]===
{{2019 election/City Council}}

Payne was elected to the [[Charlottesville City Council]] on [[November 5]], [[2019]], placing third in a six-way race. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Democrats Magill, Snook, Payne sweep City Council race|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/election/democrats-magill-snook-payne-sweep-city-council-race/article_79ac09e0-7727-5b3a-a6a7-e8aa9aa0484d.html|author=Nolan Stout|pageno=|printdate=November 6, 2019|publishdate=November 5, 2019|accessdate=November 5, 2019}}</ref> At age 27, he is the youngest councilmember in Charlottesville's history since the city abandoned the Mayor-Council form of government in [[1922]]. 
====Primary election====
{{2019 election/CouncilPrimary}}

==Campaign themes==
Payne is a community organizer focusing on affordable housing issues. He announced his campaign on [[January 8]], [[2019]].<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Gathers, Payne running for City Council|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/gathers-payne-running-for-city-council/article_8af1834a-129a-11e9-b1fb-af7cc2d4ca73.html|author=Staff reports|pageno=|printdate=January 7, 2019|publishdate=January 7, 2019|accessdate=January 10, 2019}}</ref>
At a campaign forum on February 23 sponsored by [[LauraPAC]], Payne said he would work to encourage zoning reform in Charlottesville to encourage the development of more housing units within the city. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Five Democratic council candidates make their cases at forum|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/five-democratic-council-candidates-make-their-cases-at-forum/article_4cb8894e-37c4-11e9-a7b2-9b170323cbc8.html|author=Tyler Hammel|pageno=|printdate=February 24, 2019|publishdate=February 23, 2019|accessdate=February 24, 2019}}</ref>
===Key staff members===

*[[Olivia Patton]], Campaign Manager <ref>https://https://www.linkedin.com › olivia-patton-9781175a</ref>

===2019===
The following themes were found on Payne’s 2019 campaign website: <ref>https://michaelpayneforcville.com/</ref>

:'''Truly Affordable Housing'''
:Our neighbors—lifetime Charlottesville residents, and the families that make our city great—are being pushed out by skyrocketing rents. We need a drastic rewrite of our city's zoning code and a serious investment in making rent affordable for everyone.
:'''Racial and Economic Equity'''
:Charlottesville has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the entire country. Despite its rapid growth, our community remains sharply divided by race and socioeconomic class. In order to build a truly equitable city, we need to prioritize equitable growth — allowing every community member to prosper.
:'''Addressing Climate Change'''
:Climate change is the single largest existential threat to our society. Tackling climate change requires action at all levels of government: federal, state, and local.”

*Michael Payne - as a candidate in October 2019 - “Top priorities for me are:

#Affordable housing — which intersects with so many other issues in the City;
#Local action on climate change;
#The growing economic inequality and the racial wealth gap and racial disparities in the City.”

:To address escalating rents within City limits, Payne plans to spur reinvestment in and redevelopment of public housing, update the zoning code — which hasn’t been changed since 2003 — and complete the City’s affordable housing strategy. Like Magill, he sees an improved transit system as critical to mitigating climate change, alongside fossil fuel divestment and clean energy.<ref>https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2019/10/the-rundown-on-the-race-for-charlottesville-city-council</ref>

{{bio-stub}}

==Policy positions==
==Quotes==

*“It just seemed like a really interesting way to give control over the government back to citizens rather than just elected representatives or business interests that might control the budgeting process more than citizens. It seemed like a good way of empowering citizens.”

:*As a student at [[William & Mary]], Payne proposed a participantory budgetary website that would allow citizens to become directly involved in the process of proposing and editing budgets at the local level.<ref>https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2014/weingartner-challenge-to-improve-the-world-elicits-hundreds-of-responses.php</ref>

*'''This is a new year, and we need to get to the root of structural inequality in the City, not cater to businesses and corporate interests.'''

:*Addressing [[Charlottesville City Council, 2018-2019|City Council]] at first meeting of new term, January 2, 2018<ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|when=January 2, 2018|id=60199}}</ref>
 
*'''The nature of public comment before Council meetings will inherently have restraints, and maybe the best approach is to hold monthly [[Town Hall meeting]]s.'''

:*Addressing [[Charlottesville City Council, 2018-2019|City Council]], January 16, 2018 <ref>{{minutes-citycouncil|when=January 16, 2018|id=60337}}</ref>

*'''"Divesting sends a signal.” “What I'm trying to do is start a long-term conversation about how we as a city respond to climate change."''' 

:*C-VILLE Weekly “Divestment: Charlottesville considers dumping fossil-fuel holdings” (12/12/2019) <ref>{{cite web|title=Divestment: Charlottesville considers dumping fossil-fuel holdings|url=https://www.c-ville.com/divestment/|author=Carol Diggs|work=|publisher=|C-VILLE Weeklylocation=|publishdate=12/12/18|accessdate=}}</ref>

*'''“We can do something unprecedented by expanding it ([[affordable housing]]) and having public housing be a crown jewel of our city and send a signal that working families can afford to live in this city, and we want to provide affordable housing as a human right.”''' 

:*The Cavalier Daily (01/16/2019) <ref>{{cite web|title=Democratic candidates for City Council emphasize affordable housing, living as key issues|url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2019/01/democratic-candidates-for-city-council-emphasize-affordable-housing-living-as-key-issues|author=Geremia Di Maro |work=|publisher=The Cavalier Daily|location=|publishdate=01/16/2019|accessdate=}}</ref>

*'''"Last night, we passed a city council resolution demanding [https://twitter.com/hashtag/nowaroniran?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag #NoWarOnIran]. Regardless of political differences, we all need to be united against unconstitutional war. We can only prevent war through a mass movement, strikes, and nationwide mobilization."'''

:*[https://twitter.com/ MPayneCvilleTwitter] (1/6/2020), as one of three new member of the [[Charlottesville City Council, 2020-2021]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==

*[https://www.facebook.com/MichaelPayneCville/ Facebook page for Campaign]

==Images==
<gallery>
File:2014-Payne.jpg |right|thumb|300px|William & Mary student Michael Payne 
2019 Michael Payne yard sign.JPG|right|thumb|300px|candidate yard sign
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Payne, Michael}}

[[Category:College of William & Mary alumni]]
[[Category:2023 candidates]]
[[Category: 1992 births]]