TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025, IS ELECTION DAY!! And because ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL, we begin our Optimizing Student Achievement Podcast Series “For the People” with an analysis of one of the most pivotal races in our city and the Commonwealth, the Newport News City Treasurer’s race. Having served as the Treasurer for primary candidate Derek Reason’s campaign, I conducted several deep dives into the issues of concern to Newport News voters this past Winter and Spring. After Sanu Dieng-Cooper emerged as the Democratic candidate and Marty Eubank dropped his independent bid and endorsed her candidacy, the Treasurer’s race evolved into a contest between Sanu Dieng-Cooper and Justin Kennedy. This is my humble take on the campaigns, as seen through the lens of the two candidate forums conducted in September and October 2025.
The moderators of both forums asked sound questions about the candidates’ plans to improve efficiency and timeliness for collecting fees and other assessments, their understanding of the role of the treasurer and view of the city’s overall financial and budget processes. Candidates were required to address how they would foster positive relationships with Newport News City Council, how they would ensure that the Treasurer’s Office is available to all citizens, to include seniors, those who can’t access technology, and constituents with disabilities. Among other queries, they were asked to explain their investment philosophy to ensure that taxpayers receive maximum return on their investment.
When asked to specify his top three priorities, Justin Kennedy described himself as a businessman whose objectives are to strengthen the Treasurer’s office via enhanced community engagement, increased customer service, and improved technological innovations. Kennedy also offered to finance new initiatives with his personal resources rather than utilizing the city’s resources.
Sanu Dieng-Cooper described herself as a collaborative leader in the non-profit and banking sectors. Cooper envisions the Treasurer’s office as a vehicle to improve service to constituents via a team of professionals who center all actions around what is in the best interest of the citizens of Newport News. Her primary objectives are to help citizens better understand their tax obligations via pop-ups, town hall meetings, and an innovative app, as well as providing a regular newsletter to highlight information about how the office is serving constituents. She articulated clear plans to partner with the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office to determine specific accounts which experience high levels of delinquency and to then proactively assist constituents via payment options to recoup those tax dollars while ensuring that the Treasurer's office meets the needs of citizens who may be experiencing hardships, particularly seniors and citizens on fixed incomes. Throughout both forums, Dieng-Cooper described her practice of listening to constituents to develop the best solutions to their myriad challenges. Dieng-Cooper’s third priority was advocating for citizens. As the Executive Director of Transitions Family Violence Services, Dieng-Cooper worked closely with the Newport News City Council to find emergency housing for citizens and to secure a larger allocation of funds to do the critical work to meet constituents’ needs. She described herself as a proven strategic thinker with a record of working with elected officials to advocate for policy changes relative to housing, paid family leave, and gun violence prevention legislation.
When asked about their knowledge of regulatory and legal processes, Dieng-Cooper discussed her understanding of the Virginia code and articulated her specific record of working with local, state, and federal officials to address constituent needs. That experience is critical in the current political climate. Throughout both forums, both candidates frequently discussed using technology to promote awareness and financial literacy amongst the citizenry while also ensuring that seniors who are not as tech savvy have consistent means to receive important information. In addition to discussing podcasts, interviewing elected officials, and using traditional media to reach seniors, Mr. Kennedy discussed his experience providing media services to regional businesses, helping local officials get elected, and securing funds for their priorities by raising capital and awareness. He also noted that he had invested over $100,000 of his own resources to fund his campaign. But only Dieng-Cooper was able to discuss how she has previously stewarded public funds and annual budgets with transparency and accountability to large constituencies, while ensuring that taxpayers clearly understand how their tax dollars are being spent and invested in community. In fact, Justin Kennedy struggled to articulate how he would create a seamless collaboration between the Offices of the Commissioner of the Revenue, the Treasurer, and the Tax Assessor. Meanwhile, Cooper discussed the need to provide cross-training between offices, as well as specific opportunities to create collaborative processes between the three offices. Most importantly, she described opportunities to identify redundant operations or to brainstorm synergies between the offices to potentially reduce overhead costs and save the taxpayers money.
Again, both candidates discussed their excitement and experience providing financial literacy to constituents. While Mr. Kennedy discussed his success in helping businesses grow, Mrs. Cooper articulated a detailed plan to educate the public on how the city and state budgets function as a means to engage citizens in how best to make changes that better constituents’ lives.
When asked to describe why voters should select them to serve as Treasurer, Dieng-Cooper spoke about her tireless service to the community for the past 15 years and track record of providing exceptional service to her “family in community.” She discussed being the only candidate with a degree in Finance and Banking with the requisite experience managing multi-million dollar annual budgets, her tenure supervising large cadres of personnel in both the public and the private sectors, and her endorsement from the current Treasurer given his confidence that, on day one, Sanu Cooper is equipped to manage and invest Newport News’ $1.4 billion annual budget. Asked the same question, Justin Kennedy discussed his acumen as a businessman, amassing large personal wealth and making other people money. He cited his stewardship of considerable resources that enabled him to retire 17 years ago as evidence that he has the financial acumen to manage large budgets. He stipulated that in the last five years he has worked with teams of developers to create animations and marketing campaigns for large corporations. By contrast, Mrs. Dieng-Cooper cited her work as a Policy Director for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, pushing the legislative agenda and advocating for additional funding for 72 agencies throughout the Commonwealth. She described keeping the Transitions Family Violence Services solvent during the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to offer 24-hour emergency housing to indigent constituents and consolidated services to increase efficiency and prevent wasteful spending of public resources; all essential skills required of the City Treasurer. In her role as Chair of a national organization that oversees a $5 million budget, Mrs. Dieng-Cooper shepherds the organization through federal and state audits and ensures wise stewardship of federal funding and private donations.
In summary, we are blessed to have two candidates of sterling integrity, who have demonstrated success in their respective careers, and whose actions demonstrate a genuine concern for the welfare of our city. They both have sound education and training for public constitutional office. To be clear, Justin Kennedy is a good man and a concerned citizen deeply committed to growing revenue for the local economy. He has a proven record of helping businesses grow. But his responses during both forums demonstrate that he is not the most experienced candidate for the Newport News City Treasurer’s Office. From her tenure reconciling daily bank ledgers of more than $165,000 as a college student, to her experience shepherding multi-million-dollar budgets in both the public and private sectors while managing personnel and lobbying local, state, and federal government officials, Sanu Dieng-Cooper is the best candidate in this race. Particularly given the current political climate, when federal support for states and municipalities is being withheld and local governments must have experienced managers and advocates at the helm, we must elect the candidate best equipped to serve the needs of EVERY Newport News citizen. That candidate is Sanu Dieng-Cooper. A vote for Sanu is a vote for the candidate who is best prepared to step into her responsibilities ON DAY ONE.
The moderators of both forums asked sound questions about the candidates’ plans to improve efficiency and timeliness for collecting fees and other assessments, their understanding of the role of the treasurer and view of the city’s overall financial and budget processes. Candidates were required to address how they would foster positive relationships with Newport News City Council, how they would ensure that the Treasurer’s Office is available to all citizens, to include seniors, those who can’t access technology, and constituents with disabilities. Among other queries, they were asked to explain their investment philosophy to ensure that taxpayers receive maximum return on their investment.
When asked to specify his top three priorities, Justin Kennedy described himself as a businessman whose objectives are to strengthen the Treasurer’s office via enhanced community engagement, increased customer service, and improved technological innovations. Kennedy also offered to finance new initiatives with his personal resources rather than utilizing the city’s resources.
Sanu Dieng-Cooper described herself as a collaborative leader in the non-profit and banking sectors. Cooper envisions the Treasurer’s office as a vehicle to improve service to constituents via a team of professionals who center all actions around what is in the best interest of the citizens of Newport News. Her primary objectives are to help citizens better understand their tax obligations via pop-ups, town hall meetings, and an innovative app, as well as providing a regular newsletter to highlight information about how the office is serving constituents. She articulated clear plans to partner with the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office to determine specific accounts which experience high levels of delinquency and to then proactively assist constituents via payment options to recoup those tax dollars while ensuring that the Treasurer's office meets the needs of citizens who may be experiencing hardships, particularly seniors and citizens on fixed incomes. Throughout both forums, Dieng-Cooper described her practice of listening to constituents to develop the best solutions to their myriad challenges. Dieng-Cooper’s third priority was advocating for citizens. As the Executive Director of Transitions Family Violence Services, Dieng-Cooper worked closely with the Newport News City Council to find emergency housing for citizens and to secure a larger allocation of funds to do the critical work to meet constituents’ needs. She described herself as a proven strategic thinker with a record of working with elected officials to advocate for policy changes relative to housing, paid family leave, and gun violence prevention legislation.
When asked about their knowledge of regulatory and legal processes, Dieng-Cooper discussed her understanding of the Virginia code and articulated her specific record of working with local, state, and federal officials to address constituent needs. That experience is critical in the current political climate. Throughout both forums, both candidates frequently discussed using technology to promote awareness and financial literacy amongst the citizenry while also ensuring that seniors who are not as tech savvy have consistent means to receive important information. In addition to discussing podcasts, interviewing elected officials, and using traditional media to reach seniors, Mr. Kennedy discussed his experience providing media services to regional businesses, helping local officials get elected, and securing funds for their priorities by raising capital and awareness. He also noted that he had invested over $100,000 of his own resources to fund his campaign. But only Dieng-Cooper was able to discuss how she has previously stewarded public funds and annual budgets with transparency and accountability to large constituencies, while ensuring that taxpayers clearly understand how their tax dollars are being spent and invested in community. In fact, Justin Kennedy struggled to articulate how he would create a seamless collaboration between the Offices of the Commissioner of the Revenue, the Treasurer, and the Tax Assessor. Meanwhile, Cooper discussed the need to provide cross-training between offices, as well as specific opportunities to create collaborative processes between the three offices. Most importantly, she described opportunities to identify redundant operations or to brainstorm synergies between the offices to potentially reduce overhead costs and save the taxpayers money.
Again, both candidates discussed their excitement and experience providing financial literacy to constituents. While Mr. Kennedy discussed his success in helping businesses grow, Mrs. Cooper articulated a detailed plan to educate the public on how the city and state budgets function as a means to engage citizens in how best to make changes that better constituents’ lives.
When asked to describe why voters should select them to serve as Treasurer, Dieng-Cooper spoke about her tireless service to the community for the past 15 years and track record of providing exceptional service to her “family in community.” She discussed being the only candidate with a degree in Finance and Banking with the requisite experience managing multi-million dollar annual budgets, her tenure supervising large cadres of personnel in both the public and the private sectors, and her endorsement from the current Treasurer given his confidence that, on day one, Sanu Cooper is equipped to manage and invest Newport News’ $1.4 billion annual budget. Asked the same question, Justin Kennedy discussed his acumen as a businessman, amassing large personal wealth and making other people money. He cited his stewardship of considerable resources that enabled him to retire 17 years ago as evidence that he has the financial acumen to manage large budgets. He stipulated that in the last five years he has worked with teams of developers to create animations and marketing campaigns for large corporations. By contrast, Mrs. Dieng-Cooper cited her work as a Policy Director for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, pushing the legislative agenda and advocating for additional funding for 72 agencies throughout the Commonwealth. She described keeping the Transitions Family Violence Services solvent during the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to offer 24-hour emergency housing to indigent constituents and consolidated services to increase efficiency and prevent wasteful spending of public resources; all essential skills required of the City Treasurer. In her role as Chair of a national organization that oversees a $5 million budget, Mrs. Dieng-Cooper shepherds the organization through federal and state audits and ensures wise stewardship of federal funding and private donations.
In summary, we are blessed to have two candidates of sterling integrity, who have demonstrated success in their respective careers, and whose actions demonstrate a genuine concern for the welfare of our city. They both have sound education and training for public constitutional office. To be clear, Justin Kennedy is a good man and a concerned citizen deeply committed to growing revenue for the local economy. He has a proven record of helping businesses grow. But his responses during both forums demonstrate that he is not the most experienced candidate for the Newport News City Treasurer’s Office. From her tenure reconciling daily bank ledgers of more than $165,000 as a college student, to her experience shepherding multi-million-dollar budgets in both the public and private sectors while managing personnel and lobbying local, state, and federal government officials, Sanu Dieng-Cooper is the best candidate in this race. Particularly given the current political climate, when federal support for states and municipalities is being withheld and local governments must have experienced managers and advocates at the helm, we must elect the candidate best equipped to serve the needs of EVERY Newport News citizen. That candidate is Sanu Dieng-Cooper. A vote for Sanu is a vote for the candidate who is best prepared to step into her responsibilities ON DAY ONE.
